A Middletown school has received national accolades for its environmentally friendly policies and activities.

The Lucy School was one of four Maryland schools to win the inaugural Green Ribbon School Award, which recognizes schools that save energy, reduce energy usage, teach sustainable learning practices and provide environmental education that increases academic achievement and community engagement.

The school was recognized, along with schools in Howard, Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties. There were 78 schools honored nationally.

Representatives from the school will attend a ceremony at the White House in June to be recognized for their work.

Students take part in activities such as planting trees and composting lunch leftovers, said Victoria Brown, director of the school.

Being recognized for their work provides students with positive reinforcement for being environmentally friendly, she said.

The school also won the Governor’s Marylanders Plant Trees School Challenge for the second consecutive year. The award tries to encourage the planting of trees by schools and communities, especially in areas that help protect water quality and reduce energy costs.

“We’re just so happy. We feel so deeply honored,” Brown said.