COMMUNITY SCHOOL LEARNING EXCHANGE

East experienced meaningful progress in improving school culture through a combination of Community School supports and a new district partnership with WestEd consultants.

INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNIQUE INVOLVEMENT

Here are some unique experiences that East stakeholders had the opportunity to partake in this past year:

• Led by social studies teacher Mr. Lingo, students attended the Model UN event at Collegiate Academy with five other local middle schools.
• Students and their families had the opportunity to attend Family Trivia Night at East, and win great prizes. In November, East also hosted a “Friendsgiving” dinner for families to celebrate and give thanks together.
• Kahil El’ Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble performed for students in honor Black History Month.

Building skills and relationships

Reinvigorating Opportunities for Young Leaders

Stakeholder Pride at jefferson elementary
Jefferson Elementary implemented intentional strategies this year to recognize and celebrate students, staff, and families, fostering a stronger sense of school pride and a positive school culture.

Jefferson Elementary made a remarkable mark this year by becoming the champions again of the 2nd Annual Royal NFL Community School Flag Football tournament.

As one of the first schools in Erie County to adopt the Community School Model, Edison has had years to build a volunteer system that’s as intentional as it is impactful. And it shows.

In the 2024-25 school year, there were well over 200 student enrollments throughout the year.

Perry expanded unique, family-centered offerings to build a strong connection between students, their parents and guardians, and the school.

Perry has seen a steady decline in reading proficiency among its youngest learners, therefore, a new program, the Page Turner Reading Club, was launched. 

Intentional strategies leading to improved students' overall outcomes

For Black History Month, Grover Cleveland held a Snack and Chat for 4th and 5th-grade students!

Family engagement at Diehl Elementary reached new heights during the 24-25 school year, strengthening connections between home and school. Families consistently expressed pride in being part of the Diehl Community.

During the 2024-2025 school year, Diehl partnered with Erie Playhouse’s PLAYtime program to host a Read Aloud Family Workshop.

Grover Cleveland launched a March Madness Attendance Challenge to keep students engaged & excited to come to school!

Relationship Building: A Core Part of Edison
At Edison, relationship-building is a core part of their daily routines, from shaping policies based on community feedback to creating spaces for students, families, and staff to connect and support one another.

Every month, the Erie School Board receives a snapshot of how the Community School Model is transforming classrooms and communities across the district. Now, we’re sharing that same insider look with you. This report highlights tangible results, including programs launched, partnerships formed, and progress being made for Erie students and families.

Positive Youth Development – affectionately known as PYD – is Wilson’s student leadership team and a driving force behind peer engagement across the school. In just three years, the group has grown from three to nearly 20 active members.

During the 2024-2025 school year, 7th and 8th-grade Wilson students had the opportunity to attend Math Options Day at Penn State Behrend. Students competed in a STEM school challenge to make and fly a glider with a LEGO passenger and hit a target.

At Erie High, a United Way Community School, preparing students for life beyond graduation means more than just academics—it’s about providing real-world opportunities. .