Are U.S. schools places of community? Does it matter?

To what extent are American schools places of community? We review evidence based on safety, peer relations, teacher support, academic engagement, sense of fairness, liking and belonging to the school, student voice, and extracurricular activities, which are closely related to students' sense of community in schools. Underlying differences between students who do and do not feel part of their school community are considered. We also examine longitudinal studies that provide insight into how a sense of community shapes students long term, including educational academic outcomes, social and emotional competence, and physical and mental well-being. Finally, we highlight individual, classroom-level, and school-wide strategies that promote community by building positive relationships, providing engaging learning experiences, and maintaining social and emotional supports that allow students to thrive. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).