
Ravenswood City School District (Ravenswood) demonstrates that sustainability leadership is driven by equity and vision, not wealth. Serving a community where 90% of students are low-income and 56% are English learners, the district uses sustainability as a tool for health, resilience, and opportunity despite limited funding and staffing challenges. Through a decade-long Facilities Master Plan and more than $250 million in modernization investments, Ravenswood has electrified campuses, expanded solar energy, reduced water use, planted over 1,300 trees, improved air quality, and created green schoolyards and outdoor learning spaces that integrate environmental literacy into daily instruction. These efforts are strengthened by deep partnerships with energy, environmental, civic, higher-education, and wellness organizations, ensuring a holistic, community-centered approach to climate action, student well-being, and environmental justice. Together, these initiatives position Ravenswood as a model for long-term, equitable, and climate-resilient transformation in an under-resourced school district.