Communities In Schools of Memphis

Communities In Schools of Memphis (CISM) is a part of the national Communities In Schools (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. At CISM, we work to remove the non-academic barriers that prevent student success in the classroom. The barriers that keep students from staying in school and graduating are numerous and widespread. They may be hungry, lack parental involvement, be homeless or at-risk of losing their housing, go without proper clothing and live in neighborhoods where there is violence, drugs and gangs. Students with unmet needs have a hard time learning which is why CISM, in partnership the Achievement School District and Shelby County Schools, works to provide and broker daily school-based interventions to students in grades K–12 to address academic failure, truancy, behavioral issues, social service needs and more.