Education officials gave city school kids the OK to ditch class for climate change Friday — but many of them distilled a whole other meaning from the “go-green” effort.

As tens of thousands of city school kids left school midday to take part in Lower Manhattan’s “Climate Strike” rally — The Post spotted others using the free-cut opportunity to smoke weed, play miniature golf and go shopping.

A group of about six teens gathered on a bench in Hudson River Park, where one of them rolled up a joint and passed it around shortly before noon.

One of the stoners, a 16-year-old from Brooklyn who gave his name as Jamal, said he had no intention of joining the demonstration against fossil fuels that was getting underway in Foley Square.

“I mean, they gave us the day today. They didn’t force us to go nowhere,” he said.

Another kid said, “It’s essentially a free day for us.”

“I thought about it, but what could I really do for the climate? What do marches really do?” he added.

When they got up, the students left behind trash that included an empty package for a “Super Lemon Haze” weed vape cartridge.

Another kid skipping school in the park was spotted tossing an empty soda cup into the river.

Nearby, a group of more than a dozen teens shot a round of miniature golf at the park’s 18-hole course.

Fernando Villanueva, 16, of the Bronx, who was skate-boarding nearby with friends, claimed he was going to attend the climate rally later Friday – but confessed otherwise when pressed on its start time.

“Yeah – I just kind of used it as an excuse,” he said before telling his pals, “Come on guys, let’s go get some Chinese.”

Another skate-boarder, Rueben Santana, 17, of the Bronx, dismissed the efforts of fellow students who attended the rally.

“They’re gonna try to say we can change things, but what can we really do? Everyone’s just selfish in the end,” he said.

In Soho, a 16-year-old who gave his name as Evan Q. was among scores of kids lined up to shop for skater-style clothing at the RIPNDIP pop-up store on Grand Street.

Evan said he was walking south on Broadway with some friends who were going to the protest when he peeled off.

“I don’t think I alone can make a difference so I skipped to shop at RIPNDIP. There’s a good sale,” he said.

“I’ve been waiting in line for over three hours. At least I’m not wasting paper making signs.”

Last week, the Department of Education said the city’s 1.1 million-plus students would be allowed to skip classes to take part in the “Climate Strike” as long as they got parental permission.

City Councilman Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island), who’s running for public advocate, accused Mayor Bill de Blasio and schools Chancellor Richard Carranza of “making up rules that students are excused for political rallies.”

“Will students be excused for a Joe Borelli rally next week?” he asked.

A DOE spokesman said 87.4% of students attended a full day of classes on Friday, compared to 92.3% a week earlier.