Indoor Air Quality  |  September 25, 2026  |  2 min read

How Indoor Air Quality Affects Student Health and Academic Performance, According to the EPA

The EPA's Indoor Air Quality in Schools program has compiled research linking school building conditions directly to student health and test scores. Here's what they found.

What school conditions are linked to health problems?

The EPA points to leaky roofs, HVAC system problems, insufficient or excessive cleaning chemical use, and other maintenance issues as environmental factors that can trigger health problems in students, including asthma and allergies, which in turn increase absenteeism.

Does mold and dampness make a measurable difference?

According to the EPA, the presence of dampness and mold increases the risk of asthma and related adverse respiratory effects in homes by 30–50%.

Does ventilation actually affect test scores?

The EPA states that children in classrooms with high outdoor air ventilation rates tend to score higher on standardized math and reading tests than children in poorly ventilated classrooms. Room temperature matters too — the EPA notes evidence that even modest changes in room temperature affect students' ability to perform tasks requiring mental concentration.

Does building maintenance affect attendance?

Yes. The EPA reports that schools without a major maintenance backlog have higher average daily attendance, by 4 to 5 more students per 1,000, and a lower annual dropout rate, by 10 to 13 fewer students per 1,000, compared to schools with maintenance backlogs.

What's the bigger takeaway?

The EPA frames indoor air quality as a factor in overall school quality alongside curricula, class size, and teacher proficiency, and notes that improvements in school environmental quality can also support teacher and staff productivity and retention.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Air Quality in Schools.