A Scalable Data Model for Analyzing and Addressing Infrastructure Gaps
Claire Cahen | May 2026
Across the country, public school buildings are in disrepair. A 2020 Government Accountability Office report found that about half of all schools have serious infrastructural problems, including damaged floors, walls, and ceilings, malfunctioning electric systems, gas leaks, mold, pests, water contamination, and heating and air conditioning failures. Research shows that poor building conditions pose a threat to both student learning and health. Conversely, improving school facilities can significantly enhance student outcomes. Recent research finds that closing infrastructure spending gaps between high- and low-income districts could reduce achievement gaps by as much as 25 percent. Yet, most states underinvest in their facilities, placing the onus on local school districts to finance new construction and repair. This study offers a simple, scalable data model for analyzing and addressing infrastructure gaps. Using a small set of widely available data—school building age, square footage, local fiscal capacity, and state funding—it demonstrates how policymakers can:
- estimate district-level facility investment needs;
- identify gaps between infrastructure needs and available funding; and
- design state funding approaches that better align local capacity, state support, and facility repair and modernization needs.