Welcome to Communities In Schools of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County!

Empowering students for a lifetime of success - this is what Communities In Schools is all about.

The mission of Communities In Schools, a 501(c)(3) organization, is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.  By partnering with schools to address children's unmet needs, CIS provides the link between educators and the community.  The result:  teachers are free to teach, and students - many in jeopardy of dropping out - have the opportunity to focus on learning.

Who we are

Communities In Schools of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County (CIS) is a private, non-profit dropout prevention organization that is an affiliate of the nation's largest stay-in-school network. Through our In-school programs, After-school programs, and Alternative Learning Academies, Communities In Schools connects students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to individual needs.

Partnering with school districts throughout Allegheny County, Communities In Schools serves nearly 1000 young people and their families every year.  Nationally, Communities In Schools has become our country's leading dropout prevention organization, and the only one proven to significantly decrease dropout rates, increase graduation rates, and increase math and literacy proficiency.

Communities In Schools of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County presents the 2011 GRADUATE PITTSBURGH SUMMIT -  November 10, 2011
"Success in School from Coast to Coast: Getting Together / Getting Results"

The Graduate Pittsburgh Initiative works to increase the high school graduation rate in Allegheny County. Communities In Schools drives this Initiative, working closely in partnership with over 30 youth-serving organizations, schools, government, and businesses. If you are interested in learning more about and registering for the Summit, click here or e-mail nmolinaro@cispac.org to receive Summit registration or sponsorship materials. 

Our youth are talking - listen to what they have to say! View the "Youth Voices" video from the Graduate Pittsburgh 2010 Summit.
 
If you are inspired to take action to stop the dropout epidemic, e-mail us to join our efforts! Contact Nicole Molinaro, Communities In Schools Executive Director at nmolinaro@cispac.org.

Please click here to view a video about Communities In Schools and click here to read about the FINAL RESULTS of the five-year longitudinal study conducted by ICF International that proves CIS is the most effective dropout prevention organization in America.

Success Stories

Shreen grew up in foster care after having lost her mother when she was 9 years old. Shreen, a young mother of four, spent several years in our program striving to earn her high school diploma after dropping out of a local high school. CIS was able to be flexible with her schedule so that she could be a responsible mother while completing her high school education. Of course, this took a lot of time, but Shreen remained focused and completed all of her required coursework. While she was a student, she attended our week long BIZ CAMP, where she competed in a business plan competition. She shared first place, for developing an innovative plan to create a housing program for young mothers and fathers. After completing our program,
she successfully completed Job Corps certification program for registered nursing assistants; at the Job Corps graduation, Shreen was selected as the one student speaker on behalf of her class of over 50 students. She is now working as a nursing assistant and is enrolled in Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) with an ultimate goal of becoming a registered nurse.

Please click here for more success stories.