How school operations improve academics
A look at multiple studies
Introduction
Moving from the curriculum side of the house to the operations side of the house has been a great learning experience. There are times, however, that I miss crunching the academic data. It occurred to me that surely someone, somewhere, has studied the impact of operations on academic achievement, and I found a lot of data. Here are some of the studies I found.
Facilities and HVAC Systems
Well-maintained school buildings provide a foundation for learning. In a 2024 study of New York schools, HVAC upgrades led to a 2% increase in attendance, a 7% reduction in suspensions, and a 3–4% gain in math scores (Sorensen, Hwang, & Radia, 2024). Clean air and consistent indoor temperatures reduce illness and support focus, while deferred maintenance correlates with higher absenteeism and dropout rates (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2021).
Teacher retention is also linked to facility quality. Educators in poorly maintained schools report lower morale and are more likely to consider leaving (American Institute of Architects, 2024). Investing in safe, comfortable learning environments is not a luxury; it is a necessity.
Transportation Services
Reliable school transportation supports student attendance and equity. Research from the REACH Center found that when bus service was available, chronic absenteeism among low-income students declined significantly (REACH, 2023). Nationwide, over 70% of students from low-income families depend on school buses (School Nutrition Association, 2024).
Upgrading old diesel buses has been shown to improve academic outcomes and student health. Cleaner buses reduce asthma triggers and improve test scores in both English and math (University of Michigan School of Public Health, 2024). Strategic routing, such as the AI-enhanced systems used in Colorado Springs, can improve efficiency and reliability (District Administration, 2023).
School Nutrition Programs
Nutrition fuels learning. Students who eat breakfast at school score 17.5% higher in math and attend 1.5 more days per year than their peers who skip it (Food Research & Action Center, 2024). Universal free meal programs have been linked to measurable test score gains and improved behavior (Harvard Kennedy School, 2022).
Teachers frequently observe that hunger increases student irritability and disrupts learning. Initiatives like breakfast in the classroom have led to calmer starts to the day and fewer discipline referrals (Center for American Progress, 2023).
Custodial Services and Cleanliness
Cleanliness affects health and focus. Well-cleaned classrooms reduce respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, lowering student absences (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). A study from BYU found that 88% of students in cluttered or dirty environments reported being distracted (BYU News, 2022).
Clean schools foster a sense of pride and order, while neglected spaces send a message that students and staff are not valued. Adequate custodial staffing supports not just hygiene but the broader school climate (American Institute of Architects, 2024).
Technology Infrastructure
Access to reliable technology and internet connectivity improves academic performance. In Mooresville, North Carolina, a 1:1 laptop initiative led to math gains of 0.11 to 0.13 standard deviations and reduced absenteeism by over one day per year (EdWeek, 2018).
Equitable access is essential. Students without internet at home consistently score lower in reading and math (Notre Dame University, 2021). School infrastructure can bridge the digital divide through community Wi-Fi hubs and device distribution (Harvard Kennedy School, 2022).
However, unmanaged tech use can increase minor behavioral infractions. Digital citizenship training and clear expectations help mitigate these risks (Notre Dame University, 2021).
School Nursing
School nurses improve student attendance and support academic readiness. A study by Baisch, Lundeen, and Murphy (2011) showed that school nursing services contributed to fewer absences and better management of chronic conditions. Other reviews have confirmed that nurses play a vital role in reducing missed instructional time (Yoder, 2020).
The presence of full-time nurses is especially critical for students with asthma, diabetes, or mental health needs. However, national shortages mean many schools lack consistent coverage (The Washington Post, 2025).
Coordinated School Health (CSH)
CSH integrates eight components of wellness to support whole-child learning. Tennessee's Coordinated School Health model has shown success in improving attendance, reducing disciplinary referrals, and promoting healthy behaviors (Tennessee Department of Education, 2021).
Schools that implement CSH with fidelity create supportive environments that enhance readiness to learn. Programs that combine health education, physical activity, family engagement, and nutrition services create conditions where students thrive academically and socially (Huang, Lee, & Shanafelt, 2013).
Human Resources and Staffing Systems
Human Resources (HR) practices significantly influence student learning by shaping the workforce that serves them. Studies from the Learning Policy Institute (Podolsky et al., 2016) show that schools with high teacher turnover experience lower student achievement and higher classroom instability. Replacing even one teacher in a high-poverty district can cost upwards of $20,000, funds that could otherwise support instruction (Carver-Thomas & Darling-Hammond, 2017).
Effective HR systems also include professional mentoring, career pathways, and supportive leadership structures. Schools that implement these strategies report higher teacher satisfaction and retention, both of which correlate with stronger academic performance (Kini & Podolsky, 2016). Equitable HR practices ensure experienced teachers are retained in high-need schools, reducing achievement gaps and improving school climate.
International studies, such as Glewwe et al. (2010), and pay-for-performance experiments like those evaluated by Leaver et al. (2021) provide additional evidence that thoughtful HR interventions improve both teacher effort and student learning. As with all operational supports, the goal is to ensure the adults who support students are equipped, valued, and retained.
Conclusion
Student success is shaped not only by what happens in the classroom but also by the systems that support it. Operational investments in air quality, transportation, meals, cleanliness, technology, health services, human resources, and holistic wellness create the conditions for learning. These systems improve attendance, behavior, academic outcomes, and staff retention.
As education leaders plan for the future, it is essential to view operations as integral to student achievement. The physical and logistical foundations of school life are not secondary. They are the environment in which all teaching and learning happen.
