Ford Elementary to Represent Georgia in National Green Ribbon Competition

Ford Elementary School in Acworth has been selected to represent the state of Georgia in the U.S. Department of Education National Green Ribbon School program.

Representatives from the Georgia Department of Education, the U.S. Green Building Council of Georgia, Georgia Environmental Protection Division, the Clean Air Campaign, and the Turner Foundation selected Ford from a number of schools that applied for the national recognition.

The Green Ribbon School program allows schools and districts to compete for cash awards up to $10,000 by demonstrating energy efficiency efforts and ways environmental education is incorporated into school culture.

The Georgia Department of Education lauded Ford for its efforts in the selection announcement:

Sitting amid more than twenty acres, Ford Elementary School utilizes more than 60 percent of the grounds for environmental education and habitat protection. Within its first year, Ford became a National Wildlife Certified Schoolyard Habitat. And for almost 20 years, Ford has been committed to protecting, restoring and sustaining its native forests and stream beds while developing outdoor learning labs. Ford’s award winning model school for environmental education strives for relevance and resiliency while serving as a mentor to others across the state and nation.

“Ford Elementary’s 18-year commitment to provide relevant environmental education has been a journey that involves our staff, faculty and community,” Ford principal Jami Frost said. “Through our commitment to science, health and wellness, and our environment, our students consistently perform above state and national averages, with 98 percent scoring in the meets/exceeds category on the science section of the CRCT. Sustainability in all areas – physically, educationally, and financially – remains our goal as we continue to reach out and engage our students, community and beyond.”

The winners of the National Green Ribbon School and Green Ribbon District honors will be announced by the U.S. Department of Education in June during a special awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Editor's note: This appeared on the CobbCast Blog, a compilation of good news from the Cobb County School District.