U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Program

Launched in 2011, the Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools program is the federal government's first comprehensive green schools initiative, and it has tremendous implications for schools across the country. Earth Day Network is proud to have collaborated with other leaders in the green schools movement and the Department of Education to make this initiative happen.

Green Ribbon Awards recognize public and private schools of all age levels that demonstrate dramatic gains in both environmental literacy and reducing their carbon footprint while improving learning conditions.

This exciting new program is invigorating and empowering schools nationwide for growing the 21st-century economy. By encouraging schools to apply for this award, powerful strides will be taken to ensure we meet our shared goal of greening America’s schools within a generation. 

 

The 2012 Honorees

Seventy-eight schools received the Green Ribbom Award in 2012, after the first year of the program. The winners were selected from among nearly 100 nominees submitted by 30 state education agencies, the District of Columbia and the Bureau of Indian Education. More than 350 schools completed applications to their state education agencies. Among the list of winners are 66 public schools, including 8 charters, and 12 private schools. There are 43 elementary, 31 middle and 26 high schools with around 50 percent representing high-poverty schools.

Schools by state

Alabama

  • Munford Elementary School
    Munford, Alabama

  • Winterboro High School
    Talladega, Alabama

Arizona

  • The STAR School
    Flagstaff, Arizona

  • Roadrunner Elementary School
    Phoenix, Arizona

Arkansas

  • Acorn High School
    Mena, Arkansas

California

  • Longfellow Elementary School
    Long Beach, California

  • Environmental Charter High School
    Lawndale, California

  • Grand View Elementary School
    Manhattan Beach, California

  • The Athenian School
    Danville, California

Colorado

  • Flagstone Elementary School
    Castle Rock, Colorado

  • Denver Green School
    Denver, Colorado

  • Wellington Middle School
    Wellington, Colorado

District of Columbia

  • Stoddert Elementary School
    Washington, DC

  • Sidwell Friends Middle School
    Washington, DC

Florida

  • Learning Gate Community School
    Lutz, Florida

  • Pine Jog Elementary School
    West Palm Beach, Florida

  • TERRA Environmental Research Institute
    Miami, Florida

Georgia

  • Springdale Park Elementary School
    Atlanta, Georgia

  • Arabia Mountain High School
    Lithonia, Georgia

  • Savannah Country Day School
    Savannah, Georgia

Hawaii

  • Ewa Makai Middle School
    Ewa Beach, Hawaii

  • Hawaii Preparatory Academy
    Kamuela, Hawaii

Illinois

  • Academy for Global Citizenship
    Chicago, Illinois

  • Thomas J. Waters Elementary School
    Chicago, Illinois

  • Prairie Crossing Charter School
    Grayslake, Illinois

Iowa

  • Des Moines Central Campus High School
    Des Moines, Iowa

Kansas

  • Eisenhower High School
    Goddard, Kansas

  • Erie High School
    Erie, Kansas

  • Brookwood Elementary
    Leawood, Kansas

Kentucky

  • Rosa Parks Elementary School
    Lexington, Kentucky

  • Georgetown Middle School
    Georgetown, Kentucky

  • Richardsville Elementary School
    Bowling Green, Kentucky

Maryland

  • Dunloggin Middle School
    Ellicott City, Maryland

  • Francis Scott Key Middle School
    Silver Spring, Maryland

  • Folger McKinsey Elementary School
    Severna Park, Maryland

  • Lucy School
    Middletown, Maryland

Michigan

  • Clarkston High School
    Clarkston, Michigan

  • Detroit Edison Public School Academy
    Detroit, Michigan

Minnesota

  • North Shore Community School
    Duluth, Minnesota

  • Garlough Environmental Magnet School
    West St. Paul, Minnesota

  • Kennedy Community School
    Saint Joseph, Minnesota

Missouri

  • Crossroads College Preparatory School
    St. Louis, Missouri

  • The College School
    St. Louis, Missouri

Nebraska

  • Lothrop Science & Technology Magnet Center
    Omaha, Nebraska

  • Miller Park Elementary
    Omaha, Nebraska

New Jersey

  • Bernards High School
    Bernardsville, New Jersey

  • Midtown Community Elementary School
    Neptune, New Jersey

  • Adler Avenue Middle School
    Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey

  • The Willow School
    Gladstone, New Jersey

New York

  • Hampton Bays Middle School
    Hampton Bays, New York

  • Sleepy Hollow Middle School
    Sleepy Hollow, New York

  • Bethlehem Central Middle School
    Delmar, New York

North Carolina

  • Evergreen Community Charter School
    Asheville, North Carolina

  • American Hebrew Academy
    Greensboro, North Carolina

North Dakota (Bureau of Indian Education)

  • Circle of Nations
    Wahpeton, North Dakota

Ohio

  • Loveland High School
    Loveland, Ohio

  • North Adams Elementary School
    Seaman, Ohio

Oregon

  • Sunnyside Environmental School
    Portland, Oregon

  • Willamina Elementary School
    Willamina, Oregon

  • Gladstone High School
    Gladstone, Oregon

  • Catlin Gable School
    Portland, Oregon

Pennsylvania

  • Radnor Middle School
    Wayne, Pennsylvania

  • Thaddeus Stevens Elementary School
    Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

  • A.W. Beattie Career Center
    Allison Park, Pennsylvania

  • Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

  • Classical High School
    Providence, Rhode Island

  • Nathan Bishop Middle School
    Providence, Rhode Island

Virginia

  • Fishburn Park Elementary School
    Roanoke, Virginia

  • The Gereau Center for Applied Technology & Career Exploration
    Rocky Mount, Virginia

Washington

  • Tahoma Junior High School
    Ravensdale, Washington

  • Camelot Elementary School
    Auburn, Washington

  • Secondary Academy for Success
    Bothell, Washington

  • The Overlake School
    Redmond, Washington

West Virginia

  • Hilltop Elementary School
    Wheeling, West Virginia

  • Wyoming County Career & Technical Center
    Pineville, West Virginia

Wisconsin

  • Dimensions of Learning Academy
    Kenosha, Wisconsin

  • Middleton High School
    Middleton, Wisconsin

  • Purdy Elementary School
    Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin

News

ED-Green Ribbon Schools Gets a Facelift for 2012-2013

U.S. Department of Education Announces 78 Winners of Green Ribbon Schools Program

Earth Day Network Applauds Obama’s Green Schools Proclamation and Calls upon Congress and the Administration to Fund Environmental Education

U.S. Department of Education Opens the First Green Ribbon School Award Competition

Earth Day Network Launches Nation’s First Comprehensive Green Schools Site

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Program Open for Public Comment

Resources

I. Reduced Environmental Impact and Cost

ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY

ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION

RECYCLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

GREEN COMPUTING

BUILDING DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE

VOLUNTEERS, SPONSORS AND FUNDS

II. Health and Wellness

AIR QUALITY PRESERVATION

ASTHMA AND SUN SAFETY

CONTAMINANT MANAGEMENT

GREEN CLEANING AND PROCUREMENT

PHYSICAL FITNESS

NUTRITION

III. Environmental and Sustainability Education

ENERGY CONSERVATION

ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION

ASSESSING SUSTAINABILITY LITERACY

HANDS-ON PROJECTS AND CHALLENGES

GRANTS AND AWARDS

EVENTS AND AWARENESS

TEACHER RESOURCES

DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE

CONNECTING TO OUTDOORS

SCHOOL GARDENS AND LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT

CAREER AND COLLEGE RESOURCES

SOCIAL NETWORKS

IV. State Resources

The following are examples of some resources available through state-based green schools programs.

V. Regional and International Resources

The following are examples of resources available through regional and international green schools programs.<