References
American Institute of Architects. (2024). New study links modernized schools to better academic performance. https://www.aiadelaware.org/uploads/3/4/8/5/34850787/2024-09_aia_delaware_architect.pdf
Baisch, M. J., Lundeen, S. P., & Murphy, M. K. (2011). Measuring outcomes of school nursing services. Journal of School Health, 81(2), 74–80. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2010.00563.x
BYU News. (2022). BYU-assisted national study shows school cleanliness affects learning. https://news.byu.edu/news/byu-assisted-national-study-shows-school-cleanliness-affects-learning
Center for American Progress. (2023). Challenges and opportunities of providing free school meals for all. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/challenges-and-opportunities-of-providing-free-school-meals-for-all/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Skipping breakfast and academic grades, persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and suicide attempts among high school students—Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 72(Suppl. 1), 101–110. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/su/pdfs/su7201a10-H.pdf
District Administration. (2023). Reimagining transportation: 3 ways to conquer chronic absenteeism. https://districtadministration.com/opinion/reimagining-transportation-3-ways-to-conquer-chronic-absenteeism/
EdWeek. (2018, October 15). New study shows 1-to-1 technology improves student achievement in math over time. https://www.edweek.org/technology/new-study-shows-1-to-1-technology-improves-student-achievement-in-math-over-time/2018/10
Food Research & Action Center. (2024). School breakfast scorecard: 2022–2023 school year. https://frac.org/research/resource-library/school-breakfast-scorecard
Harvard Kennedy School. (2022). Let them eat lunch: Universal free meals and student outcomes (Working Paper No. 203). https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/docs/default-source/research/cpr/working-papers/wp-203-let-them-eat-lunch.pdf
Huang, T. T.-K., Lee, R. E., & Shanafelt, A. (2013). A coordinated school health program and its effect on academic achievement: A quasi-experimental study. Journal of School Health, 83(11), 743–752. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12088
Maughan, E. D. (2018). School nurses: An investment in student achievement. Phi Delta Kappan, 99(7), 8–14. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0031721718767853
Maxwell School. (2022). Let them eat lunch working paper. https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/docs/default-source/research/cpr/working-papers/wp-203-let-them-eat-lunch.pdf
National Association of School Nurses. (2016). Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice. https://www.nasn.org/nasn-resources/professional-topics/framework
National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice. (2023). How does school bus transportation affect student attendance and achievement? https://educationresearchalliancenola.org/files/publications/20230418-Valant-Lincove-Transportation-Inequities-and-School-Choice.pdf
Notre Dame University. (2021). Investigating the academic performance and disciplinary consequences of school district internet access spending. https://harisridhar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Investigating-the-Academic-Performance-and-Disciplinary-Consequences-of-School-District-Internet-Access-Spending.pdf
Özdemir, F. (2016). The impact of comprehensive school nursing services on students’ academic achievement. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 21(3), e12123. https://doi.org/10.1111/jspn.12123
School Nutrition Association. (2024). School meal statistics. https://schoolnutrition.org/about-school-meals/school-meal-statistics/
Sorensen, L., Hwang, N., & Radia, A. (2024). HVAC improvements shown to improve student outcomes. Facilities Dive. https://www.facilitiesdive.com/news/hvac-improvements-improve-student-outcomes-NY-univ-albany-Sorensen-hwang-radia/742060/
Tennessee Department of Education. (2021). Coordinated School Health Annual Report: 2020–21. https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/csh/2020-2021_Coordinated_School_Health_Annual_Report.pdf
The Washington Post. (2025, June 16). As students have greater health needs, school nurses are in short supply. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/06/16/school-nurse-shortage-student-health/
University of Michigan School of Public Health. (2024). Could riding older school buses hinder student performance? https://sph.umich.edu/news/2024posts/could-riding-older-school-buses-hinder-student-performance.html
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Evidence from scientific literature about improved academic performance. https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools/evidence-scientific-literature-about-improved-academic-performance
Yoder, C. M. (2020). School nurses and student academic outcomes: An integrative review. The Journal of School Nursing, 36(2), 122–140. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1059840518824397
Carver-Thomas, D., & Darling-Hammond, L. (2017). Teacher turnover: Why it matters and what we can do about it. Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/teacher-turnover-report
Glewwe, P., Hanushek, E., Humpage, S., & Ravina, R. (2010). School resources and educational outcomes in developing countries: A review of the literature from 1990 to 2010. National Bureau of Economic Research. https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w17554/w17554.pdf
Kini, T., & Podolsky, A. (2016). Does teaching experience increase teacher effectiveness? A review of the research. Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/brief-teaching-experience
Leaver, C., Lemos, R., & Scur, D. (2021). Measuring and managing teacher effectiveness: Evidence from a randomized intervention in Rwanda. https://doi.org/10.1093/qje/qjab027
Podolsky, A., Kini, T., Bishop, J., & Darling-Hammond, L. (2016). Solving the teacher shortage: How to attract and retain excellent educators. Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/solving-teacher-shortage
Carver-Thomas, D., & Darling-Hammond, L. (2017). Teacher turnover: Why it matters and what we can do about it. Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/teacher-turnover-report
Glewwe, P., Hanushek, E., Humpage, S., & Ravina, R. (2010). School resources and educational outcomes in developing countries: A review of the literature from 1990 to 2010. National Bureau of Economic Research. https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w17554/w17554.pdf
Kini, T., & Podolsky, A. (2016). Does teaching experience increase teacher effectiveness? A review of the research. Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/brief-teaching-experience
Leaver, C., Lemos, R., & Scur, D. (2021). Measuring and managing teacher effectiveness: Evidence from a randomized intervention in Rwanda. https://doi.org/10.1093/qje/qjab027
Podolsky, A., Kini, T., Bishop, J., & Darling-Hammond, L. (2016). Solving the teacher shortage: How to attract and retain excellent educators. Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/solving-teacher-shortage
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