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America’s Healthiest Schools

Since 2007, our annual recognition program has honored 3,780 schools for the key role they play in advancing the health and well-being of students, staff, and families.
In 2026, 1,376 schools from 35 states and Washington, DC made the list, including 200 All-Stars.

Explore All Awardees

Stories of Impact

Topic Areas

Schools apply for recognition in up to nine topics related to student and staff health.

  • Supporting School Health Services
    Recognizes school teams that routinely conduct health screenings, address chronic health conditions, and provide a pathway for students with health concerns to receive additional support from the school or community-based providers.
  • Implementing Local School Wellness Policy
    Recognizes school teams that implement the district wellness policy with the support of a diverse set of representatives, set measurable goals, and reflect on progress, successes, and challenges.
  • Improving Nutrition & Food Access
    Recognizes school teams that implement strategies to maximize school meal participation, meaningfully collaborate with teachers on nutrition education, and partner with community organizations to improve families’ nutrition security.
  • Bolstering Physical Education & Activity
    Recognizes school teams that provide physical education using an evidence-based curriculum and integrate physical activity opportunities throughout the school day with all students, including students with special health needs.
  • Enriching Health Education
    Recognizes school teams that provide health education to all students, using an evidence-based curriculum, and prioritize opportunities for students to practice skills to maintain and improve their health.
  • Strengthening Social-Emotional Health & Learning
    Recognizes school teams that positively motivate participation and learning, implement an evidenced-based social-emotional learning curriculum, and provide opportunities for students to regulate their emotions and learn from their mistakes.
  • Promoting Tobacco-Free Schools
    Recognizes school teams that address tobacco use in youth through prevention education, actively engage students in promoting a tobacco-free campus and provide support and cessation intervention when students vape or use tobacco products.
  • Cultivating Staff Well-Being
    Presented by: Kaiser Permanente
    Recognizes school teams that provide resources to support breaks for all staff during the instructional day, actively promote staff relationship-building, and foster a culture of gratitude among colleagues.
  • Increasing Family & Community Engagement
    Presented by: Kohl’s
    Recognizes school teams that gather input from the school community, engage parents and caregivers in meaningful ways to support student success, and connect families to resources related to social drivers of health.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q: How do schools get recognized?
    A: Schools apply for recognition in up to nine topic categories related to student and staff health.
  • Q: How does the All-Star distinction work?
    A: A school that meets the criteria for all 9 topic areas receives the All-Star Awardee distinction.
  • Q: Do we have to apply each year?
    A: America's Healthiest Schools is an annual award, refreshed each year to indicate committment to maintaining health standards.
  • Q: Is the 2026 application open now?
    No. The 2026 application was open through April 14, 2026.
  • Q: When does the application for 2027 open?
    The application for 2027 will open next year.

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