The Relationship Between the Natural Environment and Individual-Level Academic Performance in Portland, Oregon

We tested the hypothesis that exposure to the natural environment is associated with improved academic performance. Specifically, we examined the association between individual-level standardized math and reading test scores and exposure to the natural environment using data from Portland Public Schools (17,918 students attending 83 schools for the math model and 19,459 students attending 90 schools for the reading model). We found that a 1- SD increase in tree cover within 200 m of a child’s home was associated with moving from the 50th percentile to the 51st percentile on math tests. A 1- SD increase in tree cover within 100 m of a child’s school was associated with moving from the 50th percentile to the 56th percentile on reading tests. Finally, a 1- SD increase in road density within 100 m of a child’s home was associated with moving from the 50th percentile to the 47th percentile on reading tests.