Four Rhode Island Schools, One District Receive U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School Honors
Award honors schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions for reducing environmental impact and costs, improving health and wellness, offering effective sustainability education
The U.S. Department of Education today announced the 2024 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, District Sustainability Awardees, and Postsecondary Sustainability Awardees.
In Rhode Island, four schools were named U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools. They include: Dunn’s Corners School in Westerly, Garden City Elementary in Cranston, and Frank D. Spaziano Elementary and William D’Abate Elementary – both in Providence. In addition, Chariho Regional School District in Wood River Junction was honored as a District Sustainability Awardee.
Across the country, 41 schools, 10 districts, three postsecondary institutions, and one early learning center are being honored for their innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, improve health and wellness, and offer effective sustainability education. The honorees were named from a pool of candidates nominated by 24 states. Half of this year’s honorees are located in underserved communities.
In addition, one state education official is recognized with the Director’s Award. This year, it is George Garcia of the California Department of Education.
“This year’s U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools are leading school transformation in states that will help ensure all students in all communities have the opportunity to grow to become strong and healthy learners,” stated U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “This year’s awardees range from early learning centers to postsecondary institutions. Notably, half are located in under-resourced communities. These awards represent thousands of students, and countless hours of hard work in schools and on college campuses, ensuring equitable access to healthy, climate-resilient learning environments where students are prepared for the sustainability challenges of the present and future.”
This announcement comes as the White House hosts the first-ever Summit for Sustainable and Healthy K-12 School Buildings and Grounds from 1-3:30 p.m. ET today. Public and press may tune into the livestream of the program, which will highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to equitable access to energy efficient, climate resilient, and healthy school facilities that are conducive to learning and well-being.
The summit brings attention to the pressing need for equitable access to sustainable, 21st century school infrastructure and the impact facilities condition has on student health, overall well-being, and learning outcomes. It also shares federal tools and commitments that bolster sustainable school buildings and infrastructure.
In addition, this spring, the Department launched a new publication series, ED Infrastructure and Sustainability Notes, highlighting key sustainability concepts and practices of schools across the nation in brief form. Consult the first several Notes on the ED Infrastructure and Sustainability page, under resources: Framework for a Sustainable School, The Education Sector in Climate Action, School Environmental Justice as Social Justice, How School Operations Affect the Environment, and School Grounds and the Outdoors.
Following are the 2024 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, District Sustainability Awardees, Postsecondary Sustainability Awardees, and Director’s Award recipients:
· AL – Hoover – Hoover High School, Category: School
· AR – Batesville – Batesville School District, Category: District
· CA – Trabuco Canyon – Trabuco Elementary School, Category: School
· CA – Carlsbad – Pacific Ridge School, Category: School
· CA – Half Moon Bay – Cabrillo Unified School District, Category: District
· CA – Claremont – Claremont Unified School District, Category: District
· CA – Oxnard – Rio School District, Category: District
· CA – California Department of Education – George Garcia, Category: Director’s Award
· DoDEA – Asia Pacific – Humphreys Central Elementary School, Category: School
· DC – Washington – Marie Reed Elementary School, Category: School
· DC – Washington – St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School, Category: School
· DC – Washington – The Catholic University of America, Category: Postsecondary Institution
· FL – Maitland – Dommerich Elementary School, Category: School
· FL – Orlando – Sally Ride Elementary School, Category: School
· FL – Zellwood – Zellwood Elementary School, Category: School
· FL – St. Petersburg – Northside Christian School, Category: School
· IL – Clarendon Hills – Clarendon Hills Middle School, Category: School
· IL – Lake Zurich – Lake Zurich Community Unit School District, Category: District
· IN – Plainfield – Plainfield Community Middle School, Category: School
· IN – Bloomington – Tri-North Middle School, Category: School
· KY – Lexington – Arlington Elementary School, Category: School
· KY – Fort Thomas – Robert D. Johnson Elementary School, Category: School
· LA – Baton Rouge – Eva Legard Center for Coastal and Environmental Studies, Category: School
· LA – Baton Rouge – Park Forest Middle Creative Sciences & Arts Magnet, Category: School
· MD – Lutherville – Lutherville Laboratory, Category: School
· MD – Baltimore – The Waldorf School of Baltimore, Category: School
· MA – Northampton – HEC Academy, Category: School
· MA – Lexington – Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School, Category: School
· MA – East Falmouth – Falmouth Public Schools, Category: District
· MI – Westland – Hayes Elementary School, Category: School
· MI – Grand Rapids – West Side Christian School, Category: School
· MN – Eden Prairie – Eden Prairie Schools, Category: District
· MO – Webster Groves – Nerinx Hall, Category: School
· NM – Albuquerque – Polk Middle School, Category: School
· NM – Cuba – Cuba Independent School District, Category: District
· NY – Garrison – Garrison School, Category: School
· NC – Salisbury – Salisbury Academy, Category: School
· NC – Salisbury – Catawba College, Category: Postsecondary Institution
· PA – Cranberry Township – Rowan Elementary School, Category: School
· PA – Philadelphia – Green Woods Charter School, Category: School
· PA – Reading – Reading Senior High School, Category: School
· PR – Dorado – The TASIS School in Dorado, Category: School
· RI – Westerly – Dunn’s Corners School, Category: School
· RI – Providence – Frank D. Spaziano Elementary School, Category: School
· RI – Cranston – Garden City Elementary School, Category: School
· RI – Providence – William D’Abate Elementary School, Category: School
· RI – Wood River Junction – Chariho Regional School District, Category: District
· VA – Woodbridge – Dale City Elementary School, Category: School
· VA – Manassas – George P. Mullen Elementary School, Category: School
· WA – Gig Harbor – Artondale Elementary School, Category: School
· WA – Lakebay – Evergreen Elementary School, Category: School
· WI – Madison – Creative Learning Preschool and Child Care Center, Category: Early Learning
· WI – Milwaukee – Hawthorne Elementary School, Category: School
· WI – Bay View – Milwaukee Parkside School for the Arts, Category: School
· WI – Eagle River – Northland Pines School District, Category: District
· WI – Menomonie – University of Wisconsin-Stout, Category: Postsecondary Institution
Background information
Learn more about the federal recognition award. Find resources for all schools to move towards sustainable school practices. Consult the list of all selected schools, districts, colleges, and universities, as well as their nomination packages with documentation of their progress in the award criteria. Read a report with highlights on the 56 honorees
