Community schools address the social, health and emotional needs of their students to improve academic achievement. The role of the school goes beyond the classroom and provides the social, health, and emotional support that each student needs by working with community partners to provide resources and services. The community school also serves as a hub that is accessible to anyone in the community and can provide space for various services, such as a community clinic or career center.
Southside K-8, in War, completed its transition to a community school under an Innovation Zone Grant from the West Virginia Department of Education. The school has a full-time site facilitator who coordinates the efforts of a variety of partners to successfully address issues identified by the school steering committee. Southside continues to strengthen its after-school programs, which include tutoring, physical activity and family engagement.
