Millions of U.S. kids attend schools in "urban heat zones"
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Most K-12 public students in the biggest U.S. cities attend schools in extreme urban heat zones, a new analysis finds.
Why it matters: The heat island effect can make some neighborhoods notably warmer than others, especially during heat waves like the one that recently struck much of the country.
- Many schools lack adequate air conditioning, jeopardizing students' health and learning abilities in periods of extreme heat while class is in session.
Driving the news: About 76% of public K-12 students in the 65 most populous U.S. cities attend schools where the heat island effect increases temperatures by at least 8°F, per a new analysis from Climate Central, a climate research group.
- Researchers there examined more than 12,000 schools, with nearly 6.2 million students.
- The group's analysis is based on its previous work modeling urban heat zones, as well as National Center for Education Statistics data.
Zoom in: Among the included cities, Louisville, Kentucky (98%); Orlando, Florida (97%) and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (97%) have the largest shares of public K-12 students enrolled at schools in extreme urban heat zones.
- Boston (36%), Providence, Rhode Island (42%) and Richmond, Virginia (49%) have the smallest.
Threat level: Some school districts had early dismissals, canceled classes, or even ended the school year early amid the recent heat wave, The Hill reports.
- "Tens of thousands of public schools" need new or upgraded HVAC systems to meet increased cooling needs, per a 2024 Center for American Progress report, to the tune of $4.4 billion.
How it works: Heat islands amplify the impact and danger of extreme heat events fueled by human-driven climate change, with the built environment absorbing and trapping heat at the hyperlocal level.
- Urban heat islands are more common in lower-income and non-white neighborhoods, researchers have found.
What's next: Cities are increasingly aware of heat islands, and some are taking steps to alleviate it — by planting trees and using reflective road paint, for example — albeit with mixed results.
