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What is a community school?
 A community school can be defined as a public school that combines the
rigorous academics of a quality education with a wide range of vital
in-house services and supports for the purpose of better promoting children's
learning and development.
Typically, students,
their families and the wider community are given appropriate access
to community schools before and during the school day, in evenings and
on weekends, and throughout the school year. The school and district
leadership often encourage on-site programming in the areas of arts,
culture, recreation, health, mental health, parent support and involvement,
adult education, and other areas as needed by that particular student
and community population.
Ideally, community
schools are planned by and for the community, and offer programs that
remove barriers to learning and offer programs that offer enrichment
to children and adults of all ages. It is not unusual for community-based
agencies, parents, business leaders, and other community and school
partners to be invited by the district to plan the design and the programming
aspects of the school.
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What
are community design features?
 A
community design feature, also described as a joint-use space, is a
space or amenity that, while not traditionally located in a school,
provides enhanced benefit to both students and the local community by
being housed on school grounds. Health clinics, public libraries, and
fitness centers are all examples of community design features. Schools
can also be designed to accommodate community use by incorporating additional
space. Examples include an expanded or additional gymnasium, auditorium,
media center, or athletic field.
Designing
community schools with separate student and community entrances or locating
joint-use spaces in a separate area from classrooms, can be an ideal
way to enable public access to community design features during the
school day.
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