The U.S. Department of Education today released the names of the 2017 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, District Sustainability Awardees, and Postsecondary Sustainability Awardees. Across the country, 45 schools, nine districts, and nine postsecondary institutions are being honored for their innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, improve health and wellness, and ensure effective sustainability education. A state education official was also honored for her efforts to advance school sustainability in the state of Georgia.

"I commend each school, district, and institution of higher education for their efforts to create a healthy learning environment for students, faculty and staff," said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. "These schools have done exemplary work to help prepare the rising generation for the careers and challenges of the 21st Century."

The honorees were named from a pool of candidates nominated by 28 states and the Department of Defense Department of Education Activity. The selectees include 39 public schools, including five magnet schools and one charter school, as well as six nonpublic schools. Forty-four percent of the 2017 honorees serve a disadvantaged student body and 14 percent are rural. The postsecondary honorees include three career and technical and 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 63 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.

Following is the list of 2017 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, District Sustainability Award, and Postsecondary Sustainability Award honorees:

Alabama

• Childersburg Elementary School Childersburg, AL
• Sycamore School Sycamore, AL
• University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL

California

• Yosemite High School Merced, CA
• The Thacher School Ojai, CA
• Culver City Unified School District Culver City, CA
• Montecito Union School District Santa Barbara, CA
• Redondo Beach Unified School District Redondo Beach, CA

Colorado

• Sedalia Elementary School Sedalia, CO
• Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Springs, CO

Connecticut

• Moriarty Environmental Sciences Magnet School Norwich, CT

Delaware

• Forwood Elementary School Wilmington, DE
• Neil Postlethwait Middle School South Camden, DE

Department of Defense Education Activity

• Tarawa Terrace Elementary School Tarawa Terrace, NC

Florida

• Castle Creek Elementary School Orlando, FL
• Surfside Elementary School Satellite Beach, FL
• Wilton Manors Elementary School Wilton Manors, FL
• Air Base K-8 Center Homestead, FL
• Duval County Public Schools Jacksonville, FL

Georgia

• Gilbert Elementary School LaFayette, GA
• Kinchafoonee Primary School Leesburg, GA
• Morningside Elementary School Atlanta, GA
• University of Georgia Athens, GA

Illinois

• Maercker Intermediate School Westmont, IL
• Chiaravalle Montessori School Evanston, IL

Indiana

• Burris Laboratory School Muncie, IN
• Bethany Christian Schools Goshen, IN

Iowa

• Iowa Lakes Community College Estherville, IA

Kentucky

• Morton Middle School Lexington, KY

Louisiana

• Belle Chasse Academy Belle Chasse, LA
• Mayfair Laboratory School Baton Rouge, LA
• Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA

Maryland

• William Tyler Page Elementary School Silver Spring, MD
• John Poole Middle School Poolesville, MD

Minnesota

• Edgewood Early Childhood & La ola del lago Spanish Immersion School Prior Lake, MN
• Pilot Knob STEM Magnet School Eagan, MN
• Bemidji State University Bemidji, MN

Missouri

• McKelvey Elementary School Maryland Heights, MO
• Parkway North High School, St. Louis, MO
• Maplewood Richmond Heights Middle School Maplewood, MO

Montana

• Whitefish School District Whitefish, MT

Nebraska

• Chandler View Elementary School Omaha, NE
• Omaha Northwest Magnet High School Omaha, NE

New Hampshire

• Keene State College Keene, NH

New Jersey

• George L. Catrambone Elementary School Long Branch, NJ
• Long Branch Middle School Long Branch, NJ

New Mexico

• Sandia Vista Elementary School Rio Rancho, NM

Ohio

• Lakewood Catholic Academy Lakewood, OH

Oregon

• Portland Waldorf School Milwaukie, OR

Pennsylvania

• Coebourn Elementary School Brookhaven, PA
• The School District of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA

Rhode Island

• Moses Brown School Providence, RI
• Rhode Island College Providence, RI

Virginia

• Centreville Elementary School Centreville, VA
• Discovery Elementary School Arlington, VA
• Albermarle Public Schools Charlottesville, VA
• Fairfax County Public Schools Fairfax, VA

Washington

• Green Gables Elementary School Federal Way, WA
• Lakeridge Elementary School Mercer Island, WA

Wisconsin

• Houlton Elementary School Houlton, WI
• Kromrey Middle School Kromrey, WI
• Washburn School District Washburn, WI
• University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI