In 1989, the Children's Aid Society (CAS)--New York City's oldest and largest youth-serving organization--created an unprecedented partnership with the New York City Board of Education by developing a comprehensive response to the pressing needs of children and families in the northern Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights. After three years of careful planning, CAS and the New York City public schools opened the first community school at Intermediate School 218, offering a full array of supports, services, and learning opportunities that include after-school enrichment (academic, social, cultural, and recreational), parent involvement, adult education, child health insurance enrollment, medical and dental services, mental health services, immigration and other legal assistance, summer camp, community events, and economic development. Adding, on average, one partnership school per year, CAS now has thirteen community schools (five elementary schools, seven intermediate schools, and one high school) in four New York City neighborhoods--Washington Heights, East Harlem, South Bronx, and Staten Island. This article describes how this partnership between CAS and several New York City public schools has had a positive impact on children, families, and neighborhoods. (Contains 12 notes.)