Why Community Schools Matter
Many students face serious challenges long before they step into a classroom—hunger, trauma, housing instability, and limited access to healthcare and early learning.
Currently, in Onondaga County, 4.1% of school age children are in foster care (The NYS average is 2.7%). In Onondaga County, reports of child abuse and maltreatment among school-aged children is 17.7% (NYS average is 12.4%).
In Cortland County, in 2023 alone, there were FIVE child fatality reports due to child abuse and neglect.
WE MUST DO BETTER
Currently in Onondaga County, 18.9% of school-aged children and youth are living below poverty (NYS average is 18.6%)
In 2022, 15.7% of children in Cortland County NY were living in poverty.
According to a 2021 Children's Defense Fund New York report, 11% of children in Madison County, New York live below the poverty line
WE MUST DO BETTER
Currently in Onondaga County, 24.2% of school-aged children are receiving supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits (NYS average is 21.7%).
Currently in Cortland County, 20.4% of school-aged children are receiving supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits.
WE MUST DO BETTER
Overall homelessness increased 40% in Central New York since 2021. Most of those people, 75%, were never homeless before, according to new numbers from the Housing and Homeless Coalition of Central New York.
WE MUST DO BETTER
In Onondaga County, self-inflicted injuries among teens are at a 3.9% (NYS average is 3.5%)
WE MUST DO BETTER
These gaps directly impact students’ ability to learn and thrive.
That’s where Community Schools come in—connecting students and families to the supports they need, from health care to food access, mentoring, and more.
Research shows the model works:
✅ Higher attendance
✅ Better academic outcomes
✅ Stronger family engagement
✅ Reduced discipline issues
When schools and communities unite, students succeed—and communities grow stronger.