The American population is growing by one person every 15 seconds, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. As the population continues to grow, and our infrastructure continues to age without repair or replacement, our living conditions gradually deteriorate. One of the most common places we see this effect is in our schools, where administration, faculty and most importantly, students, struggle to reach their potential because schools are increasingly overcrowded.
Overcrowded schools have very real effects on the safety of students as well as their academic progress. Overcrowding has led to drastic changes in how students are taught, including transferring them to portable classrooms among other crowd-clearing strategies. Many of these strategies are short-term fixes that only mask the problem without correcting it. But some administrators are recognizing the need to establish more permanent solutions, which is why steel is becoming the best option for solving the overcrowding problem. Here are some things to consider.
The Effects of Overcrowding
Higher school enrollment means greater wear and tear on the school building itself. In a study by the National Center for Education Statistics, it was found that schools that were overcrowded were about twice as likely to have at least one building in “less than adequate condition”, when compared to schools that weren’t overcrowded. Issues with framing, floors and foundations, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electric power were all more common in overcrowded schools as well.
Not only does overcrowding negatively affect the physical environment of the building, it also negatively affects the learning environment within the school’s classrooms. Higher class sizes mean teachers are unable to give the personalized education that many students need to progress. A 2009 study by the University of London concludes that overcrowding is at the very center of failed schools and teacher dissatisfaction.
Administrators are dealt a tough hand as budgets must be met and procedural hoops be jumped through before constructing new facilities. One strategy for fighting overcrowding is busing students to surrounding districts. This strategy puts a tremendous strain on students, who are less likely to participate in school activities, and parents, who are less involved with their child’s education because of the added distance.
The most common strategy for fighting overcrowding is the use of temporary classrooms. These present several problems when compared to a permanent structure. They deteriorate at a faster rate, are less durable and have worse ventilation systems that can lead to health hazards for students and teachers. Technically, these temporary classrooms increase a school’s capacity. But it’s been found that in many cases, class sizes remain inflated even with the installation of portable classrooms.
Many administrators are finding that constructing steel buildings is the most efficient strategy for tackling overcrowding issues. School districts are facing tighter budget constraints each year, and steel buildings offer schools a that doesn’t force them to also sacrifice quality.
Steel buildings are versatile structures that can be customized to meet the specific needs of any district. General Steel offers a team of experts to help administrators custom design their school’s new facility. As school enrollment inevitably grows, steel buildings have the advantage of being easily modified and expandable.
Overcrowded schools suffer the greatest wear and tear, and outdated buildings are not equipped to handle the physical demands of a bloated school enrollment. Steel is the leading framing material for buildings and infrastructure in North America because of its durability. Steel’s high strength-to-weight ratio means it’s able to withstand the most extreme natural elements while also limiting time spent on maintenance. Overcrowding is a serious issue that should be addressed with serious solutions, and steel buildings provide a sustainable path to improving the educational environment for our country’s students.
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