An exploratory field study was conducted in 42 self-contained, elementary grade classrooms in 18 school buildings. Subjects were 1,030 fifth-grade students. The purpose of the study was to determine the range of physical environmental conditions in the classrooms; and how students' perceptions of the physical environment (1) describe the characteristics of the classrooms, (2) correlate with observed physical environmental conditions, and (3) correlate with students' general satisfaction with school. Physical environmental factors defined include thermal, visual, acoustical, spatial, and aesthetic variables. Every classroom was observed to have one or more unsatisfactory physical characteristic. Subjects' responses indicate that fifth-grade students demonstrate objective and discriminating perception of environmental factors. Students' perceptual responses support the observation that the focus of classroom design should be on qualitative rather than quantitative dimensions of the thermal and visual environment. The strength of students' responses also indicate paramount awareness of aesthetic, spatial, and acoustical stimuli--those factors of the physical environment that have a psychological effect on the individual. (Author/MLF)