California Green Ribbon Schools

08/20/2026

Just a reminder that the 2027 application is now available.

06/25/2026

05/28/2026

Meet our Green Ribbon Silver Award Honoree, Maple Elementary School, Fullerton School District

Maple Elementary School (MES) serves a diverse community of young learners and advances environmental awareness, health, and hands-on STEM learning through both campus improvements and immersive educational experiences. The school has reduced the urban heat island effect by replacing a previously leaking rooftop with a reflective, energy-efficient coating and by integrating energy-efficient thermostats, thereby improving indoor comfort and reducing overall energy demand. Support from a $30,000 grant from Sprouts Farmers Market has strengthened student wellness and outdoor learning by funding mobile raised garden beds used across grade levels, where younger students explore plant life cycles while older students develop business models and consider how to share garden-grown produce with the school and broader community. Environmental learning is further enriched through expanded field experiences made possible by grant funding and partnerships, allowing all TK–6 students to participate in immersive outdoor education. Fourth-grade students, for example, attend a multi-day experience in Idyllwild, where they explore physics and astronomy concepts through hands-on activities such as hiking, ziplining, and scientific investigations of atmospheric science, electricity, and space phenomena. Together, these efforts create a dynamic learning environment that connects classroom instruction with real-world environmental and scientific exploration.

05/28/2026

Meet our Green Ribbon Gold Award Honoree, Northwood High School, Irvine Unified School District

Northwood High School operates within a Southern California environment shaped by drought, extreme heat, and wildfire risks, and responds with comprehensive sustainability practices that engage students in real-world environmental problem-solving. The school diverts waste from landfills through a multi-layered system that includes three-bin composting stations, share tables, student-led waste audits, and partnerships for food recovery that redirect edible surplus to those in need. Campus sustainability is further supported by four water bottle filling stations that reduce single-use plastic waste and recycling programs that help fund educational initiatives. The school also participates in districtwide nutrition efforts that connect students to local farms and organizations such as the Second Harvest Food Bank, strengthening understanding of sustainable food systems while increasing access to fresh produce. Learning extends into multiple outdoor spaces, including school gardens, a greenhouse, and a native restoration site where students grow, harvest, cook, and take home food while engaging directly with ecological systems. Student well-being is supported through robust mental health services, while academic and career pathways in environmental fields are expanded through CTE and science electives that connect students with partners such as the University of California, Irvine, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, and The Energy Coalition, offering internships, mentorships, and hands-on engineering challenges that prepare students for green careers.

05/27/2026

Meet our Green Ribbon Bronze Award Honoree, Menlo Park City School District, San Mateo County

Menlo Park City School District serves a diverse and environmentally dynamic region spanning the San Francisco Bay peninsula, where coastal wetlands, foothills, and nearby wildfire-prone areas shape both opportunities and challenges related to sea-level rise, drought, and air quality. These conditions are thoughtfully reflected in districtwide planning and design, which incorporates bioswales, solar energy, abundant shade trees, gardens at every campus, and outdoor learning spaces that extend classrooms into nature, along with a newly installed organic synthetic turf field at the district’s largest athletic space. Sustainability practices are embedded across all sites through comprehensive recycling, composting, plastic film collection, and fully compostable lunch programs, reinforcing daily habits of environmental responsibility. Every campus includes designated nature zones that support outdoor instruction and free exploration, complemented by a wide range of natural play elements such as music gardens, sand areas, water features, flexible seating made from natural materials, and large-scale manipulatives that encourage creative, open-ended play. The district’s Early Learning Center prioritizes outdoor discovery for preschool-aged children through developmentally appropriate nature zones that foster early connection to the natural world. Environmental and sustainability education is fully integrated into science and social studies curricula across all grade levels, supported by teaching gardens, project-based learning on topics such as ocean plastics, pollinators, and waste systems, as well as hands-on civic engagement experiences, including science fairs, interactive history events, and student mock elections. Through these interconnected efforts, MPCSD cultivates environmentally literate, civically engaged learners from early childhood through middle school.

05/27/2026

Meet our Green Ribbon Gold Award Honoree, San Joaquin County Office of Education

The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) serves as a regional educational leader, supporting a diverse, primarily low-income student population across urban and rural communities throughout San Joaquin County, and integrating environmental responsibility, health, and experiential learning across its campuses and programs. SJCOE has expanded access to electric vehicle infrastructure by installing charging stations in multiple main parking areas, reflecting a growing commitment to clean transportation and sustainability, while also advancing air quality improvements through strong no-idling policies that reduce emissions and create ongoing opportunities for environmental education with staff, students, and families. Health and wellness initiatives are further supported by the development of a campus walking path, which encourages physical activity and promotes employee well-being. Environmental literacy is embedded throughout instruction and professional learning through programs aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and California Environmental Principles and Concepts, and is strengthened by two outdoor education centers that provide hands-on, field-based learning experiences for K–12 students and educators. Additional programs, including California Regional Environmental Education Community Teacher Leadership and salmonid-focused studies, along with lessons on topics such as carbon capture and mosquito prevention, empower students and teachers to engage in meaningful environmental stewardship and applied science learning.

