Condition of America’s Public School Facilities: 2012-13

Among schools with permanent buildings, the overall condition of about 24 percent of the permanent buildings was considered less than good. “Condition of America’s Public School Facilities: 2012-13,” a First Look report from the Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) provides national data on the condition of public school facilities, including the condition of 17 building systems/features, the condition of seven outdoor features, the estimated total cost of all repairs/renovations/modernizations required to put the school’s onsite buildings in good overall condition, and the year in which the school’s main instructional building was constructed, the year of the last major renovation of the main instructional building, and the year of the last major building replacement or addition at the school. This survey is an update to a 1999 survey. Findings include:

•    Among public schools with permanent buildings, the building systems/features were rated as being in fair or poor condition in their permanent buildings in 14 to 32 percent of the schools: windows (32 percent); plumbing/lavatories (31 percent); heating system, air conditioning system, and ventilation/filtration system (30 percent each); energy management system, security systems, and exterior lighting (29 percent each); roofs, interior finishes/trim, and internal communication systems (25 percent each); electrical system (22 percent); technology infrastructure (21 percent); interior lighting and life safety features (19 percent each); exterior walls/finishes (18 percent); and framing, floors, and foundations (14 percent).

•    Based on survey responses, 53 percent of public schools needed to spend money on repairs, renovations, and modernizations to put the school’s onsite buildings in good overall condition. The total amount needed was estimated to be approximately $197 billion, and the average dollar amount for schools needing to spend money was about $4.5 million per school.

•    The average of the reported number of years since the construction of the main instructional building was 44 years. Among schools with major renovation of the main instructional building, the renovation occurred on average 12 years ago. Among schools with major building replacement or addition, the replacement or addition occurred on average 16 years ago. The average functional age of the main instructional building was 19 years.