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United Community Schools

United Community Schools

Founded in 2012 by the United Federation of Teachers, United Community Schools (UCS) operates the largest community school network in New York City. Having started with just six schools, we have grown to a network of 39 schools that touches more than 19,000 students in all five boroughs of New York City and beyond.

Our mission: An educator inspired initiative collaborating with the school community, families and partners, to strategically transform schools to cultivate whole, healthy and thriving scholars.

Our vision: To create equitable schools that foster scholar success and community growth.

See the United Community Schools website

The community school model is predicated on the notion that students cannot reach their full potential in the classroom if their stomachs are empty, they cannot see the board, they cannot hear the teacher, or they are pre-occupied by problems outside the classroom. Community schools actively work to improve student achievement by addressing the educational, emotional, social and health issues that can stand in the way of learning. Community schools connect the entire school, including students, teachers, principals and counselors, to the entire community — parents and other caregivers, non-profits, local businesses and government agencies. By mobilizing these diverse elements, the school becomes a community hub often well beyond traditional school hours, a welcoming place where problems are solved and barriers to learning are eliminated so that teachers can do what they do best: teach.

What's New

Star turn

NY Teacher Article Feature Stories
Malala Yousafzai, one of Brooklyn Landmark Elementary School's "core value mentors," surprised students this fall by serving as the school's "celebrity substitute" on the YouTube show of the same name.

Fueling student success

NY Teacher Article Feature Stories
At food pantries and distribution efforts run by UFT-supported United Community Schools, monthly or weekly programs help meet the nutritional needs of struggling families across the city. The pantries are a safe haven for many immigrant families...

Culture and connection

NY Teacher Article Feature Stories
More than 400 students, parents and community members filled the school yard at United Community School PS 19 in Queens on Sept. 27 for a full day of live music, food, and dance performances in a celebration of Hispanic heritage and health.

Photo Gallery

UFT United Community Schools food pantries 2025

Food pantries run by schools in the UFT’s United Community Schools network are lifelines for hundreds of needy families across New York City. The need was especially felt in late fall as a federal government shutdown delayed SNAP benefits for many and a surge in ICE detentions made immigrant populations wary.

Parent volunteers at Manhattan’s PS 4 in Washington Heights prepare boxes and bags to be loaded with healthy produce.

Parent volunteers at Manhattan’s PS 4 in Washington Heights prepare boxes and bags to be loaded with healthy produce.

Pat Arnow
Parent volunteers at Manhattan’s PS 4 await the arrival of produce on Nov. 21, 2025, to pack up for families in need.

Parent volunteers at Manhattan’s PS 4 await the arrival of produce on Nov. 21, 2025, to pack up for families in need.

Pat Arnow
PS 4 Community School Director Oliver Grullon says the number of families registered for the pantry has doubled.

PS 4 Community School Director Oliver Grullon says the number of families registered for the pantry has doubled.

Pat Arnow
Parent volunteer Bonnie Basabe says the pantry allows families to supplement their food stocks as prices continue to rise.

Parent volunteer Bonnie Basabe says the pantry allows families to supplement their food stocks as prices continue to rise.

Pat Arnow
PS 4 teacher Iolani Grullon (no relation to Oliver) sees the positive impact: “You can’t teach a hungry tummy!”

PS 4 teacher Iolani Grullon (no relation to Oliver) sees the positive impact: “You can’t teach a hungry tummy!”

Pat Arnow
Families line up in the cold for hours, some as early as 5:30 a.m., for the Nov. 17, 2025, food pantry at International School for Liberal Arts in the Bronx.

Families line up in the cold for hours, some as early as 5:30 a.m., for the Nov. 17, 2025, food pantry at International School for Liberal Arts in the Bronx.

Erica Berger
A delay in SNAP benefits and the promise of meat -- chickens and whole turkeys (held by ISLA student volunteers) -- fuel the early arrival of needy families.

A delay in SNAP benefits and the promise of meat -- chickens and whole turkeys (held by ISLA student volunteers) -- fuel the early arrival of needy families.

Erica Berger
Nubany Perez, community school director of ISLA, located on the Walton HS campus in Kingsbridge, meets the truck delivering chicken to distribute.

Nubany Perez, community school director of ISLA, located on the Walton HS campus in Kingsbridge, meets the truck delivering chicken to distribute.

Erica Berger
Student and parent volunteers pack bags of food filled with turkey or chicken and all the fixings.

Student and parent volunteers pack bags of food filled with turkey or chicken and all the fixings.

Erica Berger
Orange bags filled with food quickly fill the auditorium stage at ISLA before distribution.

Orange bags filled with food quickly fill the auditorium stage at ISLA before distribution.

Erica Berger
Grateful families begin entering ISLA starting early afternoon to get their bags of food.

Grateful families begin entering ISLA starting early afternoon to get their bags of food.  

Erica Berger
Fresh produce – onions, celery, carrots, broccoli, is a real draw for families at PS 14 in Corona, Queens, which is centered in a food desert.

Fresh produce – onions, celery, carrots, broccoli, is a real draw for families at PS 14 in Corona, Queens, which is centered in a food desert.

