Communities In Schools, an independent nonprofit corporation focused on school success and dropout prevention, has its roots in Georgia. In the early 70’s, Bill Milliken, Neil Shorthouse and David Lewis established Cities In Schools in Atlanta as a private/public partnership to help urban kids graduate from high school and plan successful futures. Years later the name was changed to Communities In Schools (CIS).

CIS Co-founders (l-r) Neil Shorthouse, Bill Milliken and the late David Lewis

Communities In Schools started in Georgia over 30 years ago and is now the nation’s leading dropout prevention organization, serving over one million youth in 25 states and the District of Columbia.  ICF International recently completed a comprehensive five-year evaluation, comparing the results to over 1,600 studies screened by the Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse.  ICF concluded that the Communities In Schools model is cost effective, reduces dropout rates and increases graduation rates.

Our local affiliate began in 2000 and we are a local 501 (c) 3 non-profit.  We were awarded TQS accreditation in 2013 and will continue this process of excellence by maintaining our status every 3 years. Our next review is scheduled for 2017.

The Communities In Schools national office provides detailed information on the network.

 

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