This article highlights the results of various studies which show that new schools do improve student test scores. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching found that student attitudes about education directly reflect their learning environment. Specific building features related to human comfort have been shown to influence student achievement. A before-and-after study of renovated schools in Syracuse, New York, found improved achievement among students in the refurbished buildings. Another research effort compared students at the newest and the oldest buildings in a district. Those attending the new school out-performed their peers in the older school on all available measures of achievement. The aesthetic features of a school can foster a strong sense of belonging that, in turn, can generate an enthusiasm for learning.