05/26/2026

Meet our Green Ribbon Silver Award Honoree, Mission San Jose Elementary School, Fremont Unified School District

Mission San Jose Elementary School reflects the city’s strong tradition of innovation, community engagement, and environmental awareness through a coordinated approach to sustainability and student learning. The school advances water conservation through drought-tolerant landscaping, rapid-leak response practices, and a bottle-filling station that encourages the use of reusable containers, while partnerships with the Alameda County Water District deepen students' understanding of water stewardship through assemblies and classroom instruction. The school also demonstrates a highly organized, community-supported arrival and dismissal system, where parents, students, and community volunteers serve as a safety patrol valet team, ensuring efficient and safe drop-off and pick-up operations. Environmental and sustainability education is woven across all subject areas through an interdisciplinary Green Schoolyard vision, in which outdoor spaces are regularly used for instruction on topics such as recycling, composting, and life science concepts, including plant and animal life cycles. Schoolwide initiatives, such as whole-school Green Schoolyard Month engagement, further engage students and families in service-learning projects and themed activities that promote environmental stewardship and strengthen community connection.

05/26/2026

Meet our Green Ribbon Gold Award Honoree, Oxnard High School, Oxnard Union High School District

Oxnard High School serves a diverse student body shaped by its coastal setting, agricultural heritage, and dynamic community, and integrates environmental stewardship, wellness, and career-focused learning throughout the student experience. The campus has developed dedicated Monarch Waystation habitats that support pollinator populations through native milkweed and nectar plants, carefully planned sunlit planting areas, and sustainable maintenance practices that avoid insecticides and remove invasive species, strengthened through partnerships with local nurseries and community volunteer planting efforts. Student and staff well-being is supported through a comprehensive approach that integrates environmental health, nutrition, and fitness, alongside active family engagement, including newsletters and a weekly student-led podcast offering guidance on eco-friendly habits, healthy routines, and stress management strategies. Environmental Principles and Concepts are embedded across disciplines, helping students understand the relationships between human activity and natural systems. This foundation is further expanded through the school’s Green Technologies Academy, where students in grades 10–12 engage in interdisciplinary, project-based learning that integrates English, science, social science, and career technical education to explore climate change, green building, resource management, and civic engagement, preparing them for future careers in sustainability-focused fields.

05/22/2026

Meet our Green Ribbon Gold Award Honoree, Neil Cummins Elementary School, Larkspur-Corte Madera School District

Neil Cummins Elementary School blends environmental stewardship, student wellness, and interdisciplinary learning through a campus culture deeply rooted in sustainability and care for both people and place. The school’s 2,500-square-foot garden, certified as a Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, anchors a broader network of native habitat areas, bird and bat boxes, classroom garden trugs, and mature Coast Redwood trees that together support biodiversity across campus. Sustainable landscaping practices, including expanded native and drought-tolerant plantings, mulching to retain moisture, and rainwater barrels for supplemental irrigation, further reinforce responsible resource management. Student well-being is supported through a comprehensive system that includes counseling services, a dedicated Wellness Room (“Hawk Haven”), mindfulness practices, restorative approaches, and peer mentoring through a Buddy System, while staff wellness is nurtured through shared community practices such as “Care for the Caregiver” sessions and outdoor wellness spaces. Environmental and sustainability education is fully embedded across the curriculum, with instruction aligned to California’s Environmental Principles and Concepts and integrated into science, literacy, art, and civic learning. Students also engage in hands-on STEM learning through dedicated classes and the Project Lead the Way Launch program, exploring topics such as energy, erosion, robotics, and simple machines while connecting scientific concepts to real-world ecological systems and sustainability challenges.

05/21/2026

Meet our Green Ribbon Bronze Achiever Award Honoree, Green Hills Elementary School, Millbrae Elementary School District

Green Hills Elementary School combines strong academic performance with a deep commitment to fostering well-rounded students who are engaged in both their school and broader community. The school has implemented a robust two-tier food-waste sorting and composting system, supported by a student Green Team that trains peers to properly separate food scraps. Organic waste—including fruit and vegetable remnants—is diverted into an on-site three-bin composting system. Sustainability efforts are further reinforced by sourcing approximately 80% of produce from local or California farms, introducing students to a wide variety of fresh, often unfamiliar fruits and vegetables that encourage healthy eating habits and lifelong nutritional awareness. Environmental and sustainability education is consistently embedded across grade levels through Science and Social Studies curricula, with teacher collaboration ensuring students receive intentional, standards-aligned instruction on stewardship and sustainable practices. Through these integrated efforts, the school cultivates environmental awareness, healthy choices, and a strong sense of community responsibility.