Communities in Schools (CIS) was developed in 1977 so that underserved youth could get the assistance they needed to stay in school. The mission of CIS is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. CIS believes that every child needs and deserves five basics: a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult; a safe place to learn and grow; a healthy start to a healthy future; a marketable skill to use upon graduation; and a chance to give back to peers and community.
CIS is a national program (the largest dropout prevention network in America), and it operates in 11 different school districts in South Carolina. CIS addresses the social, emotional, physical, and academic needs of the students it serves. The program actively connects students and parents to educators, local health and service organizations, governmental agencies, and businesses that can provide the essential academic and non-academic services required to provide opportunities for the lifelong success of students. CIS accomplishes this by providing on-site, integrated student services within the school day such as individual case management, afterschool programming, mentoring, health and wellness activities and services, career and college guidance, and service-learning to students identified as at-risk of dropping out of high school.
