Communities in Schools of SETX

What Communities in Schools of SETX does

Communities In Schools of Southeast Texas (CISSET) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1991 and headquartered in Beaumont, Texas. The organization delivers student support services — including mental and behavioral health counseling, suicide prevention, one-on-one mentoring, tutoring, anger management and self-esteem groups, college and career readiness programming, and basic-needs provision (school supplies, uniforms, hygiene items) — through trained site coordinators embedded directly inside partner schools. It operates the "Five Basics" framework (a caring adult, a safe place, a healthy start, marketable skills, and a community engagement opportunity) across more than 40 campuses in 7 Southeast Texas school districts (Beaumont ISD, Port Arthur ISD, Nederland ISD, Jasper ISD, Newton ISD, Vidor ISD, West Orange Cove CISD) plus charter partners such as Bob Hope Schools and Tekoa Academy. The organization has served over 78,000–80,000 youth cumulatively since inception, with 2,018 case-managed students in the 2013–2014 Texas Education Agency grant period.

CISSET is an independent local affiliate of the national Communities In Schools network, which collectively reaches more than 2 million young people across 27 states. CISSET itself employs 11–50 staff (13 named individuals including 5 licensed mental health specialists, an Executive Director, Program Director, Operations Director, and program coordinators) and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. There are no proprietary technology platforms, software products, or AI/ML systems; service delivery is entirely human-mediated on school campuses.

CISSET's business model is donations-and-grants only. All services are provided free of charge to students and families. Revenue (undisclosed in available data) is generated through individual donations, recurring giving, corporate sponsorships (notably Valero Energy Foundation's $100,000 Benefit for Children donation in 2020, plus Capital One, Sempra LNG & Midstream, Union Pacific, Skanska, Goodwill Industries of SETX & SWLA, and United Way), foundation grants, and in-kind contributions. The Texas Education Agency provides grant funding and performance oversight, with CISSET receiving TEA recognition in both 2013 and 2014 for exceeding targets on graduation rate (99%), stay-in-school rate (99%), academic improvement, attendance, behavior, and promotion metrics. Distribution is direct-to-school through embedded site coordinators rather than through any digital channel.

Name

Communities in Schools of SETX

Legal name

Communities In Schools Southeast Texas, Inc.

Website

https://cisset.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Communities In Schools of Southeast Texas (CISSET) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1991 that delivers free mental health, tutoring, mentoring, and basic-needs services to K-12 students through site coordinators embedded in 40+ campuses across 7 Southeast Texas school districts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

School Counseling & Guidance Services (Academic/Social-Emotional) (EDAJALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

School Climate, Culture & Belonging Initiatives (DEI-Aligned) (EDAKAMAM), Family Advocacy, Parent Training & Support Services (EDAJAKAK), Specialized Student Support (Foster/Homeless/Migrant/McKinney-Vento) (EDAJAIAJ)

Keywords

• Student support services
• School-based mentoring
• Youth mental health
• Academic tutoring programs
• Nonprofit education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Beaumont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, CISSET operates entirely on donations, grants, and charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Revenue is generated through one-time and recurring donations, corporate sponsorships (such as Valero Benefit for Children), foundation grants, and in-kind donations of goods and services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Communities In Schools of Southeast Texas (CISSET) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that embeds trained site coordinators in partner schools to deliver integrated student support services. These services include mental and behavioral health support, one-on-one mentoring and tutoring, anger management and self-esteem groups, college and career readiness programs, parent education, and basic-needs assistance (clothing, school supplies, hygiene items). All services are provided free of charge to K-12 students and their families across 40+ campuses in seven Southeast Texas school districts.

Product overview

Communities in Schools of Southeast Texas (CISSET) is a non-profit organization offering a coordinated, multi-component service model focused on student retention and success. The organization provides mental health services, academic support, enrichment activities, college and career readiness programs, parent education, and mentoring services across 7 school districts in Southeast Texas. The core framework follows the 'Five Basics' model: ensuring students have a caring adult relationship, safe learning environment, healthy lifestyle support, marketable skills, and community service opportunities. Services are delivered through site coordinators embedded in schools and licensed mental health specialists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mental & Behavioral Health Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% graduation rate (exceeded 90% target)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Goodwill Industries of SETX & SWLAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated children's books for Bring Your Dad to Story Night literacy events held at various CIS Elementary campuses. Executive Director Kim Picard and team supported 9+ literacy nights.
• Sempra LNG & MidstreamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated school supplies to Port Arthur ISD distributed through CIS. Houston office employees participated in school supply drive. Partnership with Port Arthur Education Foundation to support At-Risk Program ($250 donation).
• Union PacificminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated backpacks and school supplies to support students at Pietzsch-MacArthur Elementary and other CIS campuses.
• SkanskaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated school supplies and scientific calculators to Memorial High School students from families experiencing financial hardship.
• Lamar State College – Port ArthurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide college and career awareness to students and families on CISSET contracted campuses. Includes college transition programs for students enrolling at LSCPA.
• Communities In Schools NationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization providing national network support, best practices, professional development, and resources. Each year, more than 2 million young people in 27 states have access to service through CIS national network.
• Texas Education AgencycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerState education agency providing grant funding and performance oversight. Recognized CISSET for exceeding performance targets in multiple outcome areas.
• Steed Family (Emma Steed)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerYoung philanthropist Emma Steed (11 years old) from Alabama organized donation of approximately 12,000 school supply items to help Southeast Texas students recovering from Hurricane Harvey. Family continued donations in subsequent years.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Communities In Schools of Houston: Another CIS affiliate operating in the Houston area with the same mission, service menu, and embedded-in-school delivery model. Direct comparable for student services, donor strategy, and TEA grant competition.
• Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County: Tarrant County-area CIS affiliate applying the same site coordinator and SEL/mental health support model to area school districts. Closely comparable in scale and service mix to CISSET.
• Communities In Schools of Central Texas: A sister Communities In Schools affiliate serving Central Texas school districts with the same site coordinator, Five Basics, and SEL/mental health service model. Operates as a peer local 501(c)(3) within the same national federation.
• Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region: CIS affiliate serving Dallas-region school districts using the same site coordinator model, Five Basics framework, and TEA recognition pathway. Direct peer in Texas K-12 wraparound service delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Communities In Schools (National Office): The national parent organization of which CISSET is an affiliate. Operates as a broader incumbent that sets methodology, distributes funding, and serves as the umbrella brand for 2M+ youth across 27 states.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth services nonprofit operating school and community-based programs that overlap with CISSET's after-school enrichment and mentoring offerings. Largest comparable incumbent by scale and donor footprint.
• KIPP Texas Public Schools: A large Texas-based charter network serving low-income K-12 students with wraparound supports. Direct overlap with CISSET's student population in Southeast Texas and a potential partner/competitor for student services funding.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: A large-scale national youth mentoring nonprofit that competes for school-based mentoring contracts, donor dollars, and volunteer capacity. Provides comparable youth-development outcomes with a mentor-matching focus.

Others

• MENTOR (National Mentoring Partnership): National nonprofit that supports and certifies youth mentoring programs, including CISSET's mentor program. Adjacent infrastructure provider rather than direct competitor, but shapes funding and quality standards for the mentoring subcategory.

Regional players

• United Way of Southeast Texas: Regional Southeast Texas funder and convener that both funds CISSET and funds parallel human service nonprofits in the same geography—making it a comparable regional player in the local philanthropic ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CISofSoutheastTexas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/communities-in-schools-southeast-texas

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Communities in Schools of SETX