Communities In Schools of Central Texas

What Communities In Schools of Central Texas does

Communities In Schools of Central Texas (CISCT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, that delivers an Integrated Student Supports Model inside K-12 schools. The organization places trained, full-time Program Managers on 124 campuses across nine Central Texas school districts (Austin ISD, Del Valle ISD, Elgin ISD, Harmony Public Schools, Hays CISD, Lockhart ISD, Manor ISD, San Marcos CISD, and Taylor ISD), connecting students to tutoring, mentoring, mental health, nutrition, housing, and family support services. In the 2024-25 school year the organization reached 68,087 students with school-wide and group supports, provided intensive case management to 9,367 students, and delivered 316,714 individual services, with reported outcomes of 99.9% staying in school, 98.7% graduating or being promoted, and 90.2% improving in academic, attendance, or behavior goals.

The product portfolio is a multi-program stack built around the core on-campus Integrated Student Supports Model. Specialized program modules include ASPIRE Family Literacy (ESL, GED, early childhood education, and parenting classes for approximately 100 families per year in southeast Austin), Care Coordination (a 2-Gen wraparound home-visit program at 12 elementary and middle schools), Mental Health & Wellness (licensed clinicians providing in-school counseling since the 2022-23 school year), the Male Student Achievement Program (MSAP), SmartKids (a 23-year partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Austin operating after-school programming at four public housing properties), PATHS (a September 2024 launch with Austin Community College serving students at the Highland, Hays, and Riverside campuses), an AmeriCorps service program placing 60+ members across 35 campuses, and structured volunteer programs (Reading Buddy, Math Buddy, Mentorship).

CISCT is funded entirely through philanthropy. Revenue streams include individual donations (one-time and monthly), a tiered Promise Circle annual giving society ranging from $1,375 to $25,000+, corporate sponsorships and in-kind drives, planned giving, foundation grants (Greater Texas Foundation, Sooch Foundation, St. David's Foundation), and federal support via AmeriCorps and the U.S. Department of Education's National Partnership for Student Success. The organization completed the All In For Kids capital campaign in 2023-24, raising more than $19 million against a $17.6 million goal to establish a permanent headquarters. A 2022 MacKenzie Scott donation of $133 million flowed to the national Communities In Schools network rather than the Central Texas affiliate. The organization carries Charity Navigator's four-star rating and Candid's Platinum Seal of Transparency, and its outcomes have been independently validated by Harvard's Opportunity Insights and EdRedesign Lab.

Name

Communities In Schools of Central Texas

Legal name

Communities In Schools of Central Texas

Website

https://ciscentraltexas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Communities In Schools of Central Texas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that places full-time Program Managers inside 124 K-12 campuses across nine Central Texas school districts to deliver integrated academic, mental health, and family support services to at-risk students. The organization reaches 68,087 students annually and is funded entirely through donations, grants, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

School Counseling & Guidance Services (Academic/Social-Emotional) (EDAJALAF), Mental Health Counseling & Therapy Services (K–12) (EDAJALAG), After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs) (EDAJALAM), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Student support services
• School-based mentoring
• Integrated student supports
• Youth development programs
• Family literacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

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, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: General donations, monthly giving, and one-time gifts from individual supporters
2. Capital Campaign: All In For Kids campaign raised over $19 million including $17.6 million capital campaign for permanent headquarters and strategic programming
3. Promise Circle Membership: Annual giving society with membership levels starting at $1,375 (cost to serve one student for a year), with benefits including events, volunteer opportunities, and exclusive updates
4. Event Sponsorships: Food for Thought tasting event and other fundraising events with corporate sponsorships at various levels (Elementary, Middle School, High School, Community College, Graduate School, Presenting)
5. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts through wills, living trusts, beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance, and donor advised funds
6. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate engagement including in-kind drives, event sponsorships, ongoing volunteerism, and donations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Communities In Schools of Central Texas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that places trained, full-time Program Managers on K-12 school campuses to connect students with community resources such as counseling, tutoring, mentoring, mental health services, and basic-needs support. The organization also operates specialized programs including family literacy (ASPIRE), care coordination, mental health and wellness, male student achievement, public housing after-school support (SmartKids), and post-secondary transition support (PATHS). Services are provided free of charge to students and families and are funded through donations, grants, corporate partnerships, and the Promise Circle annual giving program.

