Schools as Neighborhoods: A Holistic Framework for Student Well-Being, Opportunity, and Social Success

The Schools-as-Neighborhoods framework highlights the value of trauma-informed, relationship-centered school environments in promoting student well-being. By positioning schools as cohesive ecosystems that foster belonging and cultivate social capital, this approach offers educators and policymakers a pathway for mitigating the effects of hostile lived environments and supporting students' mental health, social development, and engagement in learning.