Abstract
The need for increased community involvement (CI) is known and supported by much research. Correlations between CI and positive student outcomes such as improved attendance, reduced dropout rates, reduced misbehavior, and improved grades have been reported. However, barriers to CI exist such as negative perceptions, weak leadership, lack of funding, and lack of time. Many models exist to address barriers and maximize benefits such that educators can find a model to fit the needs of the community they serve. Due to the benefits of increased CI and the needs of students as they near graduation, educators must know of and use the CI programs available to them. This study attempted to discover the CI programs extant at the target high school campus and measure to what extent the faculty was aware of these programs by use of open-ended questionnaire, informal interviews, and direct observations. A total of 61 CI practices were identified and results were analyzed to discover trends and make recommendations to increase awareness and effectiveness of current CI programs.