Communities In Schools

Communities In Schools (CIS) of Tennessee is a part of the National CIS network, known as the leading and most effective dropout prevention organization in America, and the only such organization that is proven to decrease the dropout rate and increase on-time graduation rates.  Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

CIS of Tennessee first began its operations in four East Nashville schools in school year 2012-2013 and today has grown to serve over 10,000 students across the state in Nashville and Memphis.

CIS works to remove the non-academic barriers that prevent student success in the classroom. In partnership with local school districts, we provide daily school-based interventions to students in grades K–12 to address chronic absenteeism, academic failure, behavioral issues, social service needs and more.

Our evidence-based model brings resources inside schools– easily accessible and customized to individual students and local communities.  We are guided by a set of 5 Basic principles that we believe every child needs and deserves to be successful.  Our site coordinators are caring adults who establish strategic plans to address the needs of the school community and its most vulnerable students.  They are responsible for identifying the barriers students face and strategically aligning and delivering needed resources so that teachers can teach and students can focus on learning.