2015 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools and District Sustainability Awardees Announced, Along With First Postsecondary Sustainability Awardees

Award Honors Schools, Districts, and Postsecondary Institutions for Reducing Environmental Impact and Costs; Improving Health; and Offering Environmental Education

April 22, 2015

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was joined by Managing Director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Christy Goldfuss today to announce the 2015 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award honorees. Fifty-eight schools, 14 districts, and nine postsecondary institutions were honored for their promising efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and green career pathways. In addition, nine colleges and universities were honored with the Postsecondary Sustainability Award, in the first year of that award category.  

“These honorees are compelling examples of the ways schools can help children build real-world skillsets, cut school costs, and provide healthy learning environments,” Duncan said. “U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools are an inspiration and deserve the spotlight for embodying strong examples of innovative learning and civic engagement. We also are thrilled to add institutions of higher education to the list of honorees this year for the first time in the award’s history.”  

“With so many tough challenges facing our planet, it is more important than ever to inspire and prepare the next generation of environmental stewards," said Goldfuss. "By creating healthier learning environments, reducing their carbon footprints, and teaching students lasting lessons about innovation and sustainability, today's honorees are leading the way for schools and districts across the country."  

The schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions were confirmed from a pool of candidates voluntarily nominated by 30 state education agencies, with honorees selected from 28 jurisdictions. The list of 81 total selectees includes 52 public schools and six private schools. The public schools include two charter and three magnet schools. The schools serve various grade levels, including 35 elementary, 19 middle and 17 high schools are among them, with several schools having various K-12 configurations, from 28 of the nominating authorities. Forty-seven percent of the 2015 honorees serve a disadvantaged student body, 22 percent are rural, and one-third of the postsecondary institutions are community colleges. 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 81 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.    

Alabama

• Bluff Park Elementary School
  Hoover, AL
• Lincoln Elementary School
  Lincoln, AL
• Lincoln High School
  Lincoln, AL
• Auburn University
  Auburn, AL 

California

• Los Cerritos Elementary School
  Long Beach, CA
• Carmel Middle School
  Carmel, CA
• Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High
  Los Angeles, CA
• Marin Country Day School
  Corte Madera, CA
• El Monte Union High School District
  El Monte, CA 

Colorado

• Red Hawk Elementary School
  Erie, CO
• Colorado State University
  Fort Collins, CO 

Connecticut

• Parkway School
  Greenwich, CT
• Academy of Engineering and Green Technology
  Hartford, CT
• Rogers International School
  Stamford, CT
• Greens Farms Academy
  Greens Farms, CT
• Stamford School District
  Stamford, CT 

Delaware

• Linden Hill Elementary School
  Wilmington, DE
• Mt. Pleasant Elementary School
  Wilmington, DE
• Kirk Middle School
  Newark, DE 

Department of Defense Education Activity

• Charles P. Murray Elementary School
  Fort Stewart, GA
• Wiesbaden Middle School
  Wiesbaden, Hainerberg, Germany 

District of Columbia

• The George Washington University
  Washington, DC 

Florida

• Manatee Elementary School
  Viera, FL
• Pine View School for the Gifted
  Osprey, FL
• Odyssey Charter School
  Palm Bay, FL 

Georgia

• Dr. M.H. Mason Jr. Elementary School
  Duluth, GA
• Big Shanty Intermediate School
  Kennesaw, GA
• Cherokee County School District
  Canton, GA
• Cobb County School District
  Marietta, GA 

Illinois

• River Trails Middle School
  Mt. Prospect, IL 

Indiana

• Columbus North High School
  Columbus, IN 

Iowa

• Kirkwood Community College
  Cedar Rapids, IA 

Kentucky

• Bryan Station Middle School
  Lexington, KY
• Royal Spring Middle School
  Georgetown, KY
• Western Kentucky University
  Bowling Green, KY 

Maryland

• J. C. Parks Elementary School
  Indian Head, MD
• Northwest High School
  Germantown, MD
• Howard County Public School System
  Ellicott City, MD 

Massachusetts

• Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School
  Upton, MA
• Hingham High School
  Hingham, MA
• Cambridge Public Schools
  Cambridge, MA 

Minnesota

• Redtail Ridge Elementary School
  Savage, MN
• Harambee Community Cultures/Environmental Science School
  Maplewood, MN
• Rockford Middle School-Center for Environmental Studies
  Rockford, MN
• City of Lakes Waldorf School
  Minneapolis, MN
• West St Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School District 197
  Mendota Heights, MN
• University of Minnesota, Morris
  Morris, MN 

Mississippi

• Oxford School District
  Oxford, MS 

Montana

• Rattlesnake Elementary School
  Missoula, MT
• Seeley Lake Elementary School
  Seeley Lake, MT
• Seeley-Swan High School
  Seeley Lake, MT 

Nebraska

• Edward Babe Gomez Heritage Elementary School
  Omaha, NE
• Wilson Focus School
  Omaha, NE
• Lincoln Public Schools
  Lincoln, NE 

New Jersey

• William Davies Middle School
  Mays Landing, NJ
• East Brunswick Vocational and Technical High School
  East Brunswick, NJ
• Timber Creek Regional High School
  Erial, NJ
• Princeton Day School
  Princeton, NJ 

North Carolina

• Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
  Chapel Hill, NC
• Cherokee County Schools
  Murphy, NC 

Ohio

• Old Trail School
  Bath, OH
• Berea City School District
  Berea, OH 

Pennsylvania

• Charles F. Patton Middle School
  Kennett Square, PA
• Northampton Community College
  Bethlehem, PA 

Rhode Island

• Paul W. Crowley East Bay Met School
  Newport, RI
• Ponaganset High School
  North Scituate, RI 

Virginia

• Coles Elementary School
  Manassas, VA
• Crozet Elementary School
  Crozet, VA
• Bassett High School
  Bassett, VA
• The Steward School
  Richmond, VA
• University of Virginia
  Charlottesville, VA 

Washington

• Discovery Elementary School
  Everett, WA
• Hillcrest Elementary School
  Oak Harbor, WA
• Image Elementary School
  Vancouver, WA
• Tahoma School District
  Maple Valley, WA 

West Virginia

• North Elementary School
  Morgantown, WV 

Wisconsin

• Colby Elementary School
  Colby, WI
• Lake Mills Elementary School
  Lake Mills, WI
• Columbus Elementary-Discovery Charter School
  Columbus, WI
• Middleton--Cross Plains Area Schools
  Middleton, WI
• Western Technical College
  La Crosse, WI