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The mission of Communities In Schools of North Texas is to provide and coordinate community based solutions that equip at-risk students to overcome barriers, succeed in school and prepare for life.


United Way of Denton & Wise County
Click here for United Way of Denton County Service Directory (.doc)


Guidestar: Connecting People with Nonprofit Information


2006-2007 Annual Report
(pdf format)


THE DROPOUT PROBLEM

Mark Your Calendars!

1Child Community Giving Campaign

December 1, 2008
Community Giving Campaign

There is no single reason why students drop out of school. Nor is dropping out of school a sudden decision. Dropping out is a result of a long process of disengagement that may begin even before a child enters school. It is a cumulative process, brought about by any number of individual, family, community or school risk factors. More than 1/3 of the students who drop out of high school fail to make the transition from 9th to 10th grade. Repeating a grade is the most significant school related risk factor associated with dropping out. In the area that CISNT serves, the number of students that are economically disadvantaged increased 30% in the last two years.

How does CISNT work?
Quicktime required to view video. Click here to download.

Volunteer's Corner

Become a CISNT volunteer! Click here to complete an online application
e-Mentoring System

What is e-Mentoring?

Mentor Resources

Training Dates (click on date for more information):

1st Saturdays 9:00 AM in Lewisville

2nd Thursdays 5:30 PM in Denton

3rd Mondays 12:00 PM in Lewisville

4th Thursdays 12:00 PM in Lewisville

Want to learn more about e-Mentoring? Click on this link to download our e-Mentoring brochure. (pdf)

CISNT in the News

Jingle Bells 5K/1K Race to Benefit Communities In Schools of North Texas on December 6th
Savannah's Jingle Bells Run & WalkSavannah is hosting a Jingle Bells Race on December 6th benefitting the dropout prevention programs of Communities In Schools of North Texas. Savannah, a Huffines Community, is the site of the holiday 5K race and 1K dog and partner run/walk. Information for this fun family event can be found at the official run website. Event participants should register by December 2nd. Click here to register online!

Volunteers are also needed to help on the day of the event. Interested volunteers can contact Dana Smith at Communities In Schools of North Texas at dsmith@cisnt.org.


Communities In Schools of North Texas Opens 8 New After School Programs in Denton
Denton, TX – October 28, 2008: Communities In Schools of North Texas (CISNT) has opened 8 new after school programs in Denton ISD this month. The new CISNT after school programs are funded through a five year Texas Education Agency 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. The after school program is a collaborative effort between Communities In Schools of North Texas, Denton ISD, University of North Texas, United Way of Denton County The Village Church and Wells Fargo Bank. Click here to read more.

Communities In Schools of North Texas to Open Dropout Prevention program at Killough LHS North
Lewisville, TX – October 28, 2008: Communities In Schools of North Texas (CISNT) has been awarded a grant from the Texas Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Department to provide dropout prevention and intervention services to students at Killough Lewisville High School (LHS) North in Lewisville ISD. The new CISNT program will include case management, parental and family involvement, career awareness and academic enrichment including mentoring for students at Killough LHS North . CISNT expects to open the new program in November. Click here to read more.

Communities In Schools of North Texas program Reopens at Chisholm Trail Middle School
Lewisville, TX – October 19, 2008: United Way of Wise County has made possible the reopening of Communities In Schools of North Texas’ (CISNT) dropout prevention program in Northwest ISD at Chisholm Trail Middle School. The CISNT program was closed due to funding issues at the 14 year old non-profit organization earlier this year. The CISNT program returned to the Rhome school earlier this month. Click here to read more.

Communities In Schools of North Texas expresses its sincere gratitude to our golfers, sponsors and volunteers
Amidst the perfect weather, heavy competition, and even a hole in one being made, the golfers at the 5th Annual Communities In Schools of North Texas Annual Charity Golf Tournament came out to support the cause of dropout prevention while enjoying a great game of golf. Click here to see photos of the event!

Communities In Schools of North Texas Announces Dropout Prevention Programs Closing
August 21, 2008 CDT: As the new school year begins for seven north Texas schools, students who are at-risk of dropping out of school will not have the support they received from their community last year. Communities In Schools of North Texas (CISNT), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, has closed dropout prevention programs at seven schools due to financial constraints.

CISNT programs have been discontinued at Griffin Middle School and Hedrick Middle School in Lewisville ISD; Brent Intermediate School, Powell Intermediate School and Lakeside Junior High School in Little Elm ISD; Prairie View Elementary School and Chisholm Trail Middle School in Northwest ISD. School administrators were notified of the potential for program closures earlier this year. Click here to read more.


