California Green Ribbon Schools

Meet our Green Ribbon Bronze Award Honoree, San Benito High School District, San Benito County

San Benito High School District (SBHSD) in Hollister, home to Hollister High School, reflects a strong sense of community and continuity, with alumni comprising more than one-third of its staff and a shared commitment to scholarship, teamwork, reflection, opportunity, nurture, and growth. The district’s innovative Adopt-a-Tree program has brought the community onto campus in a meaningful way, resulting in more than 400 trees planted across its 70-acre campus—enhancing campus beauty, creating shade, and contributing to a lasting environmental legacy. Student and staff well-being are central to the district’s efforts, highlighted by a dedicated Wellness Center that provides daily support for social and emotional health, with extended hours beyond the traditional school day and more than 4,000 visits to date. Hands-on learning opportunities are expanding through the addition of a new on-campus greenhouse, where students engage in soil science, sustainability, and agriculture. While currently supporting the agriculture program, the greenhouse is poised to further enrich learning as it becomes integrated into Environmental Science classes, offering students meaningful, real-world applications that connect academics with environmental stewardship.

Meet our Green Ribbon Gold Award Honoree, Community Roots Academy, Capistrano Unified School District

Community Roots Academy (CRA) in Laguna Niguel, part of the Capistrano Unified School District, is a project-based charter school dedicated to cultivating independent thinking, responsible citizenship, and meaningful community engagement through a deeply integrated approach to sustainability and student well-being. The school’s comprehensive waste reduction system includes three-bin sorting, recycling, and student-led composting efforts—featuring both hot-pile and vermicomposting—which have diverted more than 3,500 pounds of organic waste since 2021–22, while also recovering over 900 pounds of edible food from meal programs to be repurposed as healthy snacks through the garden program. CRA supports student health through daily physical education, weekly enrichment opportunities in music, art, garden, and library, and schoolwide wellness events, all complemented by a robust health services team and a nutrition program serving fresh, balanced meals to approximately 600 students. Outdoor learning is central to the student experience, with weekly garden sessions where students explore plant biology, soil health, and composting, and actively harvest, taste, and prepare food—building practical life skills alongside academic knowledge. Time spent outdoors also reinforces social-emotional learning, helping students develop self-awareness and emotional regulation in a natural setting, and reflecting CRA’s holistic, hands-on approach to education.

Meet our Green Ribbon Bronze Award Honoree, Bridges Charter School, Ventura County Office of San Mateo County Office of Education

Bridges Charter School (BCS) in Thousand Oaks, in partnership with the Ventura County Office of Education, fosters a whole-child approach that seamlessly integrates academics, arts, outdoor learning, and social–emotional development within the context of its close-knit, diverse TK–8 community. Deeply connected to the region’s natural environment and climate, the school emphasizes sustainable campus practices, including the strategic planting of native shade trees that reduce heat gain, create comfortable outdoor learning spaces, and are expected to lower long-term cooling demand as the canopy matures. Student wellness is reinforced through garden-based learning, where students grow, harvest, and taste fresh produce while building an understanding of food systems and healthy habits, alongside a physical education program that prioritizes outdoor activity, mindfulness, and cooperative play. Learning extends beyond the classroom through local hikes and field studies in the Conejo Open Space, where students engage with naturalists to explore ecosystems, participate in habitat restoration, and observe ecological processes firsthand. Through these experiences, students strengthen problem-solving skills, apply systems thinking, and deepen their understanding of human impacts on the environment—preparing them to make informed and responsible decisions for the future.

Meet our Green Ribbon Gold Award Honoree, Waldorf School Orange County (Private), Newport Mesa Unified School District

Waldorf School Orange County (WSOC) in Costa Mesa, operating in partnership with Newport-Mesa Unified School District, exemplifies a whole-child approach that nurtures students’ intellectual, artistic, social, and environmental development while advancing meaningful sustainability and wellness practices. The school promotes access and socioeconomic diversity through a Tuition Adjustment Program that provides more than $700,000 annually in support to families. Although WSOC leases its campus and must align facility improvements with district approval processes, it remains committed to environmentally responsible operations by conserving water through seasonal irrigation shutdowns and reducing emissions through strong carpooling efforts and its “Parking at the Park” initiative, which minimizes vehicle idling and fosters community connection. Health and well-being are supported through parent education workshops focused on nutrition, movement, and therapeutic arts, alongside a weekly craft group that builds community and connection among caregivers. Environmental learning is deeply embedded across the curriculum, beginning in the early grades where students engage in hands-on studies of zoology, botany, and geology through outdoor exploration and observation. Gardening serves as a cornerstone of student experience, with learners actively planting, harvesting, composting, and caring for the land—cultivating both environmental stewardship and a lasting connection to the natural world.

