FCPS Leads Nation in Green Flag Sustainability Honors as Nearby Districts Rack Up Health Awards

Fairfax County Public Schools has claimed a national record — but not the one circulating in some local summaries. According to FCPS, nearly half of the 108 U.S. schools to earn the National Wildlife Federation's 'Green Flag' sustainability honor are FCPS campuses, more than any other school district in the country. The America's Healthiest Schools recognition is a separate award entirely — and the available evidence does not place FCPS on that list.

The America's Healthiest Schools award is presented by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. This year, 1,376 schools across 35 states and Washington, D.C. earned the recognition for implementing best practices across nine topic areas — from nutrition and physical education to staff well-being and social-emotional learning. The top tier, the All-Star Award, went to schools that met goals in all nine categories.

Prince George's County Public Schools, just across the Maryland border, is among the districts that did make the list — with 13 schools recognized. One of them, Springhill Lake Elementary, earned the All-Star Award, the highest honor the Alliance gives. It is the only school in Maryland to receive that distinction this year, and one of just 168 schools nationwide to do so, according to PGCPS.

We’re incredibly proud to be recognized as an All-Star School—our team has worked so hard to earn that title. We’ve made wellness a core part of our school culture by integrating regular physical activity, participating in a produce program, and sending fresh fruits and vegetables home with students each week.— Trena Wilson, Principal, Springhill Lake Elementary

Wilson credited first-grade teacher Lauren Koslow as the driving force behind the school's health initiatives. Koslow has led the school's Health Council for more than ten years. This year, the council has ten members.

Our mission is to inspire students to be more physically active. While many enjoy spending time on phones, tablets, and computers, we’re focused on encouraging and rewarding their involvement in healthy activities.— Lauren Koslow, First-Grade Teacher and Health Council Lead, Springhill Lake Elementary

The school's food services team is led by a 28-year veteran manager, Michele Rhodes. Among the changes Springhill Lake has made: replacing treat-based rewards with activity-based incentives, such as a special go-kart day, and partnering with Bowie Produce to provide monthly food boxes to combat food insecurity.

We are proud to receive this national recognition, which underscores our commitment to creating healthier, more supportive learning environments. Through improved nutrition, expanded physical and health education, and strong wellness policies, we are building schools where every student can thrive.— Dr. Shawn Joseph, Interim Superintendent, PGCPS

San Diego Unified School District led all districts on the America's Healthiest Schools list with 35 recognized campuses. Four of those — Horton Elementary, Normal Heights Elementary, Edison Elementary, and Rowan Elementary — earned the All-Star distinction, according to San Diego Unified.

Each recognized school receives a banner from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to mark the achievement. The Alliance says its work has reached more than 31 million young people to date.

FCPS's documented national distinction is in environmental sustainability: the district holds more Green Flag honors from the National Wildlife Federation than any other school district in the United States, with nearly half of the 108 national Green Flag recipients located within Fairfax County, according to FCPS.

Why it matters — Parents and community members should know which national health and sustainability recognitions their local schools have actually earned — and which claims don't yet have evidence behind them.

Reported by fcps.net, healthiergeneration.org, pgcps.org, sandiegounified.org, fcps.edu