About
Communities In Schools (CIS) is a national nonprofit headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, that works to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Founded in 1977, CIS places trained site coordinators inside schools to connect students and families with the resources they need to succeed, reaching about 2 million students annually across more than 3,500 schools in 28 states and the District of Columbia.
Mission
The mission of Communities In Schools is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. As founder Bill Milliken puts it: it's not programs that are transforming young people's lives, it's relationships.
What they do
- Integrated Student Supports (ISS): an evidence-based model that connects students to school and community resources and removes barriers to learning
- Site coordinators: professionals embedded in schools who work daily to ensure students are present in school and ready to learn, providing direct student support and connecting young people to essential resources
- Community partnerships: building relationships with parents, students, staff, and the community while plugging community resources and organizations into schools
History
Communities In Schools was founded in 1977 by Bill Milliken, who recognized that strong relationships between students, families, educators, and community organizations improve educational outcomes.
Scale and impact
In the 2023-24 school year, CIS served 2 million students across 3,590 schools and sites in 28 states plus the District of Columbia, with a 99 percent student retention rate through the end of the school year. Harvard's EdRedesign Lab has confirmed that the CIS model delivers measurable academic gains and improves students' long-term economic mobility, including improved graduation rates and enhanced economic prospects.
Financials
Per IRS Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer for the national organization (Communities In Schools Inc), for the fiscal year ending September 2025 it reported revenue of $71,027,341, expenses of $74,476,155, and net assets of $95,220,393. Contributions made up about 92 percent of revenue. The IRS granted its tax exemption in May 1977.