Meet our Green Ribbon Silver Award Honoree, Las Virgenes Unified School District, Los Angeles County

Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) encompasses the cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, and Westlake Village in Los Angeles County, California, and is guided by its motto of 'every kind of excellence, every kind of future.' LVUSD enhances building sustainability and protects its classrooms by installing new cool roofs across its campuses. This not only increases occupant comfort during hot weather, but also reduces their dependence on air conditioning, lowering energy costs and extending the lifespan of their HVAC equipment. LVUSD promotes overall fitness and wellness through a comprehensive physical education program across all schools. Classes focus on lifelong fitness and wellness, emphasizing personal health over competition. LVUSD integrates outdoor learning across grade levels to deepen academic understanding, strengthen community connections, and foster civic responsibility. By learning in authentic outdoor settings, students apply content knowledge, collaborate with others, and develop real-world problem-solving skills tied to environmental stewardship and community engagement. To integrate outdoor learning into their curriculum, the district established outdoor classrooms across several campuses. This includes the one-acre Outdoor Wonder Lab, which features 48 fruit trees and gardens. This unique space teaches students practical skills for growing vegetables and deepens their understanding of food systems and the natural world.

Meet our Green Ribbon Gold Award Honoree, American High School, Fremont Unified School District

American High School (AHS) in Fremont serves a densely populated suburban community near the San Francisco Bay and exemplifies a comprehensive commitment to sustainability, student wellness, and academic excellence. The school minimizes landfill waste through effective composting, recycling, and donation programs, maintains rigorous hazardous materials management practices, and promotes sustainable transportation through its participation in Safe Routes to Schools, thereby demonstrating responsible stewardship of resources and efficient campus operations. AHS also prioritizes student health and food access through a districtwide universal meal program that provides all students with free USDA-compliant breakfasts and lunches featuring fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; a Food Share Table further reduces waste while supporting students experiencing food insecurity. Health education courses and Wellness Coach-led workshops deepen students’ understanding of nutrition, hydration, and their connection to overall well-being. Complementing these efforts, AHS delivers an interdisciplinary, hands-on approach to environmental learning, engaging students in real-world applications that integrate science, civics, and technology to cultivate informed, engaged, and action-oriented global citizens.

Meet our Green Ribbon Bronze Achiever Award Honoree, Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, Burbank Unified School District
Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School (TRES) in Burbank, California, demonstrates a robust commitment to sustainability through a combination of innovative practices and strategic partnerships across all three Pillars of the Green Ribbon Schools framework.
The school is actively working to combat the urban heat island effect, a major local challenge, by expanding accessible green spaces. This includes maintaining a sensory garden, a diversity garden, and a native plant garden, and undertaking a current project to replace 3,400 sq. ft. of turf with 99% native, low-water-use plants. TRES focuses on environmental health by developing new green spaces, including a community garden to be built soon with professional support, and by utilizing a Tower Garden for fresh produce. Wellness is promoted through programs like Playground Yoga, funded by the Burbank Arts and Education Foundation. Environmental and sustainability education is a core and deeply integrated component of the academic experience at TRES. Their approach ensures that every student across all grade levels receives comprehensive instruction explicitly aligned with the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). This integration moves beyond traditional classroom lessons by utilizing our campus as a living laboratory.

Meet our Green Ribbon Gold Award Honoree, Carl Sandburg Middle School, Glendora Unified School District

Carl Sandburg Middle School (CSMS) in Glendora, California, is a shining example of how geography, innovation, and community spirit intersect, creating a special educational environment that is more than a campus; it is a hub of learning, collaboration, and cultural pride. After distance learning caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the former principal of CSMS imagined transforming the abandoned tennis courts into a space where students could experience the joy of growing food, learning about ecosystems, and understanding the connections between land, health, and community. Today, the Spartan Garden and the programs surrounding it have become a cornerstone of CSMS’s sustainability journey—proof that environmental stewardship begins with vision, community, and the simple act of planting a seed. Through the Spartan Garden, CSMS exemplifies how environmental education can enhance health and wellness outcomes. By linking environmental stewardship with nutrition and fitness, the school cultivates a holistic wellness culture that benefits students, staff, and the wider Glendora community. The program fosters lifelong habits of healthy living, outdoor engagement, and environmental responsibility. Building environmental literacy means helping students see how classroom learning connects to future opportunities. CSMS partners with organizations and professionals to introduce students to green career pathways in horticulture, renewable energy, and environmental science. Guest speakers share expertise in irrigation design, composting, and nutrition, showing students how sustainability applies in workplaces.

