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Recognizing Excellence in Environmental Action at Fairfax County Public Schools
Students at Katherine Johnson Middle School participate in Trout in the Classroom in Northern Virginia
As a new school year begins, we’re proud to celebrate the 44 outstanding schools in Fairfax County Public Schools that have earned the highest level of recognition from EcoSchools U.S., the Green Flag! These schools are shining examples of sustainability leadership, demonstrating what’s possible when students, educators, and communities come together with purpose. From restoring habitats to reducing waste and raising awareness about climate change, their efforts are rooted in the EcoSchools Framework and reflect a deep commitment to creating a healthier, more sustainable future.
Each recognized school developed a unique student-led action plan that connected to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and centered on one or more of our core themes: Wildlife and Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Healthy and Resilient Communities. These schools not only took action on campus but also worked alongside local partners to strengthen community impact. Their creativity, collaboration, and commitment make them exemplars for sustainability in action, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish this year.
Take, for example, Union Mill Elementary School. Drawing on support from the district-wide Get2Green program, the school participates twice a year in Walk, Bike, and Roll events. This collaborative effort between the Get2Green team, Union Mill Physical Education teachers, and students was part of the Active and Sustainable Transport action card that encourages low-carbon transportation options such as walking, rolling, and cycling to school. The impact was clear—the events reached roughly 700 families, and many shared they are more likely to continue to walk, roll, or cycle to school after trying it at the school’s walk and roll event.
The action team also partnered with the Student Council Association to organize and plan a school-wide EcoCode* contest designed to engage students in environmental awareness and showcase student voice. They successfully involved the entire school community, garnering teacher support and demonstrating the significance of the EcoCode school-wide.
*An EcoCode represents the school’s commitment to sustainability action and is similar to a mission statement. EcoCodes take many forms as creativity is encouraged.
At Katherine Johnson Middle School, a long-time EcoSchools program participant who received its first Green Flag in 2011, students and staff are dedicated to service and stewardship. The school used one of the EcoSchools Create Your Own Action action cards to work on their Raise and Grow Locally initiative, raising chickens on campus in partnership with a local parent farm. After students raised the baby chicks, they wrote a proposal and secured funding for an outdoor coop and run housed in the school’s courtyard. This project placed 1st in the 2025 Caring for Our Watersheds contest. Other benefits to students included the importance of growing food locally, composting, and reducing runoff.
Seventh and eighth grade science classes also took action through the Energy Vampires action card, discussing ways to conserve energy both at school and at home. After learning in the classroom, students then led energy-saving activities throughout the school. They created a Spring Shutdown Checklist that was distributed school-wide. We congratulate them on their long-term commitment to utilizing the EcoSchools program to enhance their sustainability work.
Students at George C. Marshall High School collaborated with local community partners and the Garden Gurus Club to clean out invasive species from the garden, prepare the soil, and plant native milkweed and other native plants. Student work through the Create a Rain Garden action card has helped reduce flooding and improved water quality surrounding the school, while providing a hands-on learning opportunity about sustainability and environmental science.
Each project has brought opportunities for collaboration across different groups within the school community and increased engagement in environmental stewardship activities. Students learned how to create a proposal and participated in the process to seek approval from the Fairfax County School Board. Partners, including the Boy Scouts and a local master gardener, were brought in to help with development and physical implementation.
