FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
CONTACT: ANAKAREN CÁRDENAS UREÑO
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT
(949) 497-7700 EXT. 5232 | AURENO@LBUSD.ORG

February 12, 2026

Laguna Beach High School named 2026 California Green Ribbon Schools Gold Level Honoree

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – Laguna Beach High School (LBHS) has earned statewide recognition as a 2026 California Green Ribbon Schools (CA-GRS) Gold Level Honoree, the California Department of Education announced today. Gold Level status is awarded to schools achieving a score of 75 percent or higher, and Laguna Beach High School earned a score of 85.23 percent, placing it among the highest performing schools in the state for environmental and sustainability practices.

The CA-GRS program recognizes schools for their efforts in sustainability, student health, and environmental literacy. Schools are evaluated across multiple measures and may be recognized at the Bronze, Silver, or Gold level, with Gold representing the highest level of achievement within the program. 

“Being recognized as a California Green Ribbon Gold Level Honoree is a proud reflection of the intentional work happening every day at Laguna Beach High School. This achievement honors the dedication of our faculty and staff who lead with purpose in advancing environmental stewardship, sustainability practices, and student awareness across the curriculum,” said LBHS Principal Jason Allemann, Ed.D. “Together, they are cultivating a campus culture where responsibility to our planet is woven into learning, leadership, and action.”

This marks the first time Laguna Beach High School has received California Green Ribbon Schools recognition. The designation follows Laguna Beach Unified School District’s recognition as a 2025 California Green Ribbon Schools Green Achiever Honoree. 

Laguna Beach High School’s recognition reflects sustainability practices that are visible across campus and woven into daily school life. These include efforts to reduce energy use through efficient lighting, smart HVAC systems, and long-term planning under the district’s Energy Master Plan. Water conservation is supported through smart meters, modern irrigation controls, and drought-tolerant landscaping, while campuswide recycling, composting, and food recovery programs help reduce waste and support local families.

The recognition also highlights practices that support student and staff well-being, such as the use of environmentally safe cleaning products, proactive indoor air quality monitoring, Farm to School nutrition programs, and access to filtered drinking water across campus. In the classroom, students engage in hands-on environmental learning through the FLOW program (Fire, Land, Ocean, Water), environmental science and career-focused coursework, and student-led sustainability audits. Partnerships with local agencies and community organizations further connect learning to real-world environmental challenges in Laguna Beach.

“Being recognized as a Gold Level Green Ribbon reflects what I see every day at LBHS: students engaged as changemakers through meaningful, place-based learning that prepares them to lead in a community rooted in environmental stewardship and civic engagement,” said Coordinator of Environmental Literacy Gloria Harwood. “I’m incredibly proud of our staff’s leadership and innovation, and of the partnerships that make this recognition a natural extension of who we are.”

CDE will formally recognize 2026 CA-GRS honorees at the California Green Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in San Diego, where schools and districts from across the state will be honored for exemplary achievement in environmental sustainability, health and wellness, and environmental and sustainability education as part of the statewide Green Ribbon Schools program.

Laguna Beach High School serves students in grades 9-12 within the Laguna Beach Unified School District and is recognized for its personalized learning environment, strong community partnerships, and place-based approach to education. At the center of the LBHS experience is the district’s Learner Profile, which defines the real-world competencies students develop through four core learning experiences.

The LBUSD Learner Profile functions as the district’s guiding framework for teaching and learning, establishing clear outcomes that shape instructional design and student development across all grade levels. Through this framework, students are developed as Empowered Learners who set goals, lead with purpose, and demonstrate resilience. They build capacity as Creative Problem Solvers who approach learning with curiosity and innovative thinking, and as Constructive Collaborators who contribute ideas and perspectives to foster communities grounded in trust and accountability. Students also strengthen their skills as Effective Communicators who listen actively and seek mutual understanding, and as Empathetic Citizens who model personal, civic, social, and global responsibility in both local and global contexts.

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