Overlake one of four Washington schools to receive national Green Ribbon Schools Award

Published 10:06 am Tuesday, April 24, 2012

The Overlake School in Redmond is among four schools in Washington to receive the U.S. Department of Education’s new Green Ribbon Schools Award.

The award recognizes public and private schools that excel in the areas of environmental impact and energy efficiency, healthy school environments and environmental and sustainability education. Overlake was the only private school to be recognized. The three public schools were Camelot Elementary School in Auburn, Tahoma Junior High School in Ravensdale and Secondary Academy for Success in Bothell. The four schools were the only schools in the state to be nominated for the award.

“Science and environmental education play a central role in providing children with a well-rounded education that prepares them for the jobs of the future,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “Green Ribbon Schools demonstrate compelling examples of the ways schools can expand their coursework while also helping children build real world skill sets, cut school costs, and provide healthy learning environments.”

Nationally, 78 schools from 29 states won Green Ribbon Schools Awards.