Calvert County Public Schools has earned statewide recognition for its environmental education efforts. The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) announced that all CCPS schools have achieved Maryland Green School status, with five schools receiving 2026 Maryland Green School Awards.
The honored schools are Beach Elementary School, Huntingtown Elementary School, Calvert Middle School, Mill Creek Middle School and Calvert High School. Maryland Green Schools integrate environmental education across the curriculum, model sustainable practices and engage students and staff in hands-on stewardship of natural resources.
There are 702 active Maryland Green Schools, representing 40 percent of all schools in the state. CCPS now joins a global network of sustainable schools that emphasize environmental literacy, energy conservation, waste reduction and community partnerships.
Southern Maryland’s location along the Chesapeake Bay makes these programs especially meaningful. Students learn about local issues such as water quality, shoreline restoration and climate resilience while developing skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Many CCPS schools run student-led composting programs, school gardens, energy audits and environmental clubs.
“Green Schools provide engaging and effective instruction by integrating environmental learning across all subjects. The results are powerful—we see students leading composting programs, conserving energy, joining environmental clubs, and advocating for what is important to them. These stories give us hope. They remind us that when young people are empowered with knowledge and a connection to the world around them, they become the changemakers we need—not just for the future, but right now,” said Laura Johnson Collard, executive director of MAEOE.
The Maryland Green Schools Program, now in its 25th year, encourages schools to meet rigorous criteria in instruction, operations and community engagement. CCPS has worked with local partners, including the Calvert County Health Department and environmental organizations, to support these efforts.
The district’s success reflects a broader commitment to environmental literacy required by Maryland state standards. Students gain real-world experience that prepares them for careers in the growing green economy while fostering a lifelong connection to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
MAEOE will celebrate the 2026 awardees and all interested schools at the Annual Maryland Green School Youth Summit. A complete list of Green Schools and Green Centers is available on the MAEOE website.
