Three Island schools — Lakeridge Elementary, West Mercer Elementary and the French American School of Puget Sound — are part of a group of 39 public and private schools in King County that earned recognition last month for their successful conservation practices of the county’s Green Schools Program.

“Staff and students at these 39 schools have embraced recycling, reducing waste and other conservation actions, with assistance from the county’s Green Schools Program,” said Dale Alekel, program manager.

The program has three levels that involve students and staff in learning about and practicing conservation of natural resources.

In 2012-13, 21 schools completed Level One by expanding recycling practices and focusing on waste-reduction strategies, such as decreasing paper use, while another 13 schools completed Level Two by engaging in energy conservation actions, such as turning off lights in unoccupied rooms. Five schools completed Level Three by learning about and engaging in water conservation and pollution prevention practices.

Lakeridge Elementary was one of five schools recognized this spring as a Level Three King County Green Schools.

West Elementary School and the French American School of Puget Sound were two of the 13 schools recognized this spring as Level Two King County Green Schools.