King County Green Schools Program recognizes 70 schools for conserving resources

This month, the King County Green Schools Program is honoring 70 schools for their conservation achievements.

This month, the King County Green Schools Program is honoring 70 schools for their conservation achievements.

“These 70 schools have initiated or improved sustainable practices and are teaching their students and employees about conservation,” said Dale Alekel, Green Schools Program manager.

Schools from 33 cities and 15 school districts in King County are engaging students, teachers, and other staff in reducing waste and recycling, and conserving water and energy, with help from the King County Green Schools Program.

The program involves students and school employees in learning about and practicing resource conservation. Alekel said that participating schools and school districts have reported saving money through reduced garbage volumes and decreased energy and water use.

“Green Schools Program participants are helping King County achieve its goal of reaching a 70 percent recycling rate by 2020, while the students and employees at these schools learn simple and effective resource conservation actions that will benefit our environment,” said Pat McLaughlin, director of the King County Solid Waste Division.

The program has served a growing number of schools each year, from 100 schools in 2009-10 to 236 schools (47 percent of the K-12 schools in King County outside the City of Seattle) in 2015-16. The program also assists school districts, with 12 districts currently participating.

The 70 schools listed below are being recognized this month for completing Green School actions and education. Level One of the program is focused on reducing waste and recycling, Level Two includes energy conservation practices, Level Three includes water conservation and pollution prevention practices, and Level Four Sustaining Green Schools maintain their Level One, Two, and Three practices and complete an additional conservation action or educational strategy.

Sustaining Green Schools 2015-16 (Level Four) – 36 schools

Auburn School District

· Lakeland Hills Elementary School
· Lea Hill Elementary School

Enumclaw School District

· Westwood Elementary School

Federal Way Public Schools

· Camelot Elementary School

Highline School District

· North Hill Elementary School

Issaquah School District

· Apollo Elementary School
· Briarwood Elementary School
· Creekside Elementary School
· Grand Ridge Elementary School
· Issaquah High School
· Issaquah Middle School
· Liberty High School
· Newcastle Elementary School
· Pine Lake Middle School
· Sunny Hills Elementary School
· Sunset Elementary School

Kent School District

· Covington Elementary School
· Crestwood Elementary School
· Kent-Meridian High School

Northshore School District

· Bothell High School
· Secondary Academy for Success

Riverview School District

· Carnation Elementary School

Shoreline School District

· Echo Lake Elementary School

Snoqualmie Valley School District

· North Bend Elementary School
· Snoqualmie Elementary School
· Two Rivers School

Tahoma School District

· Cedar River Middle School
· Lake Wilderness Elementary School
· Rock Creek Elementary School
· Shadow Lake Elementary School
· Tahoma Junior High School
· Tahoma Middle School

Private schools

· Academy Schools (Tukwila)
· King’s Elementary School (Shoreline)
· The Evergreen School (Shoreline)
· The Jewish Day School (Bellevue)

Level Three (water conservation and pollution prevention) – 10 schools

Level Three schools maintain Level One and Two practices, and learn about and engage in water conservation and pollution prevention actions.

Enumclaw School District

· Enumclaw Middle School

Federal Way Public Schools

· Green Gables Elementary School
· Lakota Middle School

Issaquah School District

· Cascade Ridge Elementary School
· Challenger Elementary School
· Discovery Elementary School

Renton School District

· Tiffany Park Elementary School

Tahoma School District

· Tahoma Senior High School

Private schools

· King’s High School (Shoreline)
· St. Luke School (Shoreline)

Level Two (energy conservation) – 11 schools

Level Two schools maintain Level One waste reduction and recycling practices, and learn about and engage in energy conservation actions.

Auburn School District

· Ilalko Elementary School
· Lake View Elementary School
· Washington Elementary School

Issaquah School District

· Maple Hills Elementary School
· Pacific Cascade Middle School

Kent School District

· Horizon Elementary School

Northshore School District

· Cottage Lake Elementary School
· Maywood Hills Elementary School

Renton School District

· Talbot Hill Elementary School

Vashon School District

· Vashon Island High School

Private schools

· St. Bernadette Parish School (Burien)

Level One (waste reduction and recycling) – 13 schools

Auburn School District

· Chinook Elementary School
· Hazelwood Elementary School
· West Auburn High School

Highline School District

· Waskowitz Outdoor School

Kent School District

· Kent Elementary School

Lake Washington School District

· Inglewood Middle School
· International Community School

Northshore School District

· East Ridge Elementary School
· Kenmore Junior High School
· Moorlands Elementary School

Shoreline School District

· Brookside Elementary School
· Shorecrest High School

Private schools

· Holy Family School (Auburn)