Community Schools Partnerships Reap Benefits
This marks the fifth year of the City’s community schools partnership with the Little Rock School District. Currently, eight LRSD schools are classified as community schools, with our nationally recognized model leading to better attendance and better outcomes. These schools provide comprehensive, collaborative support to students and families.
Our eight community schools are: Chicot Elementary, Mabelvale Elementary, McDermott Elementary, Stephens Elementary, Carver-Washington Elementary, Watson Elementary, Dunbar Magnet Middle and Mabelvale Middle schools. Each school is staffed with a community school coordinator who facilitates learning enrichment, family engagement and community involvement.
This model has a track record of success. For instance:
Average attendance at seven of the eight community schools outpaced LRSD’s overall average, with three schools (Chicot, McDermott and Mabelvale elementaries) exceeding the district rate.
Community schools averaged 54 volunteer hours per student, far ahead of the district average of 26. Chicot, Stephens and Carver-Washington are in the top 5 LRSD schools for volunteer hours per student.
School-based health clinics last year had more than 1,600 visits, including close to 700 well-child exams.
Students at four schools with school gardens spent more than 700 hours in the gardens learning about gardening and healthy eating habits. FoodCorps spent close to 500 hours in school cafeterias educating students about good nutrition.
At its next meeting, the Little Rock Board of Directors will consider a Memorandum of Understanding with LRSD to continue this successful community schools model. We appreciate the Board’s ongoing support of this partnership.
Community schools are an instrumental piece of the City’s overall education strategy. Initiatives like Career Climb, positive prevention support from our Department of Community Programs, and our Parks and Recreation team’s summer playground and after-school programs are more ways the City of Little Rock prioritizes the education and well-being of our children and youth.
