The History of Communities In Schools
On the streets of New York City in the 1960s, a youth worker named Bill Milliken and his colleagues launched a series of “street academies” that attempted to help young people, who had dropped out of school, complete their education and go on to college. In 1977, Milliken and his colleagues shifted their focus inside the school system and Communities In Schools was born (then called “Cities In Schools”).
This fledgling organization started out strong and was supported by newly elected President Jimmy Carter. Carter was a supporter of the CIS prototype during his term as Georgia governor. His influence aided in CIS’s expansion to include serving nearly 3,000 students in Atlanta, Indianapolis, and New York. By 2020, CIS grew to serve more 1,700,000 students across 26 states and the District of Columbia in more than 2,900 schools and community sites.
Communities In Schools of North Texas is Born
In response to the quiet but growing dropout problem in Denton and Wise counties, Communities In Schools of North Texas (then “Communities In Schools of Denton County”) was founded in 1993. By 1998, CISNT served 8 schools and by 2002, 11 schools. For the 2023-2024 school year, CISNT has deployed 70 full time, campus-based Site Coordinators across 57 schools in 70 programs. A locally governed 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, CISNT is led by a diverse Board of Directors that represents the diverse ethnic, educational, geographic, and professional composition of the communities we serve.
Called “One of the 100 Charities Most Likely to Save the World” by Worth Magazine, Communities In Schools of North Texas has a legacy that spans nearly 50 years. Each day, CISNT diligently seeks partnerships that will allow for more at-risk youth to achieve in life.