CISNT school supply driveCISNT school supply driveJoin Communities In Schools of North Texas in our annual school supply drive
Many North Texas students must start the year ill equipped to pursue academic excellence. You can help remove a barrier to a child's academic success!

Click here to see a list of items that will go a long way in helping a child successfully learn, achieve excellence, and have a fullfilling year at school.


Thank you for making Celebrating Successes a wonderful event!
Celebrating Successes, Masterpieces in the Making, May 17, 2008CISNT thanks all our sponsors, volunteers, donors and participants for coming out and supporting CISNT and the students we serve. We are very grateful!

Click here to see photos from the evening.

Click here to view our sponsors.


Savannah's 1st Annual 1K/5K Run-Walk benefitting Communities In Schools of North TexasThank you to all the runners at Savannah's 1st Annual 1K Walk/5K Run-Walk benefitting CISNT
On Saturday, May 3, 2008, 100 runners competed in Savannah's 1st Annual 1K/5K Run-Walk. The run began at Savannah Elementary school and wound through scenic greenbelts. Cash awards were given out to the 5K event winners, with a record set of completing the course in 17 minutes! Thank you to all the competitors, volunteers, and Savannah for making this run possible!

Emmerson McGowan donates books, time to CISNT at Hedrick ElementaryLewisville girl, 7, gives the gift of reading to an elementary school in need
Lewisville: Girl, 7, would rather share her love of reading than get gifts
By SHAWN FLOYD / The Dallas Morning News
Hedrick Elementary School in Lewisville needed books, and Emmerson McGowan saw to it that the need was met.

It all started when she turned 7 in January. Emmerson told friends and family she didn't want gifts. Instead, she wanted books she could give to others. Click here to read article.


CISNT profiled in Living Magazine
CISNT profiled in Living Magazine, March 2008Communities In Schools of North Texas was profiled in the March 2008 edition of Living Magazine.

Communities In Schools of North Texas Celebrates "Masterpieces in the Making"

"Every child is a masterpiece in the making. Through education, family support and enriching life experiences they can become a living, breathing work of art.

Unfortunately, there are thousands of children in our community who have little chance of realizing their potential without our help. That’s where Communities In Schools of North Texas comes in – by bringing together the compassion and vast resources from the community to support at-risk children.

Click here to read more.


Texas Association of Business Endorses Communities In Schools Dropout Prevention Programs
Lewisville, TX – February 19, 2008: The Texas Association of Business (TAB) has endorsed Communities In Schools (CIS) and their statewide dropout prevention programs. CIS of North Texas serves students at risk of dropping out of school in Denton and Wise counties.

“CIS is of interest to Texas businesses for two reasons” states Bill Hammond, TAB President. “First, the program fosters community development by working with at-risk school children to provide them the tools that will keep them off the streets and in the classroom. Secondly, CIS strives to help its students gain a marketable skill that can be put to use in the workforce.”

Click here to read more.


The Mission of Communities In Schools of North TexasThe mission of Communities In Schools of North Texas, Inc...

is to provide and coordinate community based solutions that equip at-risk students to overcome barriers, succeed in school and prepare for life.

Communities In Schools of North Texas is a subdivision of a national nonprofit organization, which utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach to decrease the rate of students who drop out of school and increase the number of students who are promoted, pass the TAKS test and ultimately graduate from high school. Each year, over 27,000 students drop out of school in Texas. School dropouts often become unemployed workers, serve time in prison and appear on welfare rolls. Over 80% of prison inmates are high school dropouts, and dropouts are three times more likely to live in poverty than high school graduates. We believe that dropouts are not a school problem, rather a community problem.

Communities In Schools strives to develop public and private partnerships designed to link youth at risk of dropping out of school with the human services they need to achieve academic success. CIS recognizes that youth face many challenging issues such as gangs, drugs, pregnancy, domestic violence, poverty, learning disabilities, etc. which place a heavy burden on both the students and the school system. CIS serves the community by alleviating some of the stress placed on the school staff, coordinating fragmented social service agencies, and removing the barriers which often prevent students from staying in school.


Communities In Schools of North Texas

It is the policy of Communities In Schools of North Texas to let each student choose to participate in the program. CISNT participants will be considered without discrimination based on race, color, age, physical or mental disability, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, or sex.