Skip to main content
eScholarship
Open Access Publications from the University of California

Green Schools and Hot Playgrounds: Assessing the outcomes of greening thresholds on elementary school campuses in Los Angeles, California

Abstract

This study examines whether school greening targets effectively reduce heat exposure, using Los Angeles Unified School District’s goal of 30% greening across campuses as a case study. Comparing four elementary schools, researchers found that even when greening is defined specifically as tree canopy, its cooling benefits depend heavily on local climate conditions, suggesting that site-specific design strategies are needed to create safer, more equitable school environments.