What is Communities in Schools?

Communities In Schools (CIS) is the nation's leading community-based drop-out prevention organization helping kids stay in school and graduate. Operating in nearly 3,000 schools in 28 states, CIS provides access to community services to nearly two million kids every year.

Communities In Schools' dedicated and experienced staff work across the district in Columbus and Whitehall City Schools and is an integral part of strategic efforts to improve academic success and graduation rates.

Why Communities In Schools?

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation commissioned an extensive study, "The Silent Epidemic," on why so many students are dropping out of high school. Nationally, graduation rates are between 68 and 71%; almost one third of public high school students fail to graduate.

Many children in our community struggle with issues related to poverty, violence, homelessness and substance abuse. These realities come to school with our children and become barriers to academic success. It is impossible for a child to separate the circumstances of life from the learning environment.

Families are struggling to survive and, without support, are often unable to provide an environment that supports academic achievement for their children. Clearly, there is an increased community opportunity and responsibility to address low graduation rates that are mitigated by poverty, school violence, homelessness and substance abuse.