The community school strategy delivers services tailor made for a particular student population and positions those scholars to overcome the barriers to academic success.

Children’s Aid has been a pioneer in community schools, establishing its first more than 25 years ago. Today, we operate 22 community schools throughout New York City, and we work with each school’s leadership and staff to offer academic enrichment programs, health services, parent engagement strategies, and much more to give students the best opportunities to succeed.

A sustained effort and long-term commitment

No two community schools look alike. When we partner with a school to make it a community school, we assess the needs of that student population and community. At all of our community schools, we are placing an emphasis on chronic absenteeism. We offer services that improve attendance and get the entire family involved in the academic success of their children.

Five critical elements must be present and flourishing to ensure success:

• a strong instructional program
• solid professional capacity
• close parent-community-school ties (emphasis on parent engagement)
• a student-centered learning climate
• leadership that drives change

Services at a community school can include comprehensive health services, after-school academic enrichment, mentoring, parent engagement, and more. 

In 1994, Children’s Aid founded the National Center for Community Schools as demand soared for information and advice about community schools implementation.

In 2012, Children’s Aid founded the Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School as a community school. With the instructional program and support services coordinated and driven by the same leadership team, its students have shown incredible academic achievements in a short period of time.