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