For Achievement Plus, the key to the successful implementation of a community school model is an emphasis on involving neighbors and community partners in the reform process. By obtaining input from neighborhood members during the implementation process and offering useful services once Achievement Plus is in place, the community schools model creates an environment supportive of the school and receptive to the rigors of academic change.

Particularly in urban areas, the school can be a crucial access point for social services and opportunities. By remaining open throughout the day, and during many evenings, these programs are made accessible to all community members.

Community events, held at the school, also prove effective in engaging the neighborhood and galvanizing support for the school and its objectives. Separating classroom space from community areas within the building further ensures that Achievement Plus schools can provide vital community services without disrupting day-to-day learning. By working with community members, Achievement Plus schools foster an open environment conducive to academic change as well as area growth and revitalization.