Differences in Physical Conditions by Region and State

The physical conditions reported by schools varied widely by regional and state locations and by other characteristics such as community type, percentage of minority and poor students served, and size and level of school. The percentage of schools reporting inadequate buildings and inadequate building features varied by location and community type as well as by student and school characteristics. Figures 1 and 2 show the differences by state. Funding Needed for Repairs and Upgrades Varied Widely

		Differences in Funding Needed for Repairs and Upgrades Nationwide

We estimated that schools nationwide needed to spend about $112 billion to repair or upgrade them into good overall condition. Regarding the amount needed per school, the average school in America reported needing about $1.7 million to repair and upgrade schools to good overall condition. Differences in Funding Needed by Other Characteristics

Schools in central cities estimated needing the most funding to restore schools to good condition. Regional Differences in Number of Students Affected by Inadequate Conditions

The greatest percentage of students attending schools with at least one inadequate building, building feature, or unsatisfactory environmental condition or with multiple unsatisfactory conditions were in the West,although the South had the greatest number of students attending these schools. The greatest number of students attending schools reporting at least one inadequate building were in elementary schools (8.3 million). We asked about (1) the physical condition of buildings and major building features, such as roofs, framing, floors, and foundations; (2) the status of environmental conditions, such as lighting, heating, and ventilation; (3) how well schools could meet selected functional requirements of education reforms, such as having space for small- and large-group instruction; (4) the sufficiency of data, voice, and video technologies and the infrastructure to support these technologies; (5) the amount schools had spent in the last 3 years or planned to spend in the next 3 years on selected federal mandates; and (6) an estimate of the total cost of needed repairs, renovations, and modernizations to put all buildings in good overall condition.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the condition of the nation's school buildings, focusing on differences in the: (1) condition of schools; (2) amount of funding needed to repair or upgrade facilities; and (3) number of students attending schools in inadequate condition.

What GAO Found

GAO found that: (1) the condition of schools, the funding needed to repair or upgrade facilities, and the number of students attending schools in inadequate condition all differed by location, community type, percentage of minority and disadvantaged students, and school level and size; (2) the amounts schools and states needed to bring schools into good condition varied widely; (3) schools' environmental and physical conditions varied widely by region and states and by community type, percentage of minority and poor students served, and school size and level; (4) the largest percentage of schools that had inadequate environmental and physical conditions were in the western United States and in central cities that served minority and poor students; (5) schools needed to spend about $112 billion, or an average of $1.7 million per school, to repair or upgrade them to good overall condition; (6) although the amount of funding needed by state, school, and region varied, central city schools serving minority and poor students required the most funding; (7) schools estimated that they will require $9.2 billion over three years to comply with federal mandates; and (8) about one quarter to one third of the nation's students attend schools with one inadequate building, at least one inadequate building feature, and at least one unsatisfactory environmental condition.