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Supporting Middle School Success Through A Community School Model

little girl working hard

Mission

Mission
Child studying

Our Mission

United Way NCA’s Middle School Success Initiative unites nonprofits, schools, and communities to surround middle school students in our community schools with the support and resources they deserve.

We focus on providing academic, health, and social support to help students thrive and reach their full potential, so no young person arrives at high school feeling unprepared or left behind.

About

About

About

Our Middle School Success Program is built on a Community Schools model. Through this framework, United Way of the National Capital Area can identify, collaborate with, and mobilize community partners to provide academic, health, and social support to students and their families.

At the heart of each Community School is a Community School Coordinator who serves as a relationship builder, bringing together local organizations, families, and educators to create an environment where every student can thrive.

How To Help

Get Involved / How to Help

How to Help

  • Advocate for increased local government funding to expand Community Schools in our region.
  • Donate to support our Community Schools programmatic work.
francis middle school walt whitman kelly miller middle school blmsheader3 Loiderman

Partner Organizations

Partner Organizations
Kid with glasses

Partner Organizations

United Way NCA supports six community schools. Our Community Schools and partners are:

  1. Community in Schools Northern Virginia at Francis C. Hammond Middle School (Alexandria, VA)
  2. United Community at Walt Whitman Middle School (Fairfax, VA)
  3. City Year DC and Communities in Schools of the Nation’s Capital at Kelly Miller Middle School (Washington, DC)
  4. Communities in Schools of the Nation’s Capital at H.D. Woodson High School (Washington, DC)
  5.  Latin American Youth Center at Buck Lodge Middle School (Prince George’s County, MD) 
  6. EveryMind and Linkages to Learning at A. Mario Loiederman Middle School (Montgomery County, MD)
francis middle school walt whitman kelly miller middle school blmsheader3 Loiderman

Our Mission

United Way NCA’s Middle School Success Initiative unites nonprofits, schools, and communities to surround middle school students in our community schools with the support and resources they deserve.

We focus on providing academic, health, and social support to help students thrive and reach their full potential, so no young person arrives at high school feeling unprepared or left behind.

Child studying

About

Our Middle School Success Program is built on a Community Schools model. Through this framework, United Way of the National Capital Area can identify, collaborate with, and mobilize community partners to provide academic, health, and social support to students and their families.

At the heart of each Community School is a Community School Coordinator who serves as a relationship builder, bringing together local organizations, families, and educators to create an environment where every student can thrive.

How to Help

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

Partner Organizations

United Way NCA supports six community schools. Our Community Schools and partners are:

  1. Community in Schools Northern Virginia at Francis C. Hammond Middle School (Alexandria, VA)
  2. United Community at Walt Whitman Middle School (Fairfax, VA)
  3. City Year DC and Communities in Schools of the Nation’s Capital at Kelly Miller Middle School (Washington, DC)
  4. Communities in Schools of the Nation’s Capital at H.D. Woodson High School (Washington, DC)
  5.  Latin American Youth Center at Buck Lodge Middle School (Prince George’s County, MD) 
  6. EveryMind and Linkages to Learning at A. Mario Loiederman Middle School (Montgomery County, MD)
francis middle school walt whitman kelly miller middle school blmsheader3 Loiderman

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FAQS

What are United Way NCA Community Schools?
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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?
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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 Practice Equity.

What is the difference between a Community School and a regular school?
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United Way Community NCA 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.