Sintia Popovac’s life changed overnight when the Palisades destroyed her home and left her family without stability last year.

Suddenly, she and her two daughters—Jessica, a high school student, and Rebecca, in sixth grade—had to start over.

But finding a new school wasn’t just about enrolling somewhere nearby. Her daughters needed emotional support and a community that understood what they were going through.

That search led them to Bright Star Schools, a network of charter public schools in Los Angeles that operate as community schools—a model making a real difference for families.

So what does it mean to be a community school?

It means the school focuses on more than academics. It supports students’ mental health, connects families to resources, and works closely with the community to help every child succeed.

For families like Sintia’s, that can change everything.

Her younger daughter, Rebecca, had faced serious challenges. She lives with anxiety, severe migraines, and ADHD. Many days, getting through school felt overwhelming, and she often missed class.

At previous schools, this led to disciplinary consequences.

But at Stella Middle Charter Academy, part of the Bright Star Schools network, the response was different.

At Bright Star Schools' Stella Middle Charter Academy chronic absenteeism has dropped thanks to the wraparound support and services provided through its strong community school model. -Photo courtesy of Bright Star Schools

Instead of assuming the worst, her teachers asked a simple but powerful question: What is preventing Rebecca from coming to school?

That question opened the door to honest conversations between the family and the school.

“It takes the stress off,” Sintia says. “They’re not just telling you your child is failing. They’re asking how they can help.”

School staff didn’t reach out with warnings. They reached out with support—including counseling and access to a Wellness Center where Rebecca can reset and return to class when she’s ready.

Bright Star serves a student population where more than 90 percent are considered socioeconomically disadvantaged. The challenges are real, and so is the response.

Ana Martinez, CEO of Bright Star Schools, describes it simply -- data is not used to label students. It is used to understand them.

Today, Sintia says the difference is clear. Her daughter is not only attending school more regularly—she feels seen and supported.

And she’s not alone.

At Stella Middle, chronic absenteeism has dropped—a sign that more students are showing up because they feel supported when they do.

Because often, what looks like an academic issue has deeper roots.

A student struggling in class may need glasses. 
A student missing school may be dealing with anxiety. 
A family that isn’t engaged may be facing housing or financial instability.

Community schools recognize that.

They also understand that even high-achieving students need guidance. 

In addition to counselor support and a social-emotional curriculum, Stella Middle offers a student mentorship program where 8th graders welcome and support incoming 5th graders. -Photo courtesy of Bright Star Schools

Sintia’s older daughter, Jessica, has always been driven. But like many students from immigrant families, she wasn’t sure how to navigate the path to college. 
Sintia, who was born in Guatemala, deeply values education—but navigating the U.S. school system isn’t always easy.

“I want them to go to college,” she says. “But I don’t always know how to guide them.”

At Bright Star, that gap is addressed.

Jessica joined a program that supports high-achieving students from underserved communities. She received guidance on college pathways and visited college campuses.

For the first time, she could clearly see her future.

That’s the impact of a school that truly sees its students—not as numbers, but as individuals.

Across California, more schools are embracing the community school model—and many of them are charter public schools: free, open to all, and designed to meet the real needs of families.

At Bright Star Schools, 96 percent of parents report being satisfied with their child’s education. That’s a direct result of listening, supporting, and working in partnership with families.

Stella Middle is a long-standing, successful charter public community school serving about 500 students, 90 percent of whom are considered socioeconomically disadvantaged. -Photo courtesy of Bright Star Schools

When a school takes the time to understand each student, everything changes.

A child is no longer a problem to fix. 
They are a person to support.

And for families like Sintia’s, that makes all the difference.

To learn more, visit www.brightstarschools.org or www.brightstarschools.org/Community-Schools