Photo of Dorsey High School Gymnasium, LEED Silver Certified

High Performance Schools   |   High Performance Design Policy

High Performance Schools

LAUSD is dedicated to providing safe, healthy, and comfortable learning environments for all students. The District works collaboratively with internal stakeholders to incorporate the most current high performance, resource efficient strategies into the design, construction, and operation of District schools and facilities.  

In October 2003, the Board of Education passed a Resolution entitled Sustainability and the Design and Construction of High Performance Schools, directing that the design of all new schools and modernization projects incorporate and meet the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) green building criteria. 

The District has also piloted working with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria on 8 new schools and major modernization projects. Thus far, three schools - Sotomayor Learning Academies, Michelle Obama Elementary School, and Middle College High School - have achieved LEED Gold certification, and the addition/modernization project at Dorsey High School has achieved LEED Silver certification.  

Current LAUSD Goals
  • Ensure a safe, healthy, and comfortable learning environment in energy and water efficient schools
  • Raise awareness about sustainability in the built environment

Numbers & Resources

136 CHPS Recognized Schools
7 LEED Certified Schools

LAUSD Celebrates
15 Years of CHPS
​100 CHPS Certified Schools

High Performance Schools

Playa Vista Elementary, LEED Platinum Certified
Michelle Obama Elementary, LEED Gold Certified
Sotomayor Learning Academies, LEED Gold Certified
Middle College High, LEED Gold Certified
Maywood Academy High, CHPS Flagship School

What is a High Performance School?

A high performance school provides a learning environment that is safe, healthy, resource efficient, and environmentally thoughtful. High performance schools also serve as learning laboratories to promote understanding of sustainable design practices. High performance design is guided by green building rubrics in the following areas:

Sustainable Site Selection and Design

​High performance schools are sited to minimize our impact on sensitive land and encourage the use of public transportation, bicycling, and walking.  Sustainable site development emphasizes the use of materials and landscaping to help keep the city cool by reducing the heat island effect caused by surfaces absorbing heat from the sun, as well as design for storm water capture and pollution prevention. 

Water Stewardship

​High performance schools are designed to conserve water overall and reduce the use of potable (drinkable) water for landscaping.  

Energy Conservation

​High performance schools conserve energy through the design, installation and maintenance of energy efficient systems and equipment.

Climate

​High performance schools strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the ultimate goal of producing their own energy through renewable energy strategies.

Materials and Waste Management

​High performance schools are designed to maximize the use/re-use of recycled and recyclable/renewable materials, are built using practices that minimize waste during construction, and are operated in a way that reduces waste going to landfills. 

Environmental Quality and Thermal and Acoustical Comfort

​High performance schools are designed to have healthy indoor air, to be well lit including the use of natural lighting and view windows, and to be thermally and acoustically comfortable. 

Leadership, Education, and Innovation

​High performance schools can be used creatively as teaching tools to educate and inspire students to become environmental stewards.

Primary Partners