Illinois Green Schools Project

An annual K-12 sustainability action and recognition program. We help educators engage students and school stakeholders in hands-on projects that improve health, efficiency, and environmental impact.

IGSP Schools complete 3 program stages:

1. IGSP Sustainability Workbook
2. Execute a Sustainability Project
3. Receive Recognition

The IGSP Sustainability Workbook includes a sustainability self-assessment, building walkthrough, and project outline template.

Background

Since last October, schools participating in the Illinois Green Schools Project have been hard at work finding creative and impactful ways to prioritize sustainability across their school cultures, educational programming, and physical spaces. 

Throughout the school year, the 2024-25 cohort worked to assemble green teams, complete a self-assessment, building walkthrough, and project outline, and then execute a sustainability project at their school. 

As the school year comes to a close, we want to thank all who were involved and reflect on the achievements and impact of their work. 

Green Teams included...

First Place

John Hersey High School

“We are honored that Hersey High School has been awarded First Place in this year’s Illinois Green Schools Project for our cafeteria sustainability initiative. Our students are thrilled to be recognized for their efforts!” – William Rosencrans, Green Team Leader, John Hersey High School

Hersey High’s Green Team successfully improved their school’s recycling and environmental literacy by collecting and analyzing waste data, educating students and staff on proper waste management practices, and implementing targeted, long-term interventions. Their work included education campaigns that utilized creative expression and connecting with student peers through videos and announcements, and led to reduced recycling contamination rates.

Check out the Hersey High Project Profile to learn more!

“By turning school waste into a living garden, we connected students with the life cycle of materials and showed how small actions contribute to larger environmental goals” – Melissa Kragness, Green Team Leader, Galatia Grade School

Galatia Grade School set out to reduce landfill waste, create a functional outdoor learning space, and shift school culture toward eco-conscious habits by diverting over 100 pounds of school waste from the landfill through recycling and composting and designing a student-led garden space for their school. Galatia’s Green Team accomplished this goal and more, creating six themed garden beds using 100% recycled or donated materials and connecting students with the life cycle of materials to show how small actions—like recycling or composting—contribute to larger environmental goals. 

Check out Galatia Grade School'sProject Profile to learn more!

The Deer Path Middle School Green Team is championing water conservation at their school by installing two rain barrels on their campus to create a passive, efficient water-source for their school’s vegetable garden and planters. As these outdoor spaces were previously watered using potable city water, students have calculated that they could save up to 5,760 gallons a season, and $53.38 in water utilities! 

Check out Deer Path Middle School'sProject Profile to learn more!

This year's projects ranged from diverting waste through recycling plans and composting campaigns, to designing native plant and rain gardens and making building upgrades to reduce water waste.

We’re so proud of our schools for incorporating a diversity of perspectives in their projects. Green teams consisted of not only teachers and students, but also cafeteria, grounds, maintenance, janitorial and administrative staff, local business owners, and local experts.

If you’d like to read more about this year’s cohort and each schools’ projects, check out the Project Profiles of 2025! 

You can also view the recording from our 2025 Green Schools Celebration to hear our winning green teams present their projects!   

Projects impacted the lives of...