Neighborhood Schools and Community Development: Revealing the Intersections through the Philadelphia School Closure Debate

Abstract

This article reveals intersections between schools and community development through analysis of a school closure debate in Philadelphia. Despite their interconnection, efforts to improve schools and neighborhoods have remained substantially siloed. Empirically, the article explores the ways neighborhood stakeholders framed the implications of recommended school closures in terms of the social, institutional, economic, and physical domains of their neighborhoods. The data include video records of community meetings held during the closure debate during winter 2012–2013 and subsequent interviews conducted with neighborhood stakeholders. The analysis outlines an agenda for community development scholars and practitioners to proactively engage with neighborhood schools.