#109 – Empowering Families, Transforming Schools – A Journey of Impact

At SchermCo Foundation, we’ve always believed that family engagement isn’t just a checkbox. It’s not the occasional parent-teacher conference or a single volunteer opportunity. It’s a powerful, ongoing, and deeply human process of listening, co-creating, and building trust. True family empowerment happens when families are not just participants, but partners in shaping the future of our schools and communities.

This past school year, 2023/24, was a milestone in our journey. We deepened our work across 20 schools and organizations, eight of which were new partners. The impact, both quantitative and qualitative, affirms what we’ve always known: when families are supported and empowered, school communities thrive.

But let’s be clear: we didn’t do this alone. Every bit of progress is thanks to our incredible school partners, community-based organizations, and most importantly, the families themselves. The numbers below are a correlation, not a causation. We were one piece of a much larger puzzle, a puzzle being carefully assembled every day by educators, social workers, nonprofit leaders, and parents/caretakers doing everything they can to support students.

Let’s dig into what we saw this year, not just the data, but the stories and relationships behind it.

The Data That Tells a Bigger Story

Academic Growth: Steady Progress Amid Challenges

Academic growth helps us understand how much students improve from year to year, regardless of where they start. While we don’t teach the students ourselves, we help build the ecosystem around them that supports learning.

Among the schools we began working with in the 2023/24 school year:

• Statesville Road Elementary School saw its growth status move from “Met” in both 21/22 and 22/23 to “Exceeded” in 23/24 – a major win in a single year!
• Eastway Middle School also exceeded growth, progressing from “Met” in 22/23 to “Exceeded” in 23/24.
• Ranson Middle School progressed from “Not Met” in 21/22 and 22/23 to “Met” in 23/24 – a meaningful shift in momentum.

At schools where our partnerships are more established, sustained growth continues: 

• University Park Creative Arts School, where we’ve been engaged since 2020, exceeded growth expectations for the first time in six years.
• Chambers High School, where we’ve been working together since 2020, met growth expectations after falling short for six years.
• Durham Charter School, a partner since 2021, consistently exceeded growth expectations every year we’ve collaborated.

These results underscore the long-game nature of family empowerment. It takes time, but when trust builds, outcomes follow.

Chronic Absenteeism: Reversing the Trend

Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing more than 10% of the school year, has been a major barrier to educational equity. If a student isn’t in class, they’re not learning; it’s that simple. But the reasons behind chronic absenteeism are anything but simple: lack of reliable transportation, caregiving responsibilities, housing instability, illness, mental health, disconnection from school culture… The list goes on.

By working directly with families to identify barriers and connect them to the right resources, we’ve seen meaningful improvements in attendance:

• Wilson STEM Academy: Since our partnership began in 2020, chronic absenteeism has dropped from 58.65% (20/21) to 43.6% (23/24) – a 15% decrease.
• University Park Creative Arts School: Absenteeism has steadily declined from 43.39% (20/21) to 24.5% (23/24) – a near 19% drop.
• West Charlotte High School: A 7% drop in just one year, from 51.8% (22/23) to 44.8% (23/24).
• Statesville Road Elementary School: A new partner in 23/24, saw absenteeism drop to 21.2%, one of the lowest rates among our partner schools.

This progress is a testament to what’s possible when we address families’ unique needs with intention and care, from transportation assistance to improved access to community resources. Through partnerships with local nonprofits and government agencies, we’ve also supported parents and caregivers in securing job training opportunities, with over 150 adults transitioning into higher-paying, more stable employment. This shift not only strengthens household stability but reflects our commitment to a two-generational, holistic approach: when families thrive, students are better positioned to succeed.

Performance Grades: Shifting the Narrative

We know that performance grades don’t tell the full story of a school. But when schools improve from an “F” to a “C,” it’s worth celebrating because those changes often reflect deeper shifts in climate, morale, and trust.

Since partnering with SchermCo:

• University Park Creative Arts School improved from an “F” in 21/22 to a “C” in 23/24.
• West Charlotte High School, in its first year of partnership, moved from a “D” to a “C.”
• Eastway Middle School reversed a failing grade from 22/23, earning a “D” in 23/24.

