Communities & Schools Initiatives
School Facilities



When Oyster Bilingual Elementary School in Washington D.C. was threatened with closure because of a crumbling facility and lack of funds for school renovation, a diverse group of community members came together to build the first new public school in the district in over 20 years.

The project survived three mayors, four superintendents, four school district governance structures, and seven project managers. How?

Sustained community engagement and stakeholder commitment saw the project through to the end.


Our Work Around School Facilities Planning and Design

Success stories like this could soon be happening all over the country. Across Ohio and other states, communities are rebuilding and renovating their school facilities, investing more than $23 billion in Ohio alone. In light of this funding, now is the time for the nation to redesign its schools to better serve both students and community members.

The state has initiated a plan to spend more than $23 billion on new school construction and renovation over the next decade, and the level of collaboration between districts and their communities will help determine their level of success in rebuilding.

To help states maximize their opportunities in the renovation and redesign of their schools, KnowledgeWorks Foundation is funding and working with school districts in Ohio to uncover the most effective ways to engage their communities in this neighborhood-sustaining work.

Learn More


Why You Should Care About School Facilities Planning and Design

Today, most of our nation's kids are attending schools that are on average 40 years old, with deteriorating classrooms, poor temperature control, and harsh lighting, inspiring the American Society of Civil Engineers to assign them a grade of "F" in its 1998 infrastructure report. These schools are not designed to support the needs of 21st Century learning.

Learn More

Back to Top



62% of Ohioans believe funding for Ohio's public schools, k-12, is less than adequate.

Initiative Highlights
For one student, charter schools made room for creativity
Jacob Heer, now a junior in college, reflects on his experience as one of the first charter school students on Ohio.
Schools Designed for Learning: The Denver School of Science and Technology
This 17-minute video case study that showcases the Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST), and exemplifies how a school can be designed in a way that promotes student achievement.
Threshold devotes spring issue to exploring KWF map forecast
Magazine editors offer map pullout to "inspire those who can catalyze change in states, districts and schools."
Dollars & Sense II: Lessons From Good, Cost-Effective Small Schools
Visit the website, and download the report, to learn specific, creative, cost-saving ideas that any school can use to be more cost-effective.