Entry and Exit

A student’s sense of safety, motivation, belonging, and school pride begins at the schoolhouse door. Every day, around 25% of Americans enter a school as teachers, students, staff, or administrators. This critical part of the building can have acute (daily) and chronic (monthly, yearly) exposures that have both social and physical implications.

Entries should also incorporate features related to Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL provides multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression. This provides opportunities to those who may have different auditory, visual, or mobility abilities. To promote individual’s health and sense of safety, every entrance and exit can include signage with both symbols, colors, and words that can direct people to the entrance and exit during an emergency.

Top Health Considerations

01. Safety

02. Community Engagement

03. Sense of Belonging

Safety

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in the 2020-2021 school year, there were 93 school shootings, in which a gun was “brandished or fired on school property.” (99) Despite this number, the National Institute of Justice notes violent school shootings create the perception that schools are dangerous places for children. (100) In fact, a 2015 study by the FBI noted only 0.3% of homicide occurred on school property. (101) Gun violence is a serious issue in the US, but it is less likely to occur in schools than in almost any other location.

Crime Prevention through Environmental Designs (CPTED) focuses on “improving the design of the built environment to help reduce opportunities for disputes and violence and promote positive behavior.” (102) The CDC created the CPTED School Assessment tool for a balanced and layered approach to safety that seeks to deter, detect, and delay threads. (103) These approaches have proven effective in decreasing incidents of crime, while improving the quality of space.

Community Engagement

While school entrances should be designed for security, they are also community gateways. A single-point entry vestibule ensures visitors check-in properly before being entering. (104) This ensures safety for both the students and faculty. At the same time, having the doors open to family members and the greater community creates important connections. Research shows that family engagement impacts student success. In fact, students whose families are involved in their academics are more likely to have higher grades and test scores, attend school regularly, have better social skills, show improved behavior, and adapt well to school. (105) For some families, this active engagement takes place in their own home. The school building itself can be another location for active family engagement. Per the National Center for Education Statistics, students in kindergarten through 12th grade had parents on average attend 6.5 school-related activities in the 2018-2019 school year. (106) The top events attended by parents were parent-teacher association meetings, school or class events, and parent-teacher conferences. (107) These events, along others such as sporting events, musical performances, and career days open the school to families for active engagement, that ultimately benefit the student. However, many families face challenges that restrict their ability to attend events in-person at the school building. The State Support network offers strategies for Equitable Family Engagement. (108)

Sense of Belonging

Schools are meant to be places of learning; places where students feel safe and welcome. A school entry should aim for security, but not at the expense of student mental health. According to the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data Summary & Trends Report for 2011-2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) of students felt “persistently sad or hopeless” and nearly one-third (29%) experience poor mental health. (109) While these numbers are likely influenced from the COVID-19 pandemic, students need to feel welcome and safe returning to their school buildings.

Safety can be achieved in a variety of ways- from security systems to visibility through design interventions. Visibility is a primary feature of a healthy school entrance. First, good visibility can let administrators know who is approaching the school. (110) Second, the symbols and signs that are visible when people enter the school can contribute to the perception of facility’s quality. For students, this is an opportunity create a welcoming atmosphere. A welldesigned entrance can use design elements such as branding to:

• Tell a story, Support a common vision,

• Spark human connections,

• Trigger pride,

• Create a sense of belonging, engagement, and ownership.

97.1 percent of schools surveyed in the School Survey on Crime and Safety reported using some form of controlled access to the building during school hours. (111)