Launched by the U.S. Department of Education in 2011, the Green Ribbon Schools recognition program honors schools and districts that are exemplary in reducing environmental impact and costs, improving the health and wellness of students and staff, and delivering effective environmental and sustainability education that incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), civic skills, and green career pathways. Each year, Massachusetts selects one or more schools or districts to honor at the state level; those honorees are then elevated to the U.S. Department of Education where they will have the opportunity to be honored as a national Green Ribbon School/District.
2024 Green Ribbon Schools — Applications are closed for the 2023-24 school year.
The 2025 Green Ribbon Schools program application will open in Fall 2024. A panel comprised of DESE staff, Massachusetts School Building Authority staff, and statewide environmental education organizations will score the applications and award schools and districts in the following categories:
Applicants may find helpful the rubric we use to score submissions, samples of winning submissions, and other useful information below.
Join us in celebrating this year's U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) awardees nominated by DESE!
These schools and districts have demonstrated their achievements in three essential areas of school sustainability, known as the three Pillars of ED-GRS: 1) reduced environmental impact and costs; 2) improved health and wellness; and 3) effective environmental and sustainability education. Highlights of all the Green Ribbon honorees are included in this report as well as a video message from Secretary Cardona from the U.S. Department of Education.
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For more information, please contact: Nicole Scola .
Last Updated: April 29, 2024
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
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