Some of the incredible physical structures used by the Delran High School Green Team and horticulture classes at the school.
Delran High School has once again met the requirements to achieve Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification at the bronze level, for the fourth time since the program’s history.
This brings the total number of certified schools across New Jersey to 370. As leading examples of sustainability excellence, the certified schools provide outstanding learning opportunities for their students and join an established cohort of recognized schools across the state.
“Being awarded another Sustainable Jersey For Schools certification is meaningful because our students are the driving force behind it,” said Tim Pilla, Delran High School’s Sustainability Project Manager. “From reducing waste to improving our school grounds, our students demonstrate their hard work, their creativity, and their commitment to sustainability.
“This certification is as much about student leadership and growth as it is about our school’s achievements,” he added. “I am grateful to be able to teach and learn alongside such passionate young people who are shaping a more sustainable future.”
Pilla is one of eight appointed faculty members who work directly with the students in the Delran Green Team’s commitment to fostering the tenets of sustainability. Among the many points the district received, were 30 for its onsite renewable generations system-solar, 20 for the Breakfast After the Bell program and 20 for its school gardens.
The district provided 12-month data for total electricity usage and total solar production at the high school. From May 1 to April 2025, electrical usage totaled 1,061,129 kilowatt-hour (kWh) and solar production totaled 909,394 kWh.
The Breakfast After the Bell program began in September of 2012 as a trial run and continues today. The March 2024 monthly voucher report shows that Delran High has a total of 1,584 breakfasts served – 587 free, 138 reduced price.
In 2012, the school made a significant investment in science education by approving a referendum to construct a state-of-the-art science wing. This expansion included a high-tech greenhouse, which, along with the school’s rooftop garden, has become central to Delran’s innovative approach to sustainability education and experiential learning.
The greenhouse is central to the district’s native plant propagation efforts, enabling students to nurture young plants that will later be transplanted to our broader restoration projects, such as the “Back to Eden Garden.”
The rooftop garden, with its raised soil-based beds, offers a different kind of learning – one grounded in ecological observation and real-world agricultural practices. This outdoor space brings students into direct contact with natural elements, making it ideal for studying pollinators and their role in healthy ecosystems.
The rooftop garden also provides an opportunity to grow food in an open-air environment, deepening students’ understanding of where their food comes from and how local agriculture can support community needs.
This achievement comes as Sustainable Jersey for Schools celebrates its 10th year of awarding certification to New Jersey public schools. Today, 1,223 schools participate in the program, collectively driving change on critical issues such as energy use, waste reduction, climate education and digital learning.
Launched in 2014, the voluntary certification program provides a roadmap for pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade schools to implement sustainability best practices. Schools earn points for completing a balanced portfolio of actions, with 150 points required for bronze certification and 350 for more advanced silver level.
“Across the nation, many school systems are still searching for ways to meet sustainability commitments,” said Randall Solomon, executive director of Sustainable Jersey. “In New Jersey, however, schools are showing what real progress looks like. With more than two-thirds of districts engaged and hundreds of schools certified, we’re seeing real momentum.
“What makes this achievement powerful is that it comes from the ground up: teachers, students, administrators and parents working together to build healthier, more resilient schools,” he added. “Certification through Sustainable Jersey for Schools reflects that shared leadership and vision.”
The Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification is good for three program years.