Meet our Green Ribbon Silver Award Honoree, School of the Madeleine (Private), Alameda County

School of the Madeleine is a Catholic K – 8 elementary school in the heart of Berkeley, California. The school’s mission is to inspire students to grow in mind, body, and spirit; to cultivate moral and ethical decision-making; and to prepare them to become compassionate leaders and responsible stewards of creation. At the school, environmental stewardship extends to the care of their grounds and water resources. The school maintains water-wise landscaping with drought-tolerant and native plants, efficient irrigation practices, and shaded outdoor gathering areas that support ecological health and student comfort. Wellness programming reflects a holistic approach. Students spend meaningful time outdoors for learning and play, benefiting from shaded areas that reduce heat exposure. Physical education emphasizes movement, fitness, and outdoor activity, while daily recess ensures that all students have time for unstructured, nature-based play. Place-based learning is central to their program. Students explore the natural world through on-campus experiences and through local field trips to parks, shorelines, wildlife centers, botanical gardens, and museums. Annual outdoor education programs immerse students in forest, mountain, and coastal environments, fostering scientific inquiry, teamwork, and appreciation for the natural world.

Meet our Green Ribbon Gold Award Honoree, Winters Joint Unified School District, Yolo County

The Winters Joint Unified School District (WJUSD) located in Yolo County, is a uniquely rich and ecologically diverse rural region. As a small rural district, environmental stewardship is deeply rooted in the community’s heritage. Generations of Winters students have grown up understanding the importance of protecting farmland, waterways, and natural habitats. For WJUSD, sustainability extends beyond environmental stewardship. It serves as a pathway to student empowerment, community engagement, and lifelong civic responsibility. At WJUSD, water conservation is a critical priority due to California’s persistent drought cycles. The district has transitioned to drought-tolerant landscaping, high-efficiency irrigation controllers, and leak-detection systems. Turf maintenance on athletic fields uses carefully managed practices, including selective chemical applications and stormwater retention features to protect Putah Creek. The district’s Wellness Policy supports daily physical activity, expanded intramural programs, and staff wellness challenges. Outdoor learning spaces, including gardens and shaded classrooms, promote movement, mindfulness, and exposure to nature throughout the school day. WJUSD’s CTE and agricultural programs integrate engineering, robotics, and sustainable agriculture practices. Students in Intro to Ag and Ag Practices courses, including SLEWS/CLBL programs, engage in native ecosystem restoration projects, plant hedgerows to support pollinators, and apply STEM skills to design automated irrigation systems and monitor greenhouse environments.

Meet our Green Ribbon Bronze Award Honoree, Tierra del Sol Middle School, Lakeside Union School District

Tierra del Sol Middle School (TdSMS) in Lakeside, California, makes sure every student develops the 4C’s – Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity through cross-curricular learning, design thinking, and equitable access to high-quality and STEAM immersion programs, which are essential for 21st-century success. They also host the Femineers Program, developed by Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Engineering, which inspires female and underrepresented students in STEM. Through an Environmental Studies elective, students at TdSMS lead a comprehensive recycling program that promotes hands-on environmental stewardship and measurable waste diversion. Environmental literacy is further reinforced through the school’s daily news broadcast, which airs student-created public service announcements about proper recycling and waste reduction. Healthy eating is a central focus at TdSMS. The cafeteria offers nutritious meals featuring whole grains, lean proteins, and locally grown produce. In partnership with the Lakeside Union School District Nutrition Services Department, the school recently installed two hydroponic systems. Students in Environmental Studies grow and harvest fresh greens that are collected, processed at the district kitchen, and returned for use in school lunches—bringing a true farm-to-table experience to campus.

Meet our Green Ribbon Green Achiever Award Honoree, Lycée Français de San Francisco (Private), San Francisco County

Lycée Français de San Francisco (LFSF) exemplifies a deeply rooted, mission-driven commitment to environmental sustainability, whole-child well-being, and community partnership across its three diverse campuses. Distinct not by wealth but by decades of intentional practice, LFSF has integrated sustainability into its identity, curriculum, and operations since the 1960s, blending French educational values with Northern California’s rich ecosystems. From preschool through grade 12, students engage in hands-on ecology, STEAM, biodiversity, wellness, and climate citizenship across urban, coastal, and bayside settings, learning to view sustainability as both a scientific and civic responsibility. This work is strengthened through community collaboration, including the student-led Eco-Delegate program, partnerships with local and international organizations, and strong family and donor engagement supporting renewable energy, waste reduction, and environmental education initiatives. Guided by its 2022–2027 Strategic Plan, LFSF sustains long-term impact through investments in renewable energy, water-wise landscapes, efficient facilities, green transportation, and wellness-centered design, positioning the school as a model for holistic, enduring environmental excellence and the development of globally minded, environmentally literate citizens.