Millions of US Students Attend Schools Located Near Toxic Hazard Sites

Millions of American students are spending their school days in the shadow of industrial pollution, according to a comprehensive new analysis of environmental safety in the United States education system. Researchers at Brown University have revealed that approximately 3 million children are enrolled in schools situated within a quarter mile of sites monitored by the US Environmental Protection Agency for hazardous materials.

A Pervasive Threat to Learning Environments

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, paints a concerning picture of school proximity to toxic threats. Investigators found that 8% of all pre-K-12 schools nationwide exist within a quarter-mile radius of registered hazardous zones, including brownfields, Superfund sites, and facilities reporting under the Toxics Release Inventory. Even more alarming is the finding that 44% of these schools operate within a one-mile radius of such sites—a proximity range historically linked to negative impacts on both physical health and student academic performance.

“It was shocking to us to discover how common it was for schools to be located near toxic sites and industrial pollution,” said Matthew Kraft, a professor of education and economics at Brown University and coauthor of the research. “This is something we need to be concerned about in nearly every community and across every state in the US.”

Deep Disparities in Exposure

The data suggests that the burden of this environmental proximity is not shared equally. The researchers found that students of color and those from low-income backgrounds are significantly more likely to attend schools situated near high-risk industrial sites. Specifically, Native, Black, and Hispanic students are 124%, 86%, and 43% more likely, respectively, to attend schools within a quarter mile of a hazard compared to their peers. Similarly, students from low-income households face a 40% higher probability of being in such proximity.

The authors point to historical trends in urban planning and industrial zoning to explain these disparities. “Industrial operations often located their facilities in marginalized communities that have more limited political and economic power to oppose them,” the researchers noted, adding that this systemic inequality leaves vulnerable student populations disproportionately exposed to environmental risks during their most formative years.

Regional and Geographic Trends

Geographic analysis revealed that the danger is most acute in urban centers, where 12.7% of schools sit within a quarter mile of a hazardous site, followed by 10.3% in smaller towns. When broken down by region, schools located in the Northeast and Midwest showed the highest likelihood of proximity to monitored hazards, while schools in the South and West were statistically less likely to be placed near such sites.

The research team, which included Annenberg Institute contributors Sohil Malik and Grace Falken, argues that these findings should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers. By mapping these locations, officials can prioritize resources for air, water, and soil quality monitoring, accelerate remediation projects, and modernize aging school infrastructure.

“We think this study can help to shine a light on the critical importance of providing safe and healthy learning environments for students,” Kraft stated. “We’re hopeful the new descriptive evidence we compiled about the thousands of schools located within a few blocks of hazardous sites can help elevate this issue among policymakers and school leaders.”