C.B. Community Schools is a small healing-centered high school in Philadelphia serving young people in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. With a 90% graduation rate and 100% of graduates connected to postsecondary opportunities, the school combines competency-based education with 24/7 social and emotional learning support to help students heal, grow, and build meaningful futures.
To provide a safe, loving, and consistent community where young people in the child welfare system can heal, learn, and develop agency to lead full and meaningful lives through competency-based education and trauma-informed support.
Founded in 2015, C.B. Community Schools is the only high school in the nation dedicated exclusively to students in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. Recognizing that traditional educational systems fail these vulnerable youth, the school operates on a philosophy of "love in action," ensuring students feel safe, valued, and supported. The school features small class sizes, special education support, and a full Social and Emotional Learning team available 24/7 for students who have experienced trauma. Students have agency in their learning, deciding their own educational paths and exploring postsecondary opportunities.
C.B. Community Schools is led by Dr. Robbin Smart (Head of School) and a dedicated team including Ellen Green (School Principal), Megan McCrea (Director of Operations), Debra Stevens (Director of Enrollment), and Ann Reed (SEL Interventionist and Coach). Faculty members teach art, urban gardening, health and physical education, math, financial literacy, and special education. The team is described as "eclectic, eccentric, and dedicated practitioners" united in helping young people lead full and meaningful lives.
The school offers competency-based education with transparent learning pathways, social and emotional learning support, special education services, and postsecondary opportunity exploration. Programs include art and urban gardening, health and physical education, math and financial literacy instruction, and 24/7 trauma-informed mental health support.
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