About

Dedicated to the Five Basics

For over 15 years, Communities In Schools of Durham has stayed focused on our mission: to champion the connection of needed community resources with schools to help young people successfully learn, stay in school and prepare for life.

We believe that every child deserves the five basics:

A one-on-one relationship with a caring adult
A safe place to learn and grow
A marketable skill to use upon graduation
A chance to give back to the community
A healthy start.

Supported by an established and respected network

Founded in the 1970’s on the belief that “programs don’t save children, relationships do,” Communities In Schools (CIS) has become the nation’s most effective and widely respected community-based organization helping kids succeed in school and prepare for life. The CIS National Office is located in Alexandria, Virgina (www.cisnet.org) and the CIS of North Carolina office (www.cisnc.org) is located in Raleigh.

Communities In Schools takes a holistic approach to drop-out prevention by addressing the physical, emotional, social and academic needs of children and families through a wide range of tutoring, counseling and mentoring programs; cultural and community service activities; and advisement for post-secondary education, financial aid, scholarships and career services.

Board of Directors

Staff

Kids Can't Learn If They are Hungry

“You don’t know what timing you have. I have two kids, one in elementary school and one in middle school, and I didn’t know how I was going to feed them. I only have 3 cans of food in the house and my food stamps weren’t coming in for 2 and a half weeks.” —parent of a child in the Weekend Backpack Food Program

CIS of Durham in the Schools

“Durham mall is site for center: Alternative school will see 100 teens” The News and Observer Feb. 24, 2007

Program Highlights

Our goal is to help Durham Public Schools reduce the annual dropout rate
by 50% in 5 years.

Durham’s Performance Learning Center — an innovative, nontraditional high school at Northgate Mall designed to help students graduate on time
Incredible Years Program — a research-based program helping children learn pro-social skills