By Deborah Rogers Curtis, Green Schools Coordinator for the Missouri Gateway Green Building Council
Show-Me Green Schools is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024-2025 Green Schools Quest, a six-month competition across Missouri and Southern Illinois for school sustainability projects. Students chose a project that would positively impact their school community and physical environment. Students led the inception, planning, implementation, data analysis, and reflection stages of the project. This year’s theme of Biodiversity + Wellness allowed schools to explore the natural world around them and discover the many connections between Earth’s biodiversity and human health. With 80 schools enrolled this year, it was the largest and toughest competition since the program began in 2013!
Several themes emerged from the school submissions, including invasive species removal, native plant installation, outdoor classrooms, pollinator paradises, alternative forms of transportation and lowering carbon footprint, lighting and energy savings, and educating the community on sustainable practices. After the schools submitted their projects, a panel of judges from across the United States reviewed their projects and determined the winners. We are proud not only of those schools recognized below, but of all schools who participated in this year’s Quest – everyone wins when we adopt more sustainable practices!
Want to learn more? Visit showmegreenschools.org. The 2025-2026 Green Schools Quest theme will be water. Schools can register online by September 15, 2025, and Mentors can register online by August 15, 2025.
Elementary Rookie Winner: The Idea Center, Lindbergh School District
Elementary Veteran Winner: Carman Trails Elementary, Parkway School District
Middle School Rookie Winner: Ladue Middle School, Ladue School District
Middle School Veteran Winner: Brittany Woods Middle School, University City School District
High School Rookie Winner: Nerinx Hall High School
High School Veteran Winner: Althoff Catholic High School
Special Recognitions:
- Theme of the Year, Elementary (an elementary school that demonstrated the strongest understanding of Biodiversity + Wellness): Northland Innovation Center, North Kansas City School District
- Theme of the Year, Secondary (a middle or high school that demonstrated the strongest understanding of Biodiversity + Wellness): Northeast Middle School, Parkway School District
- Judges’ Choice (a school that stood out to the judging panel as unique and inspirational): Premier Charter School
- Community Impact (a school that made a demonstrable impact on their school or local community): Truman Middle School & Crestwood Elementary, Lindbergh School District