Council of Educational Facility Planners International and the US Environmental Protection Agency
“Schools for Successful Communities: An Element of Smart Growth”
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-02/documents/smartgrowth_schools_pub.pdf
This 52 page report outlines a “smart growth” approach to school configuration and design (smaller walk-able schools). In particular, pages 11-12 highlight the educational benefits including (but not limited to):
“Community-centered schools can reduce student isolation and alienation that often breed discipline problems…. This sense of belonging manifests itself in increased participation in extracurricular activities…”
“Community-centered schools foster increased involvement in the school by all members of the community, including parents. This has been proven to play a role in students’ success.”
“The convenience of getting to and from a community-centered school often increases student participation in school-related activities.”
“Recent research has shown that when parents are involved in school activities, their children do better and stay in school longer. In fact, a critical mass of parental involvement improves the performance of all students, not just those with more involved parents.”