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Fairfax County Public Schools reported that 77 of its schools received National Wildlife Federation Green Flag awards through the Eco-Schools U.S. program during the 2025-26 school year.

The Green Flags accounted for most of the 86 Eco-Schools awards earned across the division. FCPS said 38 schools secured a Green Flag for the first time.

In its July 1 announcement, FCPS also said its schools represented nearly half of all Green Flag recipients in the United States and that the division had more recipients than any other school system in the country. Those national comparisons were claims by FCPS and were not independently confirmed in the supplied material.

The recipient list included Marshall High School, McLean High School, Kilmer Middle School, Colvin Run Elementary School and Spring Hill Elementary School. Kilmer and Colvin Run were identified as first-time recipients, while Marshall, McLean and Spring Hill were not marked as first-time recipients.

Green Flag recognition requires more than a single environmental project. The criteria described by FCPS call for participating schools to organize an action team, develop a plan and collect data. Schools must also carry out solution-focused actions, assess their results and involve the surrounding community.

Recognition is not permanent. “Schools must re-certify each year to be recognized by NWF,” the FCPS Office of Communication said.

The school division participates through FCPS Get2Green, which partners with the National Wildlife Federation to give schools access to the Eco-Schools U.S. framework for student-led environmental action. FCPS describes the program as a way to strengthen youth leadership and environmental awareness while helping students practice collaboration, critical thinking and resiliency.

Nine additional FCPS schools received non-Green-Flag Eco-Schools awards. Brookfield Elementary School, Crossfield Elementary School, Robinson Secondary School and Thoreau Middle School earned Gold awards. Fox Mill Elementary School, Madison High School, Oakton High School and Thomas Jefferson High School earned Silver awards. Holmes Middle School received a Bronze award.

Together, those four Gold, four Silver and one Bronze honors brought the division’s total to 86 awards for the school year.