U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) are federally recognized for whole-school sustainability. Award recipients reduce environmental impacts, improve health and wellness, and offer effective environmental and sustainability education.

From the Department of Education

“In 2017, A. E. Burdick School began planning and raising funds for a green infrastructure redevelopment project, which was completed in 2019, and included removing 26,600 square feet of impervious surface and replacing it with porous surfaces, such as trees, woodchips, native landscaping, bioswales, and cisterns. The improvements helped to eliminate a buildup of water that accumulated behind the school’s greenhouse and return it to the watershed. The outdoor classroom features movable tree cookies, recycled logs and stumps, and Leopold benches. The campus also features food gardens, a “tot lot” for early childhood play, habitat spaces, a school forest, and berry patches. An outdoor discovery cart provides the materials needed to learn outdoors with a quick easy setup. Teachers apply environmental lessons in all areas of the curriculum, with a focus on life sciences, nutrition, horticulture, and environmental studies. Older students discuss more complex processes, such as global warming and decomposition. The surrounding neighborhood benefits from Burdick’s urban community greenhouse, where students, teachers, and community members work together to plant, harvest, and prepare foods. In the last 12 months, Burdick has made multiple energy efficiency upgrades, including to its building envelope, kitchen, and office equipment. Burdick employs computer power management settings, thermostat temperature setbacks, hot water temperature set points, and daylighting. Students participate in classroom and garden composting.”