Our Core Beliefs

Communities in Schools works to ensure that all children receive these five basics:

  • A one-on-one relationship with a caring adult
  • A safe place to learn and grow
  • A healthy start and future
  • A marketable skill upon graduation
  • A chance to give back to peers and the community

    • “Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them.” ~ Lady Bird Johnson

    Our Program Facts

    •Every year 1.2 million students drop out of school. What that means is every nine seconds, a student in America loses his or her path to a better future. By empowering students to achieve in school and life, we are building a stronger America, where every person is capable of reaching his or her greatest potential.

    •CIS South Central Texas is one of 194 local affiliates of the national organization, Communities in Schools, the nation's leading organization dedicated to empowering students to stay in school and achieve in life, which serves nearly 1.4 million young people and their families every year.

    •Started by the Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, the South Central Texas program first began by serving 300 at-risk students in the 1993-1994 school year; with a seventeen year history of success, CIS South Central now serves more than 3,000 students each year with ongoing, intensive support in both individual and group settings, as well as providing services to families in their homes.

    •CIS serves 32 schools in 4 school districts across Comal and Guadalupe Counties.

    •With campus-based staff members working hand-in-hand with administrators and teachers, CIS is the only program of its kind in the counties served. We are the only comprehensive dropout-prevention program that addresses academic, physical, and emotional needs of at-risk students on a year-round basis, and we are the only program that is equipped to provide continual service from pre-K to high school graduation.

    •CIS works in partnership not only with schools, but with approximately 145 businesses, organizations, and groups to provide a myriad of needed services to at-risk students.

    •Although state legislative funds provide a significant part of program resources, CIS depends largely on contracts with school districts, on the generous donations of our partners, and on our fundraising efforts.

    Our Program Scope

    •CIS served 2,912 case managed students, those who receive comprehensive services.

    •More than 20,000 students received at least one selected CIS service.

    •4,704 hours of service were provided to students in need by CIS volunteers comprised of 125 adult volunteers and 161 student volunteers.

    •CIS appreciates 145 community partnerships.

    Performance Outcomes, 2008-2009 School Year

    •99% of CIS-served students in grades 7-12 stayed in school.

    •96% of CIS-served students (increased from 95% in 2008-09) were promoted to the next grade.

    •92% of CIS-served students (increased from 90% in 2008-09) who presented behavior problems demonstrated some improvement.

    •77% of CIS-served students (increased from 73% in 2008-09) who presented attendance problems demonstrated some improvement.

    •88% of CIS-served students (increased from 85% in 2008-09) who presented academic problems demonstrated some improvement.

    •94% of CIS-served students (increased from 88% in 2008-09) who were eligible to graduate received a high school diploma or a GED.