Building Connections. Supporting Wellness. Strengthening Communities.

Community Schools are a whole-child approach to education that brings together schools, families, students, and community partners to ensure every student has the support they need to thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.

At Charter Oak Unified School District, Community Schools serve as hubs of support and opportunity. By aligning resources, fostering meaningful partnerships, and addressing barriers to learning, we work to create environments where every student feels connected, supported, and empowered to succeed.

Community Schools recognize that student success extends beyond the classroom. When schools, families, and communities work together, students are better equipped to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

Our Mission

Our mission is to create inclusive, supportive, and engaging learning environments by connecting students and families with the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need to succeed in school and in life.

Our Vision

We envision schools as thriving community hubs where students, families, educators, and community partners collaborate to promote academic achievement, wellness, belonging, and lifelong success for every student.

What Makes a Community School?

Community Schools focus on the whole child by integrating academic support, health and wellness services, family engagement, and community partnerships into the school environment.

Through this collaborative approach, schools become centers of opportunity that help address barriers to learning while strengthening connections among students, families, and the broader community.

The Four Pillars of Community Schools

1. Integrated Student Supports

Community Schools help connect students and families with services that support academic success and overall well-being, including mental health services, health resources, family support programs, and community referrals.

2. Family and Community Engagement

Strong partnerships between schools, families, and community organizations create a foundation for student success. Community Schools actively engage families as valued partners in education and decision-making.

3. Collaborative Leadership and Practices

Students, families, educators, and community partners work together to identify needs, develop solutions, and build a positive school culture that supports all learners.

4. Extended Learning Opportunities

Community Schools provide opportunities that extend learning beyond the traditional school day, including enrichment activities, leadership development, mentoring programs, and other experiences that promote student growth and engagement.

Community Schools in Action

Throughout Charter Oak Unified School District, Community Schools work to:

• Expand access to mental health and wellness services

• Connect families with community resources

• Strengthen family-school partnerships

• Promote student engagement and belonging

• Foster positive school climates

• Support academic achievement and student success

• Develop meaningful partnerships with community organizations

Together, these efforts help create schools where every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.

Learn More

To learn more about Community Schools in California, visit the California Department of Education's Community Schools Partnership Program and explore the California Community Schools Framework.

Community Schools are built on the belief that when schools, families, and communities work together, students succeed.

Learn More About Community Schools in California: 

👉 California Community Schools Partnership Program