Claremont Unified School District

Claremont Unified School District (CUSD) has several board policies to guide the district's commitment to sustainability, environmental literacy, and school community wellness. In 2009, the district collaborated with a sustainability consulting company and hired a district energy manager to monitor energy use. With these two initiatives, the district changed the behavior of staff and students and reduced energy consumption by over 19% in six years. Most district schools feature programs that divert waste from landfills by recycling and composting. All CUSD schools have gardens and many feature outdoor learning environments   Schools focus on environmental learning, including studying the world's biomes, revitalizing green spaces, and honoring the local indigenous peoples' resourcefulness with natural resources. The district collaborates with the community organization Sustainable Claremont to consult on sustainable district initiatives and support the care of the gardens. Claremont High School offers four sections of Environmental Science and a list of environmental community projects. Fifth-grade students engage in a nine-week Leadership in Environmental Education Partnership project at neighboring Claremont College to learn from college students in outdoor labs and engage in real-time research.

Application (PDF)