Quail Lake Environmental Charter School (QLECS) school grounds include 4,000 square feet of garden space featuring an outdoor classroom environment, a 2,000 square foot butterfly garden, a 17x35 foot greenhouse, and planter beds in the front of the school. Kindergarteners through fifth-graders visit the garden every two weeks for garden lessons. Lessons focus not only on gardening skills, but also tie into state standards. In the summer of 2016, QLECS installed a 137 kW photovoltaic system to offset 62 percent of the site’s annual energy usage, resulting in approximately $25,000 in annual savings. QLECS remaining electrical needs are met by the local utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, which has a 27 percent renewable portfolio minimum. QLECS has aimed to go paperless in as many areas as possible. School newsletters and flyers are sent out electronically. Students in grades 1-8 use 1:1 iPads.
Completed Application
(PDF) for Quail Lake Environmental Charter School.