Communities In Schools, an independent nonprofit corporation focused on school success and dropout prevention, has its roots in Georgia. In the early 70’s, Bill Milliken, Neil Shorthouse and David Lewis established Cities In Schools in Atlanta as a private/public partnership to help urban kids graduate from high school and plan successful futures. Years later the name was changed to Communities In Schools (CIS). 

Communities In Schools® of Georgia is the state’s leading drop-out prevention organization, serving more than 244 schools and 4 community sites, in 38 school districts across 34 counties, serving students in the classroom and beyond. Our statewide organization employs 17 full time staff members to support local affiliates/ subsidiaries, provide training, and oversee evaluation. CIS of Georgia also provides direct services to over 1,000 students through partnerships with the Department of Family and Children Services, Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Chief Turnaround Officer of the Georgia Department of Education. A large volunteer corps provides mentors, tutors, and local resources. The CIS network in Georgia serves 43 school districts across 38 counties in Georgia. During the 2017-2018 school year, the CIS network in Georgia served more than 121,000 students.  

Communities in Schools of Georgia in Troup County was founded in 1989 as Cities in Schools of LaGrange, at a time when the LaGrange School system was an independent organization, separate from the Troup County, Hogansville and West Point systems.  The name was changed to Communities in Schools of Troup County in 1993, coinciding with the consolidation of all Troup County school systems and the change of CIS from “cities” to “communities”, in recognition of increased presence in smaller areas.

At the time of its founding, CIS LaGrange was the first CIS affiliate in the country in a non-metropolitan area and has been a model for many other programs in Georgia and around the country.  Communities In Schools of Georgia in Troup County continues the mission of surrounding students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and succeed in life.