Product overview

Communities In Schools of Central Texas operates as a multi-program integrated student support organization rather than a single product. The core CIS Model serves as the foundational platform, placing trained Program Managers in schools to connect students with community resources. This core is supported by specialized program modules including ASPIRE Family Literacy (adult education and early childhood services), Care Coordination (family wraparound services), Mental Health & Wellness (clinical counseling), Male Student Achievement Program, SmartKids (public housing partnership), and PATHS (college transition support). AmeriCorps and Volunteer Programs provide workforce and community-based delivery channels. Together these programs serve 124+ campuses across nine Central Texas school districts, reaching over 68,000 students annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AmeriCorps: Professional development and opportunity to give back to the community through national service.
• ASPIRE Family Literacy
• Care Coordination Program
• Mental Health & Wellness Program
• Male Student Achievement Program (MSAP)
• SmartKids
• PATHS (Providing Access To Holistic Supports)

Products and services

• CIS Model (Integrated Student Supports) Evidence-based school-based approach that develops academic success by tackling academic and non-academic barriers through a dedicated full-time Program Manager on each campus, connecting community resources with students who need them most.
• On-Campus Student Supports One-on-one relationships with individual students providing service plans based on each child's needs, including individual counseling, support groups, basic life skills, tutoring, mentoring, and enrichment opportunities.
• ASPIRE Family Literacy Free ESL and High School Equivalency Classes plus Early Childhood and Parenting education for families with children 0-7 years old, serving approximately 100 families per year in southeast Austin.
• Care Coordination Program 2-Gen wraparound program providing home-based intensive services to children and their families using a team-based process that creates individualized plans to help families meet needs and reach desired goals. Serves families at 12 Austin elementary and middle schools.
• Mental Health & Wellness Program Licensed mental health clinicians provide treatment to students directly in schools, including intensive short-term counseling, community referrals through a trauma-sensitive approach, and training for staff and school communities.
• Male Student Achievement Program (MSAP) Transformative leadership and peer support program for Central Texas male high school students with four pillars: Critical Mentoring, Leadership Development, Positive Masculinity, and Social Emotional Learning. Includes academic coaching and post-secondary access support.
• SmartKids Partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) providing comprehensive in-school case management combined with site-based after-school reading, writing, homework support, and enrichment programming for students living in HACA communities.
• PATHS (Providing Access to Holistic Support) Partnership with Austin Community College helping ACC students stay on track with wrap-around services including housing, childcare, transportation, food, mental health support, personalized case management, and career pathway guidance.
• AmeriCorps Service Program Places 60+ AmeriCorps Members serving across 35 campuses in Austin, Manor, Lockhart, Elgin, Hays and San Marcos ISDs providing mentorship to elementary and middle school students, supporting the ASPIRE Program, and out-of-school programming on HACA sites.
• Volunteer Programs Multiple volunteer opportunities including Reading Buddy, Math Buddy, Mentorship, Service-Learning, One-Time Volunteering, and In-Kind Drives. Volunteers commit 30-60 minutes per week during school hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.9% of students stayed in school (2024-25 school year)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and secondary.

