This study examined the schooling experiences of eleven graduates from the rural
south of Egypt with primary community schools in Assiut. The study used individual
interviews and focus groups to examine how community school graduates understood
their experiences. The community schools were found to have removed previous
obstacles of distance and cost. The quality of education that the students received
allowed them to flourish in education rather than falter, and that was largely influenced
by the quality of their relationship with their teachers. The students learned academic
skills, as well as attitudes and dispositions that serve as cultural capital. They have more
opportunities than before, yet also face significant challenges as they transition to the
public system. The model of community schooling is also facing significant challenges
as differences with the public schooling systems are exerting tension on the community
school model to converge.