By making a commitment to high-performance schools, many school districts are discovering that smart energy choices can have lasting benefits for their students, their communities, and the environment. An energy-efficient school district with 4,000 students could save as much as $160,000 a year in energy costs. Over 10 years, those savings can reach $1.6 million, translating into the ability to hire more teachers, purchase more textbooks and computers, or invest in additional high-performance facilities. Beyond these bottom-line benefits, schools also can realize better overall student health and decreased absenteeism, and can better serve as centers of community life. This guide addresses common barriers associated with new construction, major renovations, and retrofit projects in high-performance schools. It summarizes existing methods of financing and looks ahead to innovative, replicable approaches. This guide supports making a business case for high-performance design backed by economic analysis that looks at the costs and benefits of new construction and retrofits over the project's lifetime. It also describes non-energy benefits that tie energy efficiency and economic feasibility back to the critical mission--ensuring a healthy learning environment for students. Appendices include: (1) Basic Financial Concepts; and (2) High-Performance School Financing--Information Resources.