Providing A Supportive Community For Students
Knowledge is the path to making a difference
40+ Years of History
Nearly 14 Million Students Are Not Making It to School, but When CIS Is Present, Our Data Proves We Make a Difference.
Our Mission
The Mission of Communities In Schools of Palm Beach County, Inc. is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
Our Vision
To provide all students in grades K-12 with access to Communities In Schools of Palm Beach County and the services they need to develop the skills necessary to successfully graduate, prepare for the workforce or post-secondary educational opportunities, and positively contribute to the community in which they live.
Being Present Matters
We show up for students by connecting them to the critical support and resources that they need in order to be successful in the classroom and beyond. Caring adults can make a huge difference in a student’s life. That’s why coaches are the ultimate caring connectors, bringing support directly inside the school building to help students succeed.
“It’s not programs that are transforming young people’s lives, it’s relationships. A great program simply creates an environment for healthy relationships to form between adults and children. Young people thrive when adults care about them on a one-to-one level and when they also have a sense of belonging to a caring community.”
– Bill Milliken, CIS Founder
Everything we do is guided by the "Five Basics."
Developed by our founder Bill Milliken, the Five Basics are a set of essentials that every child needs and deserves
One-on-one relationship
with a caring adult
A safe place
to grow and learn
Healthy start
for a healthy future
Marketable skills
to use upon graduation
Chance to give back
to peers and community
The CIS story through data
18,520 students received CIS Services during the 2024-2025 school year.
Conniston Middle School | John F. Kennedy Middle School | Lakeshore Middle School | Roosevelt Community Middle School | Atlantic Community High School | Forest Hill Community High School | Glades Central High School | Pahokee Community High School | Palm Beach Lakes Community High School | Riviera Beach Preparatory & Achievement Academy | Royal Palm Beach Community High School | Santaluces Community High School
Tier 1
Tier 1 services are widely accessible to any student requiring CISPBC services and are typically short term in duration.
Tier 2 and 3
Tier 2 and 3 services are targeted for specific students who are enrolled in a CIS classroom initiative. These students have been identified to have risk factors such as poor academic performance and low attendance, and display behaviors that lead to dropping out of school.
Student Leaders
Communities In Schools of Palm Beach County, Inc. is pleased to partner with Bank of America by hosting the students of the Bank of America Student Leaders® Program. Every year, through the Student Leaders program we help connect community-minded high school juniors and seniors to employment, skills development and service. They’re awarded paid summer internships with local nonprofits and participate in our annual Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D. C.
Frequently Asked Questions
CIS believes in transparency regarding the use of your generous donations. Our financial information can be found on our Financial Reports page.
CIS partners with schools all throughout Palm Beach County. Contact us to see if your child's school is one of the educational institutions we serve.
CIS works with students in grades K-12
99% of our students remained in school through the end of the 2020-21 school year, 96% of our K-11 students were promoted to the next grade, and 93% of our seniors graduated or received a GED
