Sustainability & Resilience
DCSD Sustainability & Resilience
Advancing healthy schools, environmental stewardship, and community resilience.
Explore InitiativesDCSD 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.
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.
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.
🧭 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).
Sustainability & Resilience Initiatives
DCSD’s sustainability framework includes the following initiative areas.
📚
Education, Engagement & Outreach
Integrating sustainability into classroom instruction, student engagement, and community outreach.
⚡
Energy & Climate Resilience
Reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions through efficiency improvements and cleaner technologies.
🍏
Food, Health & Wellness
Expanding sustainable food programs and health and wellness initiatives across the district.
🏫
Green Building & Healthy Environments
Supporting healthy learning environments, sustainable materials, indoor air quality, and green building practices.
🌳
Land, Nature & Outdoor Spaces
Increasing access to natural areas, outdoor learning spaces, and biodiversity-supporting landscapes.
♻️
Recycling & Waste Management
Increasing waste diversion and reducing landfill waste through recycling, composting, reuse, and education.
🌍
SDGs – People, Equity & Leadership
Strengthening inclusive leadership, equity, and community engagement in sustainability initiatives.
🛒
Sustainable Procurement
Increasing sustainable purchasing practices and integrating sustainability into procurement policies and vendor partnerships.
🚍
Transportation & Clean Mobility
Improving sustainability through cleaner vehicle technologies, electric buses, and active transportation programs.