U.S. states celebrate their 2026 Green Ribbon Schools honorees

The federal Green Ribbon Schools program, which since 2010 has recognized schools and districts for cutting energy and water use, improving health and air quality, and teaching sustainability, has been paused for a second year. In its place, states have been running their own versions of the recognition, often naming more honorees than the federal program used to.

For 2026, states including Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York, and Wisconsin announced their honorees, with Rhode Island expected to release its list soon. Winning schools ranged from elementary schools to entire districts, chosen for reducing energy and water consumption, lowering emissions, improving indoor air quality, cutting waste, and expanding environmental education for students.

This is a recognition program, not a funding or rebate program, so there's no direct action for homeowners here. But it's a useful signal: many public schools, in districts across the country, are actively working on the same kinds of upgrades homeowners consider — better air quality, lower energy use, less waste — and finding real savings and health benefits from them. If you're curious whether your own school district has pursued anything similar, or whether your state runs its own green schools recognition, that information is generally public and tied to the state education department.