Illinois Green Schools Project

Go green in your school by participating in the Illinois Green Schools Project, a program of Illinois Green Alliance. The Illinois Green Schools Project brings together students, teachers, and staff to collaborate in a year-long project-based challenge to devise and implement creative no- to low-cost sustainable practices.

School registration for the 2022-23 cohort closed on September 13, 2022. Join our email list to be notified of upcoming registrations.

Learn more about schools' experience in the program:

Illinois Green Schools Project Logo

Participating schools receive resources and support from a Green Schools Mentor to guide project implementation. Now in its third year, join the cohort of schools who are implementing a sustainability project with educational tools and mentor guidance.

2022–2023 Cohort of Schools

  • Abraham Lincoln Elementary School — Glen Ellyn, IL
  • Adlai E. Stevenson High School — Lincolnshire, IL
  • Anna Jonesboro Community High School — Anna, IL
  • Association House High School — Chicago, IL
  • Benjamin Franklin Elementary — Glen Ellyn, IL
  • Cairo School — Cairo, IL
  • Carbondale Community High School — Carbondale, IL
  • Carmel Catholic High School — Mundelein, IL
  • Carruthers Elementary School — Murphysboro, IL
  • Carterville High School — Carterville, IL
  • DuQuoin High School — DuQuoin, IL
  • Family Matters — Chicago, IL
  • Grace Holistic Center for Education — Yorkville, IL
  • Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School — Oak Park, IL
  • Half Day School — Lincolnshire, IL
  • Immaculate Conception St. Joseph — Chicago, IL
  • Kelvyn Park High School — Chicago, IL
  • Libertyville High School — Libertyville, IL
  • Lincoln Middle School — Park Ridge, IL
  • Marion High School — Marion, IL
  • Marion Junior High School — Marion, IL
  • Marist High School — Chicago, IL
  • Milledgeville High School — Milledgeville, IL
  • Murphysboro Middle School — Murphysboro, IL
  • Pleasantdale Elementary — LaGrange, IL
  • River Trails Middle School — Mount Prospect, IL
  • Roosevelt Elementary School — Park Ridge, IL
  • Salem Community High School — Salem, IL
  • Shiloh High School — Hume, IL
  • Skinner North Classical School — Chicago, IL
  • Solorio Academy High School — Chicago, IL
  • St. Genevieve Catholic School — Chicago, IL
  • Stillman Valley High School/Junior High — Stillman Valley, IL
  • Thomas Elementary School — Carbondale, IL
  • Uplift Community High School — Chicago, IL
  • Whitney M. Young High School — Chicago, IL
  • Whittier Elementary School — Downers Grove, IL
  • William H. Ray Elementary — Chicago, IL
  • Wolcott College Prep — Chicago, IL
  • York Community High School — Elmhurst, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

For Educators & School Staff

For Green Schools Mentors

Collaborating with others helps create stronger learning communities. I was excited to hear about the Illinois Green Schools Project because working together would allow us to share ideas with other schools and community groups. I enjoy hearing what other schools are doing and how we can improve our own green efforts.

Tracy Gordon
4th Grade Teacher, Half Day School in Lincolnshire, IL

Support the Illinois Green Schools Project

Spread the word with your community
Make an individual donation

Earn recognition for your sustainability work.

Earn recognition at the national level through the Green Ribbon Schools Program.

Past Project Highlights

A mentor and student working on a project together
Kids turning a compost pile
Child planting seeds

2021-22 Green Schools Project Impact

Urban Prairie Waldorf School: Early Childhood Water Pump

May 16, 2022
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William Beye Elementary School: Understanding Our Impact on the Environment

May 16, 2022
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John Barry Elementary School: Recycling & Gardening

May 16, 2022
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Whitney Young Magnet High School: Green Team’s Earth Week

May 11, 2022
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Academy for Global Citizenship: Waste and Energy Vermi Challenge

May 6, 2022
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Solorio Academy High School: Zero Plastic Project

May 6, 2022
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Oak Park and River Forest High School: Building Sustainable Habits

May 6, 2022
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Prairieland Kids Daycare and Learning Center: From Preschoolers to Master Gardeners

May 6, 2022
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Vernon Hills High School: School-Wide Zero Waste Strategic Plan

May 6, 2022
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Uplift Community High School: Living Wall

May 6, 2022
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Southside Occupational Academy: Southside Monarch Butterfly Conservation Program

May 6, 2022
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Murphysboro Middle School: Putting Waste in its Place

May 6, 2022
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Lockport Township High School: Learning and Living out ESG

May 6, 2022
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Libertyville High School: Whole-School Sustainability in Action

May 5, 2022
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Carruthers Elementary: A Year of Conservation and Creativity

May 3, 2022
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Pleasantdale Elementary School: Color the World with Butterflies

May 2, 2022
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Lincoln Middle School: Lincoln Goes Green

May 2, 2022
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Skinner North Classical School: Taking Charge of Energy Use

May 2, 2022
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Mother McAuley High School: Promoting Sustainable School-Wide Changes

April 29, 2022
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Lincoln Elementary School: Native Garden Classroom

April 29, 2022
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Wolcott College Prep: Energy Audit and Allyship in Action

April 29, 2022
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Half Day School: Zero Waste School Lunch Program

April 27, 2022
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Edgar Allan Poe Classical School: You Grow Edgar Allan Poe Garden

April 25, 2022
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Ready to start your green schools journey?

Get in touch about advancing sustainability at your school.

Illinois Green Schools Project Interest Form

The Illinois Green Schools Project is supported by: