The Relationship between LEED Certification & Student Performance In K-12 Schools in Texas

1. The Relationship
between LEED Certification
& Student Performance In K-12 Schools
in Texas
Ron Neumond
URP 521 Research Design for Planning

2. Why
?
The main focus of the process is to reinforce optimal learning, a goal very much in keeping
with the parallel goals of resource efficiency and minimal pollution.
Such buildings provide clean fresh air, a comfortable temperature range, abundant light, and
low distraction from unwanted noise while also maximizing resource efficiency, minimizing
pollution, and teaching students the importance of innovation in the built environment.
Numerous studies have demonstrated
direct benefits to student health and performance.
– daylight improves performance.
– good indoor air quality improves health.
– acoustics increases learning potential.
– comfortable indoor temperatures increase occupant satisfaction.

3. Research Topic:
The Relationship between LEED Certification and
Student Performance in K-12 Schools
Research Question:
What is the impact of a LEED certified school on a
student’s academic performance in Texas?
+
LEED Certified School  Student Performance

4. Research Methodology:
• Inductive approach.
• Independent variable is the presence or absence
of LEED Certification for a school.
• Dependent variable is student performance.
• The unit of analysis is schools.
• Research will compare the academic performance as measured
by the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test of
students who attend LEED certified schools with those students
who attend non-LEED certified schools of comparable size
within same or adjacent district.

5. Research Sample
85 Registered LEED Certified Schools in Texas, 2010
Schools with status of “Confidential”, Charter Schools, Magnet Schools,
schools which opened in Aug. 2010, or will open Aug. 2011 (& beyond)
year were eliminated from sample.
All remaining schools were included in the research.
25 LEED Certified -vs- Non-Certified Schools
19 Elementary Schools
1 Middle School
5 High Schools

6. Who takes the TAKS test?
Elementary School Middle School High School
3rd 4th 5th Grade 6th 7th 8th Grade 9th Grade 10th 11th Grade
Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade
Math Math Math Math Math Math Math Math Math
Reading Reading Reading Reading Reading English English English English
Language & Language & Language & Language &
Arts Arts Arts Arts
Writing Science Writing Social Social Social
Studies Studies Studies
Science Science Science
On each test, a scaled score of 2100 is required to pass and 2400 is required to earn "commended" status.
Performance standards showing the raw scores are available online @ http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index3.aspx?id=3270&menu_id=793

7. Student Learning Gains 2010 – Elementary Schools Grades 3-5
100
90
80
70
LEED CERTIFIED - COMMENDABLE
60 PERFORMANCE
NON-LEED CERTIFIED - COMMENDABLE
50 PERFORMANCE
LEED CERTIFIED - PASSING PERFORMANCE
40
NON-LEED CERTIFIED - PASSING PERFORMANCE
30
20
10
0
Math
1 Reading
2 Math
3 Reading
4 Writing
5 Math
6 Reading
7 Science
8
3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade

8. Student Learning Gains 2010 – Middle Schools Grades 6-8
100
90
80
70
LEED CERTIFIED - PASSING PERFORMANCE
60
NON-LEED CERTIFIED - PASSING PERFORMANCE
50
LEED CERTIFIED - COMMENDABLE
40 PERFORMANCE
NON-LEED CERTIFIED - COMMENDABLE
30 PERFORMANCE
20
10
0
Reading Math Reading Math Writing English Math Social Science
1 2 3 4 5 Language 7
6 8
Studies 9
& Arts
6th Grade 7th Grade 8 Grade
th

9. Student Learning Gains 2010 – High Schools Grades 9-11
120
100
80 LEED CERTIFIED - COMMENDABLE PERFORMANCE
NON-LEED CERTIFIED - COMMENDABLE
60 PERFORMANCE
LEED CERTIFIED - PASSING PERFORMANCE
40 NON-LEED CERTIFIED - PASSING PERFORMANCE
20
0
Math English Math English Science Social Math English Science Social
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Language Language Studies Language Studies
& Arts & Arts & Arts
9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade

10. Performance comparison of LEED & Non-Leed Certified schools (used in sample)
against all schools in state of Texas.
100 100 100 80
90 90 90
70
80 80 80
60
70 70 70
50
60 60 60
50 50 50 40
40 40 40
30
30 30 30
20
20 20
20
10
10 10
10
0 0 0
0
Elementary School
1 Middle1 School High 1School Overall
1
LEED Commended Non-LEED Commended State Commended LEED Passing Non-LEED Passing State Passing

11. Conclusions:
LEED Certification Criteria Sustainable Site Improved
LEED
Water Efficiency + Certified
+ Performance on
Energy & Atmosphere
School TAKS Test(s)
Materials &
Resources
Indoor Environmental
Quality •More students in LEED Certified schools achieve passing scores on the
TAKS test compared to students who attend non-LEED Certified schools.
Innovation in Design
Regional Priority •More students in LEED Certified schools achieve commended scores on
the TAKS test compared to students who attend non-LEED Certified
schools.
•Comparing all grade levels, greatest gains appear in Math scores.
•Most significant difference between scores is demonstrated in High
School.