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Green Schools Program overview
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McMicken Heights Elementary
The Eco-Warrior student team at McMicken Heights Elementary School celebrates its energy conservation efforts
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Pacific Cascade Middle School
Pacific Cascade Middle School students create an herb garden at their school
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Tesla-STEM High School
Tesla-STEM High School students present about climate change
Green Schools Program
The Green Schools Program assists and recognizes K-12 school districts, schools, and student teams. We provide guidance and tools to support sustainable practices. The program includes three main levels plus a "Sustaining" level:
- Waste reduction and recycling
- Energy conservation
- Water conservation
- Sustaining Green School / Sustaining Green School District
We recognize schools and districts for each program level they accomplish. Check out the success stories page for summaries of school and district achievements.
We also offer guidance on these topics:
Vision
All K-12 districts and schools in our service area will engage their staff and students in environmental stewardship and resource conservation in their schools.
Mission
To provide King County school districts, schools, and student teams with tools and support needed to:
- Begin and expand waste reduction and recycling practices and other conservation actions.
- Involve the whole school community in environmental stewardship with attention to cultural differences, equity, and best practices for engagement.
- Operate efficient and environmentally responsible facilities.
Program benefits
- Help and guidance. The program provides hands-on support tailored to each district and school.
- Conservation. Save natural resources and help protect our environment.
- Cost savings. Conservation saves money.
- Education and leadership opportunities for students. Students develop leadership skills while working toward sustainability. Action-oriented education engages students and can improve learning and test scores.
- Recognition. Schools, school districts, and student teams receive Green Schools Program recognition. This motivates action and success, and can enhance staff, student, family, and community ownership and pride.
- Resources. We provide information, recommendations, referrals, indoor recycling and composting bins, and signs for indoor bins.
Eligible schools and school districts
Public and private K-12 schools and school districts in King County, outside the City of Seattle, are eligible to sign up and receive assistance.
Learn more about eligibility and sign up
How we support program participants
We provide help to schools and districts on a first-come-first-served basis. We guide each participating school and district to:
- Review current conservation practices.
- Understand why conservation matters and how to improve and expand conservation strategies.
- Begin or improve conservation practices, share successes, and, if desired, complete steps toward recognition.
- Find more free technical help and funding sources.
Virtual and in-person assistance
- Program staff are available to help by phone, Zoom meeting, and email.
- Virtual meetings reduce use of fossil fuels and are preferred.
- In-person school visits are offered to schools when they sign up to participate in the program, unless a virtual visit will provide the needed guidance. Schools with 40% or more free and reduced meals receive priority for in-person visits.
Resources
- Indoor recycling bins and indoor organics (food scraps and other compostable materials) bins. We order and have delivered up to $250 worth of indoor bins for schools serving 40% or more free and reduced meals, and up to $150 worth of indoor bins for other schools. We may provide extra bins to larger schools or schools that cannot buy them.
- Communication tools including sample announcements and articles, recycling and organics stickers for indoor bins, garbage and leftover liquids stickers for indoor bins, and energy and water conservation signs.
- Recognition. Each spring we recognize schools and districts as they complete program level criteria. We also recognize student teams that carry out sustainability projects.
Equity and Social Justice
We are committed to equity and social justice, and these values guide and shape our program. Our services are available regardless of location in the community, income level, race, and other student demographics. We work to identify and reduce barriers to participation and to ensure equitable allocation of resources, and we seek to be responsive, inclusive, collaborative, people-focused, and racially, culturally, and economically just.
Our priority is to assist where needs are greatest. This includes low-income communities, communities of color, and immigrant and refugee populations. Our priority districts are Auburn, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, and Renton, and priority schools are those serving 40% or more free and reduced meals.
Program levels
Level One: waste reduction and recycling
Level One will help participants to:
- Carry out recycling and waste prevention best practices
- Conserve natural resources
- Reduce garbage
- Possibly reduce disposal costs
See our Level One page for more info
Level Two: energy conservation
Level Two will help district and school participants to:
- Inform staff and students about energy conservation and why it’s important
- Connect energy conservation to climate action
- Reduce energy use
Participants are recognized at this level when they continue Level One practices and add energy conservation practices. Schools can choose to do Level Three before Level Two.
See our Level Two page for more info
Level Three: water conservation
Level Three will help participants to:
- Inform staff and students about the importance of conserving and protecting water, and how water conservation is connected to climate action
- Reduce overuse of water
Participants are recognized at this level when they continue Level One practices and add practices to conserve and protect water.
See our Level Three page for more info
Sustaining level
Schools and districts that have been recognized at all 3 levels can reach the Sustaining level by continuing and building on their practices. Participants can earn sustaining level recognition each year they:
- Maintain their Level One through Three practices
- Complete at least 1 new action from any of our best practices guides
Recognition
Schools
Each school that completes school Level One criteria receives:
- a "We are a King County Green School" banner.
- a digital icon to use on the school website, newsletters, and emails.
- recognition on our success stories page.
- mention in promotion issued by King County.
After meeting criteria in additional program levels, each school receives:
- a Level Two or Level Three sticker for its banner, or a Sustaining Green School ribbon to hang on its banner.
- a digital icon to use on the school website, newsletters, and emails.
- updated summary of the school's conservation achievements on our success stories page.
Districts
Each district that completes district Level One criteria receives:
- a digital icon to use on the district website, newsletters, and emails.
- summary of the district's successes on our success stories page.
- mention in promotion issued by King County.
After meeting criteria in additional program levels, each school district receives:
- a digital icon to use on the district website, newsletters, and emails.
- updated summary of the district’s conservation achievements on our success stories page.
- mention in promotion issued by King County.