Jonathan Fickies
PS 14 teacher Angelica Ortega, who helped launch the pantry during the pandemic, checks in families waiting on line.

PS 14 teacher Angelica Ortega, who helped launch the pantry during the pandemic, checks in families waiting on line.

Jonathan Fickies
A gaily painted Food Pantry awaits parent volunteers who pack up bags of food for those in need.

A gaily painted Food Pantry awaits parent volunteers who pack up bags of food for those in need.

Jonathan Fickies
Parent volunteers at PS 14 arrive about 9 a.m. to pack up dry and canned goods for distribution.

Parent volunteers at PS 14 arrive about 9 a.m. to pack up dry and canned goods for distribution.

Jonathan Fickies
Pictures of fruit and vegetables line the walls of PS 14’s food pantry.

Pictures of fruit and vegetables line the walls of PS 14’s food pantry.

Jonathan Fickies
A long line of families wait in the chill in PS 14’s schoolyard after dismissal to get bags of food.

A long line of families wait in the chill in PS 14’s schoolyard after dismissal to get bags of food.

Jonathan Fickies
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Parent volunteers at Manhattan’s PS 4 in Washington Heights prepare boxes and bags to be loaded with healthy produce.

Parent volunteers at Manhattan’s PS 4 in Washington Heights prepare boxes and bags to be loaded with healthy produce.

Pat Arnow
Parent volunteers at Manhattan’s PS 4 await the arrival of produce on Nov. 21, 2025, to pack up for families in need.

Parent volunteers at Manhattan’s PS 4 await the arrival of produce on Nov. 21, 2025, to pack up for families in need.

Pat Arnow
PS 4 Community School Director Oliver Grullon says the number of families registered for the pantry has doubled.

PS 4 Community School Director Oliver Grullon says the number of families registered for the pantry has doubled.

Pat Arnow
Parent volunteer Bonnie Basabe says the pantry allows families to supplement their food stocks as prices continue to rise.

Parent volunteer Bonnie Basabe says the pantry allows families to supplement their food stocks as prices continue to rise.

Pat Arnow
PS 4 teacher Iolani Grullon (no relation to Oliver) sees the positive impact: “You can’t teach a hungry tummy!”

PS 4 teacher Iolani Grullon (no relation to Oliver) sees the positive impact: “You can’t teach a hungry tummy!”

Pat Arnow
Families line up in the cold for hours, some as early as 5:30 a.m., for the Nov. 17, 2025, food pantry at International School for Liberal Arts in the Bronx.

Families line up in the cold for hours, some as early as 5:30 a.m., for the Nov. 17, 2025, food pantry at International School for Liberal Arts in the Bronx.

Erica Berger
A delay in SNAP benefits and the promise of meat -- chickens and whole turkeys (held by ISLA student volunteers) -- fuel the early arrival of needy families.

A delay in SNAP benefits and the promise of meat -- chickens and whole turkeys (held by ISLA student volunteers) -- fuel the early arrival of needy families.

Erica Berger
Nubany Perez, community school director of ISLA, located on the Walton HS campus in Kingsbridge, meets the truck delivering chicken to distribute.

Nubany Perez, community school director of ISLA, located on the Walton HS campus in Kingsbridge, meets the truck delivering chicken to distribute.

Erica Berger
Student and parent volunteers pack bags of food filled with turkey or chicken and all the fixings.

Student and parent volunteers pack bags of food filled with turkey or chicken and all the fixings.

Erica Berger
Orange bags filled with food quickly fill the auditorium stage at ISLA before distribution.

Orange bags filled with food quickly fill the auditorium stage at ISLA before distribution.

Erica Berger
Grateful families begin entering ISLA starting early afternoon to get their bags of food.

Grateful families begin entering ISLA starting early afternoon to get their bags of food.  

Erica Berger
Fresh produce – onions, celery, carrots, broccoli, is a real draw for families at PS 14 in Corona, Queens, which is centered in a food desert.

Fresh produce – onions, celery, carrots, broccoli, is a real draw for families at PS 14 in Corona, Queens, which is centered in a food desert.

Jonathan Fickies
PS 14 teacher Angelica Ortega, who helped launch the pantry during the pandemic, checks in families waiting on line.

PS 14 teacher Angelica Ortega, who helped launch the pantry during the pandemic, checks in families waiting on line.

Jonathan Fickies
A gaily painted Food Pantry awaits parent volunteers who pack up bags of food for those in need.

A gaily painted Food Pantry awaits parent volunteers who pack up bags of food for those in need.

Jonathan Fickies
Parent volunteers at PS 14 arrive about 9 a.m. to pack up dry and canned goods for distribution.

Parent volunteers at PS 14 arrive about 9 a.m. to pack up dry and canned goods for distribution.

Jonathan Fickies
Pictures of fruit and vegetables line the walls of PS 14’s food pantry.

Pictures of fruit and vegetables line the walls of PS 14’s food pantry.

Jonathan Fickies
A long line of families wait in the chill in PS 14’s schoolyard after dismissal to get bags of food.

A long line of families wait in the chill in PS 14’s schoolyard after dismissal to get bags of food.

Jonathan Fickies