The California Department of Education recently announced the 2025 California Green Ribbon Schools (CA-GRS) honorees, and among the 26 public schools statewide who earned this recognition, three schools in the Rialto Unified School District (RUSD) earned distinction for their exemplary commitment to environmental sustainability, health, and environmental literacy.
Dr. Ernest Garcia Elementary School earned a Gold-level honor, while Charlotte N. Werner Elementary School and Helen L. Dollahan Elementary School were each recognized at the Silver level. RUSD schools have now earned an impressive 24 California Green Schools honors since 2018. Charlotte N. Werner Elementary’s elevation from Bronze in 2024 to Silver this year reflects the school’s ongoing growth in sustainability and wellness practices. This upward momentum mirrors RUSD’s broader district-wide efforts to reduce environmental impact while fostering healthy, engaged learning communities. In total, 11 elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools in the RUSD have earned California Green Ribbon Schools honors.
The Rialto Unified School District has long prioritized teaching students to be responsible citizens of a global society and has earned a number of awards for its efforts. In 2019, the District was awarded the National Green Ribbon recognition and was honored in Washington, D.C. RUSD STEM CARES (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Cultivating Active Responsible Environmental Stewards) uses locally relevant environmental issues to inspire students to think globally and act locally to improve their community and their world and earned the California State School Boards Association (CSBA) Golden Bell Award in 2022. School gardens and citrus groves serve as living classrooms, enrich environmental education and hands-on learning…