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Community Schools

Empowering students to succeed in school and life

Thousands of Florida students arrive to school each day with more than a backpack – they carry baggage beyond their years: hunger, homelessness, poverty, exposure to violence, mental health struggles, inadequate access to health care and more. They carry so much weight that they simply cannot focus on their education.

Often times, these students and their families simply lack access to the opportunities their neighbors and peers may have. For these students, it’s not about raising the ceiling — it’s about raising the ground floor.

Through Community Partnership Schools, we offer:

No two Community Partnership Schools are exactly alike – each centers on unique community needs to allow students to focus on their education and future success. But all share a similar model – one with proven methods for accountability and outcomes.

How do we do it?

A partnership among Children’s Home Society of Florida, the University of Central Florida and Orange County Public Schools brought the successful Community Partnership School model to Florida. Florida’s first Community Partnership School – Evans Community Partnership School – officially opened at Evans High School in Orlando on October 13, 2012.

CHS is a core partner in 37 Community Partnership Schools in Florida — more than any other entity in the state.

A 2023-2024 snapshot of Community Partnership Schools where CHS is a core partner

In the News

As CHS celebrates 120 years of helping kids realize their full potential, we’re excited to shine a light on a decade of transforming students’ lives through Community Partnership Schools. Learn more in a recent feature by Florida Trend.

Evans High School made history  by celebrating the 10-year anniversary of becoming Florida’s FIRST Community Partnership School!  Check out WESH TV’s coverage of the milestone event. 

Curious what 5 years of impact in a Community Partnership School looks like? Watch as WEAR TV celebrates the continued academic and life success at C.A. Weis Elementary.

Attention School Districts

Additional opportunities to integrate Community Schools into your districts can include: 

  • Community Partnership Schools
  • Community Schools
  • Resource Coordination and Full Service Delivery

 Find more information here