Walt Whitman High School has been named a 2022 Maryland Green School, bringing the MCPS total to 91.
Staff and students at the certifying schools went above and beyond in this COVID-impacted year: 27 Green Schools successfully recertified this year to retain the honor. Six schools reached the highly valued “sustainable school” status—Ashburton, Bethesda, Forest Knolls, New Hampshire Estates, Rosemary Hills and Sligo Creek elementary schools—and two schools reached Sustainable Bronze Level: John Poole Middle School and Westbrook Elementary School. Sustainable schools have maintained Green School certification for 16 years. Bronze Level schools have maintained Green School certification for 20 years.
The Maryland Green Schools Program requires that qualifying schools provide a portfolio of artifacts that demonstrate the completion of requirements in four categories. A critical criterion is the presentation of evidence that the school has integrated environmental education throughout the school year at every grade level. Each of this year’s schools met that strict standard by demonstrating a school community focused on environmental literacy, which includes student participation in environmental action.
A statewide celebration of all new and recertified Green Schools was held virtually on May 18. A second celebration will be held in person on May 26, at the Maryland Green Schools Youth Summit at Sandy Point State Park. Staff from the MCPS Outdoor Environmental Education Programs and the MCPS Division of Sustainability and Compliance will participate in the annual Youth Summit and attend the awards ceremony.
The 2021-2022 Green Schools are models for fulfilling the spirit of the Maryland State Department of Education’s curriculum standards in environmental literacy, integrating environmental education across grade levels and content areas.
2021-2022 List of Green Schools
