Community Schools in St. Louis: A Brief History

By: Megumi G. Hine, Ph.D.

Districts, states, and the federal government are investing in the community school strategy as a promising school improvement project to holistically support student development (Dryfoos, 2002). Educators and researchers alike are recognizing the need to support students and their families to promote meaningful experiences in school. Here, we investigate the history of St. Louis-area community schools.

Key Points:

• Community schools are commonly defined as physical and relational hubs for partnerships between the school and community to support student, family, and community well-being (Oakes et al., 2017). These schools are expanding nationwide to improve equity and student success.

• St. Louis has experimented with community schools since the 1960s, with various iterations such as Community Education Centers and Full-Service Schools.

• Many initiatives faced funding shortages, leadership instability, or external disruptions, highlighting the need for sustainable implementation strategies.

Please Cite As: Hine, M. (2025). Community schools in St. Louis: A brief history. Policy Research in Missouri Education, 7(8). Saint Louis University. www.primecenter.org/policy-brief-database/community-schools