In 2012, the Community School Engagement Strategy was adopted by the Family League of Baltimore as a way to address historical racial and structural inequalities that have produced unequal educational outcomes among the city's children and youth. The goals of community schools include integrating health and social supports for children and their families, and providing additional opportunities for academics, socioemotional learning, and enrichment for youth during and after school. This study identified community schools with higher student attendance and more positive school climate than peer community schools. School community coordinators were interviewed to learn how their work was structured to elicit "effective practices" around attendance and climate. Overall, coordinators reported that having clearly designated roles, reliable protocols and procedures, and a leader who consistently communicated expectations to parents and students helped ensure that community schools could maintain high attendance and a positive school climate. Alignment of goals across school and community stakeholders, supportive, respectful relationships with families, and cooperative partnerships with community-based organizations also served to make that work coherent and effective.