Community Schools
Transforming schools into neighborhood hubs that support the whole child, family, and community.
What Are Community Schools?
Community schools transform the traditional school model by serving as neighborhood centers that address the full range of factors affecting student success. By providing wraparound services and engaging families and community partners, community schools create the conditions for all students to thrive.
Integrated Student Supports: Health services, mental health counseling, and social services address barriers to learning.
Expanded Learning Time: Before-school, after-school, and summer programs provide enrichment and academic support.
Family and Community Engagement: Schools become true partners with families and community organizations.
Collaborative Leadership: Educators, families, and community members share decision-making responsibility.
Addressing the Whole Child
Children cannot learn effectively when they're hungry, sick, traumatized, or worried about their family's stability. Community schools address these barriers by bringing services to where students already are, making it easier for families to access the support they need.
School-based health centers provide physical and mental health care, reducing absences and ensuring students are healthy enough to learn.
Community schools connect families with housing assistance, food programs, employment services, and other resources that support stability.
Evidence of Success
Research shows that community schools improve student attendance, academic achievement, and graduation rates while reducing disciplinary issues. They also strengthen communities by bringing together diverse stakeholders around a shared commitment to children's success.
Adequate funding: Community schools need sustained investment, not one-time grants.
Full-time coordinators: Every community school needs a dedicated coordinator to manage partnerships.
Authentic partnership: Community partners should be true collaborators, not vendors.
Universal access: All schools should have the resources to become community schools.