Report on Facilities Finds Trouble More Likely in Some Schools
Small schools, rural schools, and schools in the central region of the country are more likely to be under-enrolled and less likely to be over-crowded than other schools. They are also the least likely to have portable (temporary) buildings, although small schools that have portables are more likely than other schools to have troubles with the temporary buildings that interfere with instruction. The National Center for Education Statistics has released a report, Public School Principals Report on Their School Facilities: Fall 2005 that provides information on the condition of school buildings.
The report finds that schools with “percent minority enrollment” of more than 50% and schools where at least 75% of students quality for free or reduced-price lunch are more likely to have facilities problems than other schools. The most common environmental problems for all types of schools tend to be related to air-conditioning and ventilation.