School districts and higher education institutions choose to participate in this program and work towards certification in order to make their schools healthier for students, staff and the environment. HGSC certification is a symbol of this commitment, achievement, and leadership.
Certification Tiers
This standard has three levels of certification recognition for an institution: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Institutions must meet all required criteria in the standard and can achieve their target level of certification by pursuing any combination of optional criteria to meet the certification tiers. Required criteria are designated as such in their titles.
Points for Levels of Certification
| Level | Points |
| Bronze | 60–74 |
| Silver | 75–84 |
| Gold | 85+ |
