Communities in Schools of Georgia Celebrates 35th Anniversary & New Headquarters

ATLANTA – March 24, 2025 – Communities in Schools of Georgia (CISGA) is celebrating 35 years of operations and success in driving student achievement, reaching more than 2.8 million students and 690,000 parents since 1991.

CISGA now serves over 110,000 students annually across 49 Georgia school districts, bridging community resources and schools to help students succeed. In 2024, 75% of CISGA’s students showed academic improvement, and 98% of their seniors graduated with their high-school diplomas, 13% higher than the statewide graduation rate.

CIS’ Integrated Student Supports Model is a school-based approach for K-12 students aimed at keeping kids on the path to graduation. On-site coordinators bring community resources into schools and remove academic and non-academic barriers for students at risk of dropping out. The over-arching goal is to empower all students to achieve success, in school and in life

“Each student we serve is a story of success waiting to unfold. We go beyond academics with our support, helping students through unique challenges—instability at home, food insecurity, and mental health concerns,” explains Carol Lewis, CIS Georgia State Director, President and CEO. Lewis adds, “Our students are the future of Georgia, and investing in them is an investment that transforms families and supports Georgia’s growing economy. Every dollar invested in CIS creates $11.60 of economic benefit for the community.”

During its 35-year history, CISGA has enjoyed tremendous support from the philanthropic, corporate, and governmental sectors. CISGA’s leadership also has long partnered with Georgia’s Department of Education to improve graduation rates and enhance educational attainment levels around the state.

Recently relocating its headquarters to the historic Abrams Fixtures Building, CISGA continues to expand services to new school districts. Last year, the organization expanded its reach to seven additional Georgia counties, reaching 29 new schools and impacting nearly 10,000 additional new students. Learn more at www.cisga.com.

About Communities in Schools of Georgia (CISGA):
Communities In Schools of Georgia is the state’s leading organization providing wraparound student supports and dropout prevention using an evidence-based model.  Our unique model places a site coordinator inside the schools to build relationships with students. We base success on our ability to build strong local community partnerships with school administrators, regulatory agencies, businesses, and other youth-oriented organizations. Local CISGA sites tailor programs and activities to meet the specific needs of its community and schools. Types of programs include mentoring, parent education, technology training, literacy initiatives and youth leadership development. CISGA is part of a national organization committed to surrounding students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and be successful in life. The new CISGA headquarters includes a resource facility for training site coordinators and collaborating with community partners.