U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. was joined by Managing Director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Christy Goldfuss today to announce the 2016 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, District Sustainability Awardees, and Postsecondary Sustainability Awardees on the Department's YouTube channel. Across the country, 47 schools, 15 districts, and 11 postsecondary institutions are being honored for their innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, improve health and wellness, and ensure effective sustainability education.
"I congratulate these schools, districts and postsecondary institutions for their commitment to sustainable facilities, health, and classroom practices," King said. "The healthiest, most inspiring school facilities can and should be another tool to level the playing field, particularly for underserved students. These honorees are 21st century learning environments that encourage every student and teacher to perform at his or her best."
"Earth Day reminds us of the great strides we've made to address climate change and protect our planet, but there is still a long way to go to ensure that our children and grandchildren can experience our earth's natural treasures just as we have," Goldfuss said. "By inspiring young people to connect with their environment every day, today's honorees are creating the next generation of environmental stewards."
The honorees were named from a pool of candidates nominated by 25 states, Washington, D.C., and the Department of Defense Education Activity. The honorees include 41 public schools and six private schools. The schools serve various grade levels, including 27 elementary, 18 middle, and 14 high schools, with several schools having various K-12 configurations. Fifty-one percent of the 2016 honorees serve a disadvantaged student body. The postsecondary honorees include two community colleges and one work-college.
The list of all selected schools, districts, colleges, and universities, as well as their nomination packages, can be found here. A report with highlights on the 73 honorees can be found here. More information on the federal recognition award can be found here. Resources for all schools to move toward the three Pillars can be found here.
Following is the list of 2016 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, District Sustainability, and Postsecondary Award Honorees:
Alabama
- A.H. Watwood Elementary School
Childersburg, AL - University of Montevallo
Montevallo, AL
California
- Bay Farm School
Alameda, CA - Bishop O'Dowd High School
Oakland, CA - Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles, CA - Manhattan Beach Unified School District
Manhattan Beach, CA - San Francisco Unified School District
San Francisco, CA
Colorado
- Heritage Elementary School
Highlands Ranch, CO - Poudre School District
Fort Collins, CO - University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO
Connecticut
- CREC Two Rivers Magnet Middle School
East Hartford, CT - CREC Two Rivers Magnet High School
Hartford, CT - King School
Stamford, CT
Delaware
- Wilmington Montessori School
Wilmington, DE
Department of Defense Education Activity
- Kimberly Hampton Primary School
Fort Bragg, NC - Van Voorhis Elementary School
Fort Knox, KY - Garmisch Elementary Middle School
Bavaria, Germany
District of Columbia
- Capital City Public Charter School
Washington, DC
Florida
- Beachside Montessori Village
Hollywood, FL - Alachua County Public Schools
Gainesville, FL - Orange County School District
Orlando, FL
Georgia
- Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School
Atlanta, GA - Pharr Elementary School
Snellville, GA - Paideia School
Atlanta, GA - City Schools of Decatur
Decatur, GA - Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA
Iowa - Spalding Park Elementary School
Sioux City, IA - Hawkeye Community College
Waterloo, IA
Kentucky
- Eastern Elementary School
Lexington, KY - Russell Cave Elementary School
Lexington, KY - Berea College
Berea, KY
Louisiana
- Westdale Heights Academic Magnet
Baton Rouge, LA - Baton Rouge Magnet High School
Baton Rouge, LA - Benjamin Franklin High School
New Orleans, LA - University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Maryland
- Sligo Middle School
Silver Spring, MD - Broadneck High School
Annapolis, MD - Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Annapolis, MD
Massachusetts
- Littleton Public Schools
Littleton, MA
Minnesota
- Glendale Elementary School
Savage, MN - Henry Sibley High School
Mendota Heights, MN - Macalester College
Saint Paul, MN
Montana
- Hellgate High School
Missoula, MT - Two Eagle River School
Pablo, MT
Nebraska
- Prescott Elementary School
Lincoln, NE - Alfonza W. Davis Middle School
Omaha, NE - Irving Middle School
Lincoln, NE
New Jersey
- Whitehouse School
Whitehouse Station, NJ - Egg Harbor Township High School
Egg Harbor Township, NJ - Essex County West Caldwell Tech
West Caldwell, NJ - Triton Regional High School
Runnemede, NJ - Raritan Valley Community College
North Branch, NJ
New York
- Schuylerville Elementary School
Schuylerville, NY
North Carolina
- Wiley International Studies Magnet Elementary School
Raleigh, NC - Sandy Grove Middle School
Lumber Bridge, NC - Elon University
Elon, NC
Ohio
- Urban Community School
Cleveland, OH
Pennsylvania
- Park Forest Elementary
State College, PA - The School District of Jenkintown
Jenkintown, PA - Slippery Rock University
Slippery Rock, PA
Virginia
- St. Stephen's & St. Agnes Middle School
Alexandria, VA - Charlottesville City Schools
Charlottesville, VA - Virginia Beach City Public Schools
Virginia Beach, VA
Washington
- Columbia Crest A-STEM Academy
Ashford, WA - Gaiser Middle School
Vancouver, WA - Lakota Middle School
Federal Way, WA - Bethel School District
Spanaway, WA - Issaquah School District
Issaquah, WA
West Virginia
- Berkeley Springs High School
Berkeley Springs, WV
Wisconsin
- West Middleton Elementary School
Verona, WI - Glen Hills Middle School
Glendale, WI - Granton Area School District
Granton, WI - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
