October 26, 2011—The HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) is a key component of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative to end childhood obesity. Schools participating in the challenge adopt USDA standards for the food that they serve and provide nutrition education and opportunities for physical activity. The challenge features four award levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Gold Award of Distinction.

Congratulations to the districts in this list, which had one or more schools that achieved HUSSC designations in October 2011. A special round of congratulations goes to Los Angeles Unified School District and its nearly 500 schools that earned designations in October.

As of October 20, 2011, 2,161 schools have achieved HUSSC certification. For a list of all of the award-winning schools, visit http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/healthierUS/awardwinners.html.  

Alabama

• Hoover City School District: 1 Gold Award of Distinction

California

• Los Angeles Unified School District: 3 Gold Awards of Distinction, 5 Silver, 482 Bronze

Connecticut

• Ridgefield Public Schools: 1 Bronze

Florida

• Santa Rosa County School District: 2 Bronze

Georgia

• Carrollton City Schools: 1 Gold

Illinois

• Chicago Public Schools: 2 Gold

Maine

• Kittery School Department: 4 Bronze

Massachusetts

• Milton Public Schools: 1 Bronze

North Dakota

• Edmore School District #2: 1 Silver

Tennessee

• Coffee County School District: 1 Gold Award of Distinction
• Putnam County School District: 1 Gold Award of Distinction

Texas

• Alvin Independent School District: 9 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze
• McKinney Independent School District: 1 Bronze

Virginia

• Prince William County School District: 1 Silver, 1 Bronze

Has your school earned a HealthierUS School Challenge designation? Feel free to share tips and ideas for success with your school nutrition colleagues by submitting a comment to this post.

The May 2011 issue of School Nutrition features an article on HUSSC best practices. Additionally, an article in the September 2011 issue of School Nutrition demonstrates how smaller school districts can strive to achieve HUSSC—and Fuel Up to Play 60—success to get the recognition that their programs deserve.

For more information about the HealthierUS School Challenge, including criteria and an application, visit http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/healthierus/index.html.

Related Links

HealthierUS School Challenge Information 

HealthierUS School Challenge Award-Winning Schools
“Are YOU up for the Challenge?”—School Nutrition, May 2011

“Small Schools See the Big Picture”—School Nutrition, September 2011
USDA Food and Nutrition Service Announces September HealthierUS School Challenge Winners
USDA Food and Nutrition Service Announces July HealthierUS School Challenge Winners
USDA Food and Nutrition Service Announces Latest HealthierUS School Challenge Winners
USDA Food and Nutrition Service Announces June HealthierUS School Challenge Winners
USDA Food and Nutrition Service Announces May HealthierUS School Challenge Winners
USDA Food and Nutrition Service Announces April and May HealthierUS School Challenge Winners
USDA Food and Nutrition Service Announces March HealthierUS School Challenge Winners
USDA Food and Nutrition Service Announces New HealthierUS School Challenge Winners