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Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first K-12 school district in the United States to earn Gold Certification from the Healthy Green Schools & Colleges (HGSC) program. This certification recognizes CPS for adhering to rigorous national standards aimed at promoting healthier indoor environments, environmental responsibility, and cost-effective facility operations.
The certification was awarded by Healthy Schools Campaign, a national nonprofit organization that focuses on education, health, and sustainability. The achievement highlights CPS's commitment to providing clean and environmentally-sound learning spaces for its over 325,000 students and 40,000 staff members across 803 buildings.
“This is a proud moment for CPS,” stated Charles Mayfield, CPS Chief Operating Officer. “Earning the Gold Certification from Healthy Green Schools & Colleges affirms our leadership in building the safe, sustainable, and modern schools our students and staff deserve. It is a testament to our values and to the incredible work of our facilities and custodial teams.”
The HGSC standard was developed with input from facility managers, public health experts, and sustainability leaders nationwide. As part of earning this certification, CPS reviewed more than 160 best practices in areas such as indoor air quality, green cleaning, energy efficiency, water quality monitoring, and custodial staff training. The program emphasizes practical improvements that are budget-conscious yet impactful without requiring major capital investments.
"Healthy Schools Campaign is proud to award this certification to Chicago Public Schools in recognition of its commitment to protecting the health of students, staff and the environment,” said Jennifer Tani, President and CEO of Healthy Schools Campaign. “CPS is blazing the trail for other K-12 districts and higher education institutions across the country."
CPS’s efforts include proactive testing of indoor air quality in 25 percent of its schools annually with publicly shared ventilation reports. Despite Illinois’s statewide school water testing requirement ending in 2018, CPS continues voluntary annual drinking water tests at 25 percent of schools while exceeding safety thresholds.
Additionally, CPS employs non-toxic cleaning products certified as eco-friendly alongside recycled paper supplies. The District has implemented systems like CrowdComfort for real-time work order tracking while enhancing training protocols for custodial services across campuses.
These initiatives align with CPS’s Five-Year Strategic Plan called Success 2029: Together We Rise which prioritizes equitable high-quality learning environments along with sustainable upgrades within aging infrastructure averaging over 85 years old.
The certification event took place at Englewood STEM High School—a LEED Silver-certified facility on Chicago's South Side featuring energy-efficient systems made using sustainable materials—demonstrating broader ambitions toward expanding green infrastructure citywide.
“Healthy schools are the foundation for student success,” added Mayfield. “This certification not only validates the work we’ve done—it challenges us to keep raising the bar for what Chicago students families educators can expect from their public schools.”
As part of receiving this distinction through HGSC’s process involving comprehensive management practices covering HVAC electrical system maintenance integrated pest management among others; ongoing recognition will be provided via their website alongside usage rights regarding their mark serving nationally modeled sustainable student-centered operations
“The District’s partnership with Healthy Green Schools & Colleges is vital," expressed Ivan Hansen Facilities Chief "We look forward continuing building upon it supporting students’ ability learn improving study environments daily."
For further details about district facilities visit: https://www.cps.edu/about/departments/facilities-department/.