• Austin Community College District (ACC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2024PATHS (Providing Access To Holistic Supports) program launched September 2024 at ACC Highland, Hays, and Riverside campuses. Provides wrap-around services including housing, childcare, transportation, food, mental health support, personalized case management and career pathway guidance for students transitioning from high school to college. Funded by Greater Texas Foundation and Sooch Foundation.
• U.S. Department of EducationflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2024National Partnership for Student Success initiative brings together AmeriCorps, U.S. Department of Education, Johns Hopkins Everyone Graduates Center, and leading student support providers including CIS to recruit, train and engage adults for improved academic and social-emotional outcomes
• Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001SmartKids partnership since 2001 provides comprehensive program combining in-school case management with site-based after-school reading, writing, homework support, and enrichment for students living in HACA communities.
• United Way AustincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProud partner organization, supports CIS programming and fundraising efforts
• One Star FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting CIS through Youth Mental Health Corps initiative alongside AmeriCorps
• St. David's FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProud partner organization supporting CIS mission
• Austin Community College District (ACC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASPIRE program partner providing Adult Education services; ACC provides facilities and educational programming for the ASPIRE Family Literacy program serving families with children 0-7 years old
• City of AustinsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports ASPIRE Family Literacy program as a community partner
• Texas MutualsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports ASPIRE Family Literacy program as a community partner
• Travis CountysecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports ASPIRE Family Literacy program as a community partner
• Any Baby CansecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner working with ASPIRE Family Literacy program
• BookSpringsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner providing literacy resources for ASPIRE program families
• Safe AlliancesecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner serving ASPIRE families
• Vela FamiliessecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner for ASPIRE Family Literacy program
• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal service agency partnership placing 60+ AmeriCorps members across 35 campuses. Youth Mental Health Corps initiative supported by Schultz Family Foundation and Pinterest
• School Districts (9 total)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner districts: Austin ISD, Del Valle ISD, Elgin ISD, Harmony Public Schools, Hays CISD, Lockhart ISD, Manor ISD, San Marcos CISD, Taylor ISD. CIS places Program Managers in schools and collaborates with districts to understand community needs
• Food for Thought Restaurant PartnerssecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating restaurants include Aba, Eberly, Ema, Hestia, Moonshine, Parkside, Sway, Il Brutto, Serenade, Verdad, and others for annual tasting event fundraiser

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Communities In Schools of San Antonio: Sister CIS affiliate in Texas operating the same Integrated Student Supports Model with Program Managers placed in schools. Most directly comparable as a regional CIS affiliate delivering wraparound student services.
• Communities In Schools of Texas (State Network): Statewide network of 27 CIS affiliates including CISCT. Operates as the umbrella for the same evidence-based model and shares training, advocacy, and funding pipelines with CISCT.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas: Regional nonprofit providing school- and community-based mentoring for Central Texas youth. Comparable in target population, mentoring model, and donor-driven funding, with overlap in volunteer-driven student support.
• Boys & Girls Club of the Austin Area: Regional youth-development nonprofit offering after-school programming, mentorship, and academic support across Central Texas. Directly comparable to SmartKids and after-school components of CISCT.
• CASA of Travis County: Local Court Appointed Special Advocates affiliate providing volunteer advocacy and case management for Travis County youth in the child welfare system. Comparable in volunteer-driven, one-on-one case management model serving at-risk Central Texas youth.
• Any Baby Can: Central Texas family-services nonprofit offering early childhood, family support, and counseling services. Explicit ASPIRE partner and directly comparable in family literacy and wraparound services for vulnerable children.
• Safe Alliance: Central Texas family-violence and counseling services nonprofit. ASPIRE community partner providing direct comparable wraparound counseling, case management, and family support services.

Broad incumbents

• Communities In Schools National Office: National parent network that supports all CIS affiliates including CISCT. Direct umbrella entity administering the brand, research agenda, and large-scale grants flowing to affiliates.
• United Way for Greater Austin: Central Texas funder and convener that supports CISCT and other education/social-service nonprofits. Comparable in regional scope, donor-driven model, and footprint across K-12 supports.

Emerging players

• KIPP Texas Public Schools - Austin: Local charter network serving similar student populations in Austin whose alumni support programming touches CISCT's college access and post-secondary transitions (PATHS). Overlap in target K-12 population and college-readiness focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ciscentraltx
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CISofCT
• Facebookfacebook.com/ciscentraltx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/communities-in-schools-of-central-texas
• Instagraminstagram.com/ciscentraltx

Compliance2 records

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 Central Texas