Communities in Schools
“Dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It’s not just quitting on yourself, its quitting on your country.” -- President Barack Obama, February 2009
Communities in Schools (“CIS”) is the nation’s largest dropout prevention organization and the only dropout prevention organization in the nation proven to increase on-time graduation rates. CIS’s mission is to champion the connection of needed community resources with schools to help young people successfully learn, stay in school, and prepare for life. CIS currently serves over 2.3 million young people across the nation. By bringing caring adults into the schools to address children’s unmet needs, CIS provides the link between educators and the community. The result: teachers are free to teach, and students – many in jeopardy of dropping out – have the opportunity to focus on learning.
The statistics about CIS students say it all: 78 percent improved attendance, 89 percent had fewer incidents of discipline, 80 percent improved academic performance, 82 percent were promoted to the next grade, and 78 percent of eligible seniors graduated.
Communities in Schools Los Angeles West
Communities in Schools Los Angeles West currently serves over 500 students in Venice and Hamilton High Schools and another 100 students who are part of our Diplomas Now initiative at Hollenbeck and John Liechty Middle Schools.
Current Events
Communities In Schools Recognized in President Obama's Speech
Daniel J. Cardinali, CIS National President
Dear Colleagues, It was my great pleasure to represent you at a gathering of national education leaders with President Barack Obama at a White House event this morning. While I was quite pleased to hear the President’s commitment to reducing the dropout rate and to helping young people graduate from high school prepared for success—as evidenced by his plan to provide $3.5 billion to improve under-performing schools and $900 million in school Turnaround Grants—I was especially gratified to hear him recognize the work of Communities In Schools by name...full article
Executive Directors Update:
The first semester of the school year recently finished and the analysis of grades shows that Communities in Schools is making real gains with our students...full report