Skip To Main Content

Logo Image

Dekalb County School District

Logo Title

DeKalb County School District

Sustainability & Resilience

 

 

Sustainability & Resilience Initiatives

DCSD’s sustainability framework includes the following initiative areas.

A teacher and four students are gathered around a table with plants in the foreground, engaged in a science lesson in a classroom with windows in the background.

Education, Engagement & Outreach

Integrating sustainability into classroom instruction, student engagement, and community outreach.

 

OPEN

Solar panels gleam in the warm sunset light against a backdrop of trees and buildings under a cloudy sky.

Energy & Climate Resilience

Reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions through efficiency improvements and cleaner technologies.

 

Open

Three smiling children eat lunch at school, with a tray of food in the foreground and other students blurred in the background.

Food, Health & Wellness

Expanding sustainable food programs and health and wellness initiatives across the district.

 

 

 

OPEN

A teacher presents to students seated on logs in a garden classroom with solar panels on the building in the background.

Green Building & Healthy Environments

Supporting healthy learning environments, sustainable materials, indoor air quality, and green building practices.

 

OPEN

A teacher and four children examine plants in a garden in front of a building with a mural.

Land, Nature & Outdoor Spaces

Increasing access to natural areas, outdoor learning spaces, and biodiversity-supporting landscapes.

 

 

OPEN

Students in green %22Green Team%22 shirts sort recyclables into blue bins with a supervisor in a blue uniform in a school hallway adorned with environmental posters and recycling signs.

Recycling & Waste Management

Increasing waste diversion and reducing landfill waste through recycling, composting, reuse, and education.

 

OPEN

In the foreground, people interact at a table with %22DeKalb County School District%22 banners, while in the background, a %22School Food Pantry%22 stand displays fresh produce.

SDGs – People, Equity & Leadership

Strengthening inclusive leadership, equity, and community engagement in sustainability initiatives.

 

OPEN

A man and woman sign a purchase agreement at a table filled with eco-friendly packaging and supplies, with a recycling symbol and shopping cart graphic visible in the background.

Sustainable Procurement

Increasing sustainable purchasing practices and integrating sustainability into procurement policies and vendor partnerships.

 

OPEN

A yellow electric school bus is charging at a station in front of a building with trees in the background.

Transportation & Clean Mobility

Improving sustainability through cleaner vehicle technologies, electric buses, and active transportation programs.

 

OPEN

Four children with backpacks stand in a school hallway, with the boy in front filling a water bottle at a fountain, while a poster about water conservation hangs on the wall behind them.

Water Stewardship & Conservation

Reducing potable water consumption through conservation practices, infrastructure improvements, and education.

 

OPEN

 

DCSD Sustainability & Resilience Statement

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is committed to responsible stewardship of natural resources and reducing its environmental footprint while supporting healthy learning environments for students and staff. Through sustainable practices in facilities, operations, and decision-making, the district seeks long-term environmental, economic, and social benefits.

Aligned with the DeKalb County Strategic Goals and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, sustainability and resilience are shared responsibilities among students, educators, staff, and community partners. By integrating sustainability and resilience into planning, instruction, and operations, DCSD supports present needs while preparing schools and communities for a resilient and sustainable future.

Advancing healthy schools, environmental stewardship, and community resilience.

Explore Initiatives
17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
6 DCSD Strategic Goals
10 Sustainability Initiatives
27 Active Green Teams

DCSD Strategic Goals (2024–2029)

🎓 Student Academic Success with Equity and Access
🤝 School, Family, and Community Engagement
👩‍🏫 Recruit, Develop, and Retain Talent
🏫 Culture and Climate
🧠 Mental Health and Wellness
⚙️ Organizational Excellence

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global call to action adopted by the United Nations to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. These goals recognize that economic growth, environmental protection, and social well-being must be addressed together.

DCSD aligns its sustainability and resilience efforts with the SDGs to support global priorities while improving outcomes for students, schools, and the broader community.

A grid of colorful squares, each representing a Sustainable Development Goal with an icon and number, fills the foreground against a white background with the UN logo and %22SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS%22 text at the top.

Sustainability Framework Structure

The framework follows a five-tier structure: 

Initiative → Goal → Priority Areas → Key Actions → Progress & Tracking

🌱 Sustainability Framework:
Commitment, Phasing, and Path to 2035

🎯 Purpose

DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is committed to advancing a comprehensive sustainability framework aligned with its 2024–2029 Strategic Plan. While formal sustainability baselines have not yet been established, DCSD will use this period to build the foundational data, systems, and engagement needed to drive measurable, long-term outcomes.

📊 Approach: A Phased, Data-Driven Model

🏗️ Phase 1: Foundation Building

2024–2029

Objective: Establish baselines, pilot programs, and standardize systems across all schools and facilities.

  • Conduct district-wide baseline assessments for energy, water, waste, transportation, and food systems
  • Implement pilot programs across representative schools
  • Standardize infrastructure, policies, and operational practices
  • Develop data tracking systems and dashboards
  • Expand education, engagement, and staff/student training initiatives
  • Benchmark performance against leading K–12 districts and national best practices

Outcome: By 2029, DCSD will have reliable, district-wide baseline data and proven program models.

🎯 Phase 2: Target Setting & Implementation

2030–2035

Objective: Establish measurable goals and scale initiatives districtwide.

Hands cradle a seedling in the foreground, with a school bus and cityscape visible in the background, alongside icons representing sustainability goals.

🧭 Framing Our Commitment

DCSD is taking a strategic, data-first approach to sustainability—ensuring goals are measurable, achievable, scalable, and aligned with operations and finances.

✅ Conclusion

Through this phased approach, DCSD will transition from baseline development (2024–2029) to measurable impact and leadership (2030–2035).