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.

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Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)