School applauded for being "green"

Arabia Mountain High School was recognized this week in Washington, D.C., where federal officials applauded the school's environmentalism.

The south DeKalb County school is among 78 nationwide named "Green-Ribbon Schools" by the U.S. Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency at a June 4 reception, according to U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, a Democrat from Lithonia.

Such schools reduce their environmental "footprint," promote health and offer environmental and outdoor education for a "clean-energy global economy," Johnson said in a statement. The award was started last year.