What’s behind this shift? It’s not just better test scores. It’s students showing up. Parents advocating for their children. Teachers feeling supported by engaged caregivers. And school leaders make intentional decisions to include families in the fabric of their school.

Stories That Ground the Data

The data paints a compelling picture, but behind each statistic is a story of resilience, collaboration, and empowerment.

Take University Park Creative Arts School, where we’ve worked since 2020. In those early days, the school was facing a perfect storm: persistent failing grades, disengaged families, and a fractured sense of trust between the school and the community. Many caregivers shared that they hadn’t stepped foot inside the building in years, not because they didn’t care, but because they didn’t feel invited, understood, or valued. We started small: listening sessions where families could share openly and honestly, culturally responsive workshops tailored to their lived experiences, and resource fairs that met families where they were, literally and figuratively.

Slowly, trust started to build. The school took steps to improve communication, created listening sessions, and fostered a more welcoming school culture. In turn, families began to re-engage, not just attending events, but leading them, co-planning initiatives, and advocating for their children’s needs. Today, University Park is not only exceeding academic growth expectations but has also climbed from a school performance grade of “F” to “C.” That shift didn’t happen overnight,  it happened because families were seen, heard, and empowered to lead.

At Reid Park Academy, we encountered a different challenge: high absenteeism rooted in systemic barriers, particularly transportation and access to required immunizations. One of the lesser-discussed realities of school attendance is that if a child doesn’t have up-to-date immunizations, they can’t attend school. For many families, this wasn’t a matter of neglect, but rather, a matter of access. Without insurance, transportation, or flexible work schedules, getting a child to a clinic for required shots can be overwhelming, expensive, and time-consuming.

That’s where community-based solutions come in. Through partnerships with local health agencies and nonprofits, we hosted free vaccine clinics right on the school campus, removing the burden of travel and cost while creating a welcoming environment for families. We also worked with school staff to identify students at risk of being excluded and reached out proactively to connect families with the resources they needed.

In parallel, we addressed transportation gaps by helping families navigate bus access and providing transportation vouchers. The impact was immediate: chronic absenteeism dropped nearly 7% in our first year of partnership (2022/23) and continued to decline another 1% in 2023/24. More importantly, students who had been missing weeks of school due to avoidable logistical barriers were now able to attend regularly, setting the foundation for improved academic and social outcomes.

Looking Ahead: Building on What Works

As we reflect on this past year, we’re proud and we’re also clear-eyed. The work isn’t done.

Family empowerment is not a quick fix. It’s relational, iterative, and nuanced. It requires humility. It requires systems to be more flexible. And it requires investing in the people who know students best: their families.

That’s why we’re committed to:

• Expanding our focus on economic equity by connecting families to housing, job training, and financial education.
• Deepening partnerships with school leaders who are ready to reimagine how their communities engage.
• Lifting up family voice in school governance, policy design, and school and community planning.

Because when families are at the table – not just as guests, but as co-creators – everyone benefits.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this: family empowerment works, but it doesn’t work in isolation.

It takes aligned leadership, strong partnerships, and community ecosystems that are ready to listen and adapt. It takes collective effort and we’re honored to be one part of it.

So let’s keep going. Let’s continue to build schools where families feel welcome, where students thrive, and where communities lead the way.

This post wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging the many hands, hearts, and minds that made this progress possible.

To every principal and school leader who carved out time for a strategy meeting, opened doors to deeper family engagement and empowerment, and trusted us to walk alongside your team- thank you. Your vision and commitment anchor this work.

To every school staff member who greeted families with warmth, translated flyers, set up folding chairs, made last-minute copies, or stayed late to make events possible – thank you. You are the heartbeat of your school.

To our community partners – from health clinics to housing navigators, workforce development teams to community leaders, your collaboration ensures that families don’t fall through the cracks. Whether you co-hosted events, shared resources, or offered wraparound services, your work expanded the reach and impact of our shared mission. We’re so grateful to be in this ecosystem with you.

And to the families – thank you for trusting us. For sharing your stories, asking the hard questions, naming your dreams, and showing up for your children and your communities. This work is not about doing things for families, but with them. You remind us every day why this work matters.

Together, we are building schools where families feel welcome, where students thrive, and where communities lead the way.