Hooray for Middle School Success!

01

Mission

The mission of the Middle School Success Program is to provide academic, social and health support to middle school students in need to prepare them to transition to high school performing at grade level and on track to succeed.

To accomplish this mission, we will:

  • Collaborate with numerous nonprofit organizations that provide comprehensive and coordinated services in targeted schools in each of the regions we serve.
02

About

United Way NCA’s Middle School Success Program uses a Community Schools model.

Community Schools identify resources that connect home, school and community in ways that make student success possible. By supporting both academic and non-academic learning, community schools teach the whole child and encourage their social, emotional, physical and academic growth. Furthermore, parents and families are brought into the school in a way that centers the needs of the whole family and welcomes them as active agents in their children’s achievement.

Using a Community School model, we collaborate with best-in-class nonprofit organizations that convene the partners and services within local middle schools to address the academic and non-academic needs of ALICE students and their families. These services include providing health and dental care, tutoring, enrichment programs, physical fitness activities, parental engagement activities (such as housing counseling and other economic services) and much more.

Each Community School has a Community School Coordinator who develops partnerships with local community organizations to create an environment where academics, enrichment, health and social supports, family engagement, youth and community development improve students’ well-being.

03

PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

We are currently supporting 6 Community Schools in the region.

Our current partners include:

  • In Alexandria, we are partnering with Communities in Schools Northern Virginia in Francis C. Hammond Middle School.
  • In Fairfax, we are partnering with United Community in Walt Whitman Middle School.
  • In Washington, DC, we are partnering with City Year DC in Kelly Miller Middle School. We are partnering with Communities in Schools of the Nation’s Capital in Kelly Miller Middle School and H.D. Woodson High School.
  • In Prince George’s County, we are partnering with Latin American Youth Center in Buck Lodge Middle School.
  • In Montgomery County, we are partnering with EveryMind and Linkages to Learning in A. Mario Loiederman Middle School
04

HOW TO HELP

  • Advocate for increased local government funding to expand Community Schools in our region.
  • Donate to support our Community Schools programmatic work.

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FAQs

  • What is a Community School?

    A community school is both a place and a set of partnerships between schools and community resources. Its integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and community engagement leads to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities. Community Schools bring together many partners to offer a range of supports and opportunities to children, youth, families and communities.

  • Why are Community Schools important?

    Research shows that young people need a wide range of learning opportunities and supports to succeed. A quality academic program is necessary, but it is not sufficient. It is essential that schools address the myriad interdependent factors that affect our young people’s success, including the rising opportunity gap and the inequities in many students’ lives. Community Schools are the vehicle for doing both. Through our Community Schools, we stand for equity.

  • What is the difference between a Community School and a regular school?

    Community Schools are an intentional school transformation strategy focused on results with participation from school and community leaders, educators, community partners, students, families and residents. A regular school may have community partners and programs, but they typically operate in silos and are not well-aligned with the school’s academic plans and goals.

    Community Schools also differ in how they view the community around them and how they work with community partners. Community Schools see the community as a resource for learning and development and as a partner in the education of its children. They develop respectful and mutually beneficial relationships with families, neighborhood residents and agencies and organizations who are concerned with the well-being of the region’s youth.