Goal: This study’s aim is to examine the impact of informal environmental education, through participation in the Programa de Escuelas Sustentables – PES (Sustainable School Program) of the non-profit organization COSUAM of Puerto Rico, and academic achievement of high school students that is reflected in the standardized tests “Pruebas Puertorriqueñas de Aprovechamiento Académico” (or PPAA) administered by the Department of Education of Puerto Rico. The study compares a group of schools that are registered in the PES. In order to complete the analysis, a scale was established according to five characteristics schools were categorized as “very active”, “active” or “slightly active” according to their participation level in the program. It is expected that schools categorized as “very active” will obtain a higher academic achievement scores in the PPAA tests of the academic year 2014-2015 than the schools that were not so active. Pre-existing data was used to complete this study, including the results of the standardized tests (PPAA) and general information about the schools which are public records available to through the Department of Education’s website, and the information facilitated by the PES program’s director about participant public schools and the activities that they perform.
