Environmental Responsibility

Outdoor ClassroomsAsk our youngest students where to throw your apple core and they'll point you toward the compost, not the trash. Ask older kids about environmental responsibility and they'll talk as much about the practical applications of real science as the trendiness of the idea. Middle Years students study the earth and its ecosystems in even greater depth, including examination of environmental issues, evaluation of potential solutions and plans for action.

Since our earliest days, we have been committed to the health of our environment. Today, respect for the natural environment pervades every element of High Meadows, including curricular education, extra-curricular activities, and a commitment to build and operate according to the highest environmental standards. We are clearly recognized for our leadership in environmental sustainability and we regularly host representatives of universities, elementary schools and other organizations to demonstrate our commitment to environmental responsibility.

EEARRTH: Our Environmental Education Curriculum - The High Meadows environmental studies program, E.E.A.R.R.T.H. (Education, Empowerment, Action, Respect, and Responsibility To Help) combines the study of environmental science with environmental responsibility and is integrated into classroom activity and offered as part of the weekly enrichment curriculum for grades preschool through five. Our Middle Years curriculum goes even deeper and includes relevant literature, indoor and outdoor laboratory experiments, examination of environmental issues, and evaluation of potential solutions and action plans. And extra-curricular opportunities exist for students who wish to pursue environmental studies and action on an even broader level.

High Meadows outdoor classroom facilities include:

  • 40 Acre Wooded Campus
  • Amphitheater
  • Bird Feeding Stations
  • Compost Bins, Meadows
  • Butterflies/Insect Pollinators
  • Vegetable, Herb, Flower and Bog gardens
  • Native Plant Landscape
  • Nature Trail
  • Picnic Tables, Benches and other study sites
  • Supplemental Water Source for Wildlife
  • Weather Station
  • Wildlife Shelters
  • Labyrinth


A Commitment to Environmentally Sustainable Building and Operation: High Meadows School's commitment to the environment extends well beyond the curriculum. Recycling bins for a variety of materials are in every building. Built in 2009, our Community Center demonstrated extremely high levels of environmental sensitivity, earning it Gold LEED certification.

Recognition for our Environmental Sustainability Leadership:

Many people and organizations are impressed by High Meadows’ environmental achievements. In recognition of our environmental leadership, High Meadows was invited to participate in state-wide round table discussions sponsored by Captain Planet and the Turner Foundation. Led by national environmental leader Laura Turner Seydel, the group advances environmental sustainability in schools through both curriculum and facilities. High Meadows is the only private school and the only preschool through eighth grade school represented in the group. In 2010, High Meadows hosted the national Farms2Schools program for a one day workshop taught by Georgia Organics, geared toward area educators.

Environmental Sustainability Awards and Recognition Include:

  • Finalist: Atlanta Business Chronicle 2011 Environmental Awards ("Beyond LEED" category)
  • City of Roswell Environmental School and Teacher of the Year/
  • River of Words National and State Level Winners in Art and Poetry
  • Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat (National Wildlife Federation)
  • Pollinator Garden Certification (Monarchs Across Georgia)
  • Georgia Native Plant Habitat (Georgia Native Plant Society)
  • Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (Atlanta Audubon Society)

We have also been recognized as community partners by the following organizations and programs:

  • Keep North Fulton Beautiful/EverGreen Schools Program
  • Chattahoochee Nature Center
  • Fulton County Master Gardeners
  • The Clean Air Campaign
  • Environmental Education of Georgia
  • Monarchs Across Georgia