The School District of Lancaster is proud to announce that Carter & MacRae Elementary School has officially joined the district’s growing community school initiative. It becomes the seventh school in our network to adopt the community school model, an approach centered on supporting the whole child by bringing educational, health, social service, and community development partners directly into the school building. We’re equally proud to share that Lancaster Recreation Commission (Lancaster Rec) will serve as the lead agency at Carter & MacRae.
For over a century, Lancaster Rec has worked in close partnership with families across Lancaster City and Township. Known for their inclusive programs that span early childhood education, youth sports, senior activities, and after-school enrichment, Lancaster Rec has long played a meaningful role in promoting well-being and connection across generations. Their deep familiarity with our neighborhoods and the families who live here makes them uniquely positioned to support Carter & MacRae students both during and beyond the school day.
“Lancaster Rec has a track record of being present in the community in very real, hands-on ways,” said Erin Conahan, SDoL’s Coordinator of School, Family, and Community Partnerships. “They don’t just offer programs, they create safe, welcoming spaces for families to learn, grow, and engage. That’s exactly the kind of partnership we need to bring the community school vision to life at Carter & MacRae.”
As the lead agency, Lancaster Rec will be responsible for placing a full-time Community School Director within Carter & MacRae. This role will focus on building relationships with families, identifying unmet needs, coordinating community services, and supporting teachers and staff in ways that remove barriers to student learning.
Principal Rachel Esh sees this new chapter as an extension of the work already happening inside her school.
“Our staff has always believed in meeting families where they are,” said Esh. “Becoming a community school gives us more tools to do that. With Lancaster Rec as our partner, we’ll be able to expand after-school offerings, increase access to resources like food and mental health services, and create stronger connections between home and school.”
Lancaster Rec has served as a trusted partner of SDoL for years. They operate before- and after-school programs at multiple elementary sites, coordinate summer learning experiences, and support physical activity and wellness initiatives across the district. The move to formalize their role as a lead agency at Carter & MacRae builds on that strong foundation and brings their work even closer to students and families.
“This isn’t a new relationship, it’s a deeper one,” said Heather Dighe, Executive Director of Lancaster Rec. “We already know many of the students and families at Carter & MacRae through our programs. Now we’ll be in the building every day, working side by side with the school staff to support students in ways that go beyond academics. We’re honored to be invited into that work.”
Carter & MacRae joins six other community schools in SDoL: Washington, Price, Lafayette, King, Reynolds, and Burrowes. Each school’s model looks a little different, shaped by the needs of its neighborhood and the strengths of its lead agency. But the goal is the same: to create schools that are not just places of learning, but places where families feel supported and connected.
With Lancaster Rec’s deep local roots and Carter & MacRae’s strong sense of purpose, this partnership holds real promise. In partnership, we’re working to ensure that every student, not just at Carter & MacRae, but across the district, has access to the support and opportunities they need to thrive, in school and beyond.