Every year, Communities In Schools of Mid-America (CIS of Mid-America) releases its Ripple Effect Map. This map is a visual expression of the work we’re involved in at the schools we serve. The Ripple Effect Maps are available for each of the locations where we are active, offering statistics about our impact and highlighting the successful work the students are doing. In this month’s blog, we dive into the numbers and share some of that success with you!

Let’s begin with how the CIS of Mid-America model stimulates growth. In the 2021-2022 school year, 99% (yes, you read that right!) of students in our network stayed in school, and a whopping 98% were promoted to the next grade level. The credit for these stellar results goes to the students and families who worked hard throughout the year and to the CIS of Mid-America Student Support Coordinators who walked with them every step.

Our work wouldn’t be possible without the support of local partners and community leaders. Last year, 549 community partners provided support services to affiliated students, and we leveraged over $443,149 through in-kind donations. You’ve heard the expression “it takes a village,” which couldn’t be closer to the truth. We also saw 528 volunteers in our network donating 1,876 hours of their time to help students in various ways. We’re fortunate for the care that our partners provide.

How many students does CIS of Mid-America support each year? That’s a great question! While we officially had 3,600 students receiving targeted, individual reinforcement last year, the number of students in the CIS of Mid-America circle is countless. Student Support Coordinators work with students on and off their assigned caseload, and students throughout the school benefit from our work.

Speaking of work, let’s tell you about the goals our students worked towards in the previous year. In 2021-2022, 86% of students improved their behavior, and 80% made academic and coursework improvements. And, to top it all off, 94% of the seniors on our caseload graduated from high school. Wow!

If you look at the work of CIS of Mid-America “by the numbers,” you’ll see that we are successful. But our job is more than the numbers. Communities In Schools builds relationships that empower students to succeed inside and outside the classroom. We’re convinced that the work being done each year will benefit students for a lifetime.

The new school year is already off to a bold start, and we’re looking forward to what is to come. We’re excited to share more of the CIS of Mid-America story with you in the coming months. Stay tuned to this blog for more, and enjoy the year!