Coalition for Community Schools/August 2009
A decade into the 21st Century, we see a growing interest among school leaders for a more holistic approach to education. Community schools are an alternative to an outdated public education system that disaggregates a challenging curriculum from the other important factors that influence student success. To raise academic achievement and reengage students so they stay in school, get good grades, and graduate prepared for post secondary education and a career with a future, we need more than what a 20th Century system has to offer.
Community schools as evidenced in this report implement many of the strategies aligned with Breaking Ranks II: Strategies for Leading High School Reform. These community schools get their strength from the local community as they create personalized environments, ensure a relevant and rigorous curriculum, and build sustainable partnerships that put a caring adult in a student’s life before, during, and after school and during the summer.
The National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Coalition for Community Schools are pleased to present a review of eight high schools that have embraced the community school approach and are showing results in student success that include reduction of dropout rates, increase in college acceptance, and more. These schools from around the nation in Bronx, NY; Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH; Indianapolis, IN; Philadelphia, PA; Portland, OR; and Tukwila, WA, have found a way to reconnect with youth, enriching their educational experiences through the partnerships that make up the community school strategy.