Effects of freeway noise on academic achievement of elementary school children

Abstract

California law requires noise abatement for classrooms in which noise levels from a freeway exceed 50 dBA. In contrast, the Federal Highway Administration's criterion level is L10 = 55 dBA. This discrepancy reflects, in part, a lack of hard data regarding how noise from external sources affects the educational process. About 100 classrooms in 15 schools comparable with respect to certain socioeconomic variables but at different distances from freeways were studied. Noise levels inside the third and sixth grade classrooms with and without children were measured. In addition, teachers' voice levels and certain indications of classroom performance were obtained during three days of observation in each classroom. The Los Angeles Unified School District and the California Department of Education provided scores for each classroom on standardized tests of academic achievement in reading and mathematics. Preliminary analysis of the data indicates that achievement in reading and mathematics is poorer as noise levels increase, a finding consistent with previous studies. However, our data indicate that the coefficients of correlations between noise levels without children and achievement are higher if the levels are C‐weighted rather than A‐weighted, and that L1 and L5 are better predictors of achievement than are the other Lxs. [Work supported by F.H.W.A. and California Departments of Transportation and Health.]