Community schools
Program basics
- A holistic approach to student needs through community partnerships that go beyond the classroom to provide a litany of services, including counseling and mental health resources, extracurricular activities, medical and dental health care, tutoring, and after-school care
- Addresses out-of-classroom barriers to learning and development
- Typically developed in partnership with educators, public health officials, and community organizations
Strength of evidence
Evidence level: Strong (second-highest tier)
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Strong (second-highest tier)
Ranked as having the second-highest level of evidence by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps
Target population
All school-aged children
Program cost
Not available
Implementation locations
- Illinois, California, and Hawaii
Dates active
Not available
Outcomes and impact
- Positive effects on academic achievement
- Improvements in student attendance
- Potentially increased engagement from parents
- Potentially increased graduation rates
- Potential improvements in student behavior and engagement
- Possible broader community involvement
- Cost-benefit analyses suggest positive net benefits of approximately $4–$15 per dollar invested
Keys to successful implementation
- Note: This content is under review
- Promote the school building as a community area where educators, partners, and parents all feel welcome.
- Create institutional structures that systematize the involvement of parents and community groups, incorporating them into instruction and after school programming.
- Assign a community school coordinator to create channels for communication and accountability between the community and the school.
- Use community assessments to identify the needs of the community and find partnerships to address those needs.
- Operate on-site health and wellness services, or partner with a local clinic to offer immunizations and physicals.