USA Blue Schools Network
USA Blue Schools has been endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade for its work engaging K–12 students, teachers, and communities in hands-on stewardship and ocean literacy. With more than 50 schools across the U.S. and growing, Blue Schools empower youth to connect with science, take action for their local waterways, and join a global movement for a sustainable ocean future.
The USA Blue Schools Network continues to grow as a powerful model for integrating ocean literacy into K-12 education. The 2024-2025 Annual Report highlights a school year of meaningful learning, student-led action, and expanding partnerships that connect classrooms to local watersheds and the global ocean.
This year marked an important milestone: USA Blue Schools became a UN Ocean Decade-endorsed project, joining a global network of approximately 60 countries committed to advancing ocean literacy and stewardship worldwide.
Empower the Next Generation of Ocean Leaders
USA Blue Schools are transforming how we protect our ocean by putting the power directly into the hands of students. We don't just teach marine conservation; we equip young leaders to drive real-world change in their own communities.
Your support is the primary engine behind our school initiatives. We believe that the best way to protect our Blue Planet is to give students the agency to solve the problems they see in their own backyards.
How Your Donation Drives Impact
By contributing today, you are directly funding:
Connections to Local Environments: Giving schools resources to get students’ feet wet—literally and figuratively—in their local watersheds.
School-Led Conservation Grants: Providing the seed money and materials for students and teachers to design, launch, and manageimpactful projects in their communities.
.School-Wide Sustainability Initiatives: Funding the infrastructure for schools to adopt sustainable practices and marine-focused curriculum enhancements.
Action-Oriented Research: Moving beyond the textbook by giving students the resources to conduct real-world environmental research.
Community Ripple Effects: Enabling schools to act as hubs for local marine conservation, where student projects create widespread awareness and drive policy change.
Join us in creating a brighter future for our ocean through the power of education and student action.
Donate to USA Blue Schools
Together, we can ensure that our oceans thrive for generations to come by investing in the leaders of tomorrow.
What is a Blue School?
Blue Schools integrate ocean learning into the curriculum, recognizing the important role formal education plays in fostering an ocean-literate society. Blue Schools promote an interdisciplinary, inquiry-based, and project-based approach to teaching and learning about the ocean. To qualify, schools must:
Promote ocean literacy within the curriculum, helping students understand the ocean’s role in our lives and our role in caring for it.
Involve students in action projects that make a difference in their communities, such as stewardship activities, conservation efforts, or sustainability initiatives.
Participating Schools
We currently have ~50 registered USA Blue Schools. Nineteen actively participated in activities in the 2023-24 school year and received their USA Blue Schools flag. With support from the NOAA Office of Education and the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA), our goal is to expand the network and provide more opportunities for Blue Schools to share their successes with one another and beyond.
Promote ocean literacy through authentic learning opportunities at multiple grade levels or in diverse subject areas.
Enact ocean-related stewardship or social action projects to make our ocean a better place.
Involve students, families and community organizations in their work
Connect with other schools within the Global Blue Schools Network through webinars, student symposia, and quarterly meetings of USA Blue Schools teachers
REGIONAL USA BLUE SCHOOLS NETWORKS
Some USA Blue Schools are a part of regional networks, including the Long Island Sound Schools, funded by the EPA Long Island Sound Study, and the Tri-State Blue Schools and Hawai’i Blue Schools, a project by Prada Group conducted in partnership with UNESCO-IOC to raise awareness of sustainability and ocean preservation. 1% of the proceeds from the Prada Re-Nylon for SEA BEYOND Collection benefit the project.
WHAT IS THE GLOBAL BLUE SCHOOLS NETWORK?
The Global Blue Schools Network connects schools around the planet to raise ocean literacy and citizenship for a sustainable world. The Blue School approach increases awareness about the ocean and inspires students, educators, and citizens from different countries to deepen their connection with the sea. By promoting critical thinking, experiential learning, and community-based projects, students are encouraged and supported to translate their knowledge into positive action to ensure a healthy future ocean.
The United States is one of 18 nations around the world that comprise the Network.
How to become a USA Blue School
If you are interested in becoming a USA Blue School, please submit the USA Blue Schools Application form. Contact Meghan Marrero at usablueschools@marine-ed.org if you have any questions.
Watch Past USA Blue Schools Webinars
Miss a webinar or want to revisit a favorite session? Our USA Blue Schools YouTube playlist features recordings of past webinars highlighting inspiring classroom practices, student action projects, and conversations with educators and partners from across the network. These on-demand videos are a great way to learn, get inspired, and connect with the growing Blue Schools community—they’re perfect for educators looking for ideas, examples, and encouragement as they bring ocean literacy and stewardship into their schools.
