We build brighter futures for Chicago's young people
Communities In Schools (CIS) of Chicago is the leading nonprofit in the city dedicated to removing barriers that stand in the way of student success.
Our programs have proven impact helping students achieve in school and graduate from high school. Both are crucial steppingstones to success in life.
This year, our team is partnering with 239 Chicago Public Schools, and our work will positively impact 80,000 students.
Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
Our organization accomplishes our mission through two core programs.
Links students at each of our 239 school partners with programs provided by a strong network of community partners that address a full range of student and family needs including mental health support, enrichment opportunities, and access to essential resources. Our Partnership Program’s connection of these resources and services has been proven to improve student achievement in math and reading – leading indicators of graduation.
embeds a CIS of Chicago staff member, or Student Supports Manager, in 39 of the 239 school communities to provide supportive guidance, goal-setting, and other interventions to students who are off-track in their attendance, behavior, and grades. They work with students to create a plan, develop social and emotional skills, and access the full complement of resources they need to stay on the path to graduation.
Our vision is to ensure that every public-school student in Chicago graduates from high school prepared to succeed.
Our Core Values
Impact
It’s not enough that we or our partners do something; we want to make sure we do what works. Outcomes are our primary metric. Reflection, assessment, and adjustment are integral components of our work.
Relationships
We believe in the power of relationships. We strive to build a real sense of connection among students, as well as our staff, our Board of Directors, our donors, and our school and community partners. Ultimately, strong relationships build strong communities.
Social Justice
We believe in each person’s inherent potential. Many Chicago students face complex issues like poverty and community violence that impact their learning. We are doing our part to help each child we serve to overcome those obstacles and have a fair chance in life to succeed.
Integrity
At CIS of Chicago, we strive to be principled with our decision-making and our actions. Honesty, accountability, and dependability are non-negotiables for us. They are keystones to doing good work – and to building trust within our organization and among our partners.
Our History
In 1988, Communities In Schools began an affiliate in Chicago to help children become more successful in school and in life by connecting community-based organizations, hospitals, and universities with schools.
Our formalized Partnership Program began in the mid-1990s, linking community-based support programming to schools and students in need. And our Intensive Program was first piloted at one school site during the 2009-10 academic year. The number of Intensive Program sites increased to 39 in the 2024-25 school year.
Most notably, CIS of Chicago has substantially increased the number of students served annually since our organization’s inception over 35 years ago. In the mid-1990s, CIS of Chicago reached roughly 12,000 young people annually, and in the 2023-24 school year, we reached 74,300 students.