Coalition for Neighborhood Schools Santa Barbara

Our Mission: Walk to School!

What kind of town to do we want Santa Barbara to be? A town with neighborhood schools, where children and community come first! We believe every child should be able to walk to school in his or her own neighborhood.

While this was once true in Santa Barbara, this has been lost. But it can be regained. It would not be easy, but it is quite possible to do, and it is worth the price. Because, actually, it is priceless. And Coalition for Neighborhood Schools has a plan of "how."

Neighborhood schools have FIVE major benefits:

1. Fitness benefits: Walking to school !

2. Environmental benefits: Reduces traffic

3. Parental engagement: Campus is physically more accessible for parents

4. Community and belonging: Authentic sense of "home" away from home for child in their own neighborhood

5. Financial benefits: Reduces transportation costs

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, at the corner of Cota and Santa Barbara Street (600 block) was -- for 100 years -- the downtown school, serving primarily working class families of Santa Barbara from all backgrounds.

CNS' top goal is to Re-Open Lincoln Elementary School at 710 Santa Barbara Street, in September, 2026. (This is the site of an existing SBUSD-owned school campus located on the school district offices site.