The community school is a viable alternative when attempting to maintain a high quality school program in the face of declining enrollment. Community education may be defined as a concept while the community school is the delivery system for that concept. Community schools respond to the three major problems linked with declining enrollments: underutilization of school facilities, fiscal restraint with respect to education, and decline in school program offering. The community school paradigm used in this paper is based on the writing of Minzey, who lists six components necessary for an effective community education program: (1) an education program for school age children; (2) joint use of school and community facilities; (3) additional programs for school-age children and youth; (4) programs for adults; (5) delivery and coordination of community services; (6) community involvement. The primary reason for promoting community schools involves the reduction of capital expenditures. However, community schools also provide more relevant programs, coordination of community services, and community involvement in educational decision-making. (Author/JK)