Parade — Do Your Kids Attend One of the Healthiest Schools in America? New Report Reveals the Nation’s Top 355 Schools

This originally appeared in Parade on September 16, 2019.

What makes a school “healthy”? Does it mean offering nutritious school lunches and snacks, or providing physical activity throughout the day?

It’s all of the above, and more, according to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, which recently rounded up its latest list of ‘America’s Healthiest Schools.’

This year, 355 schools from 23 states made the list. All of the schools share certain characteristics: they meet or exceed federal nutrition standards for school meals and snacks, they offer breakfast daily, they incorporate physical activity before, during or after the school day.

The schools on the list have also implemented district wellness policies and involved parents and community members in decision making, according to Healthier Generation.

Also, 77 percent of the school are Title I schools, meaning they serve high-need student populations.

“We are thrilled to see another strong showing of dedicated schools that are taking steps to create healthier school environments that support children’s physical, social, and emotional health,” said Kathy Higgins, the CEO of Healthier Generation.

The schools received Bronze, Silver, or Gold rankings. Schools that reached the Gold level include Wells Middle School in Riverside, California, Belcher Elementary School in Clearwater, Florida, and Gateway Michael Elementary School in St. Louis, Missouri, among others.

Check out HealthiestSchools.org to see the complete list of America’s healthiest schools.