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2024-25 ANNUAL REPORT
By The Numbers
46,259
Total Students Served
99%
of Individualized Support Students Remained In School
98,868
Unique Student Supports
4,136
Students Received Individualized Support
97%
of Individualized Support Students Graduated or were Protected
27,274
Hours of Support Provided
73
Title I Schools Served
85%
of Individualized Support Students had No Suspensions
91%
Attendance Rate
TABLE OF CONTENTS
STANDING STRONG FOR ATLANTA’S STUDENTS
Dear Friends,
Every day, I witness the strength and determination of Atlanta’s students. They show up—often facing challenges that would stop most adults in their tracks. They still find the courage to dream, to strive, and to rise. That’s what inspires our work at Communities In Schools of Atlanta. We don’t just believe in our students; we stand beside them, breaking down barriers and building the support systems they need to succeed in school and in life.
This past year, our impact was powerful. More than 4,100 students received intensive support through our site coordinators, while over 46,000 students benefited from school-wide programs that promote connection, stability, and achievement. And the results speak volumes—99% of our students receiving intensive support stayed in school, and 97% graduated or were promoted to the next grade. Behind every number is a young person whose future is brighter because someone cared enough to walk with them.
But let’s be clear: this kind of progress doesn’t happen without intention. It happens because CIS of Atlanta is deeply embedded in 73 Title I schools—doing the hard, often unseen work of uniquely meeting the needs of our students. Whether it’s access to food and clothing, behavior intervention, mental health support, tutoring, or college and career preparation, our team shows up every single day to make sure no student is left behind.
We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, but we also know the work ahead demands more of us. The needs are greater. I believe now more than ever that we are built for this moment. To keep delivering life-changing support, we must strengthen the investment that fuels our mission and grow our capacity to positively impact the lives of students who need us most.
Looking forward, our focus is deepening our impact. We’re advancing postsecondary and alumni support, prioritizing mental and emotional wellness, and ensuring every student has the tools and confidence to thrive beyond graduation.
Atlanta’s students deserve nothing less than our best. And with your continued partnership, we will keep standing strong—for them, with them, and because of them.
With gratitude and purpose,
Frank Brown, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer
Communities In Schools of Atlanta
Message from the Board Chair
"At Communities In Schools of Atlanta, we stand beside students who show incredible resilience in the face of challenge. When we connect them with the right relationships and resources, they discover their own strength and realize what’s possible. Every success story reminds us that consistent, caring support can change the course of life. That’s why I am proud to stand with this organization and the community that believes in its mission.”
– Yglesias Hollins
Board Chair
OUR MODEL
Bringing Community Resources Inside Schools
CIS of Atlanta places caring staff directly inside schools to identify barriers to learning and connect students to the resources they need to thrive. We do this through a tiered approach by working with the entire school, targeted, small groups of students, and those in need of intensive, individualized ongoing support. This evidence-based model transforms schools into hubs of support, ensuring that every student has access to food, clothing, mental health care, academic assistance, and trusted relationships that promote success.
Our site coordinators work hand in hand with teachers, counselors, families, and community partners to build a safety net around each student. Through this holistic approach, CIS of Atlanta addresses the whole child — academically, socially, and emotionally — so that challenges outside the classroom don’t stand in the way of success inside it.
By surrounding students with a community of support, we help them stay in school, graduate, and build brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.
TIER 1: School-Wide Services
Our school-wide services and resources are designed to foster a positive school climate and address school-level risk factors that are open to all students. Examples of Tier 1 resources or services include vision and dental screenings, parent engagement opportunities, school supply and food distribution programs, and attendance incentives.
TIER 2: Targeted Group Support
Our targeted group support activities are designed to help groups of students who are working to overcome similar barriers. Those areas include math and reading tutoring, violence prevention, mentoring groups, backpack meals, risky behavior initiatives, and smoking cessation.
TIER 3: Individualized, Intensive Supports
Our individualized, intensive supports is our most intense level of service and where we spend the majority of our time working with students. Regular check-ins during school, supportive one-on-one sessions, home visits, and referrals to outside support, such as mental health and housing resources, among others, are crucial to ensuring our students succeed.
Our People In Schools: The Heart of Our Work
At the center of everything we do are our school-based site coordinators. These dedicated professionals work full time inside schools to remove barriers that stand in the way of student success. They listen, connect, advocate, and act—bringing resources, relationships, and real solutions directly to where they are needed most.
Each site coordinator is uniquely trained to identify what a student needs to succeed, whether that’s access to food, tutoring, mentoring, mental health services, or simply a caring adult who believes in them. They collaborate closely with teachers, administrators, families, and community partners to ensure that every student receives the right level of support at the right time.
In the 2024–25 school year, our staff provided over 25,000 hours of direct support, meeting countless student needs. Their tireless commitment to Atlanta’s youth ensures that CIS of Atlanta’s model is more than a theory; it is a daily practice of compassion, accountability, and measurable impact.
Our site coordinators are more than educators or mentors; they are lifelines. Because of them, students who once felt unseen are now thriving in school and looking forward to the future with confidence.
Emergency Assistance*: Total: $259,795 K-12: $156,737 Alumni: $103,058
*Assistance provided to secure basic needs for students and families such as food, clothing, and housing and utility stabilization
WHO WE SERVE
In the 2024 – 2025 school year, CIS of Atlanta served students across 73 schools in six metro Atlanta districts, providing both schoolwide support and intensive, individualized supports. Our students represent the full diversity of our region—and share one common trait: the desire to succeed when given the chance.
During the 2024–25 school year, CIS of Atlanta served 46,259 total students across partner schools, with 4,136 students receiving individualized, intensive support.
Our students are future leaders, innovators, and community builders. They reflect the strength and promise of Atlanta itself.
Schools Served
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Gender Demographics
1
Non-Binary
2
Transgender
2,268
Female
1,863
Male
2
Other
Racial Demographics
3,472
African American
529
Hispanic/Latino
46
AAPI
35
White
36
Multi-racial
10
Native American
8
Other
Each data point represents a student whose story has been changed by connection, compassion, and opportunity. CIS of Atlanta exists to ensure that every student, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to the relationships and resources that lead to success.
LOOKING AHEAD
CIS of Atlanta is entering the next chapter of our work with clarity and purpose. As student needs grow more complex, our commitment to removing barriers to success remains unwavering. Through Vision 2026, our comprehensive strategic plan, we are focused on deepening our impact and ensuring that every student we serve receives the full benefit of our proven model.
Our priorities are clear:
1
SECURE BASIC NEEDS
Ensure students and families have consistent access to food, clothing, housing, and emergency assistance.
3
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Address chronic absenteeism through personalized interventions and family engagement.
5
POST-HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS
Bolster college, career, and alumni programming to support long-term stability and opportunity.
2
SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL WELLNESS
Deliver trauma-informed practices and connect students to counseling and mental health resources.
4
GRADUATION & PROMOTION
Help every student stay on track academically and successfully move to the next grade or graduate.
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As we enter 2026- the final year of our current five-year strategic plan- we remain focused on ensuring that students are promoted to the next grade and graduate on time, while also supporting their pathways to excel in post-secondary opportunities. At the same time, we are looking ahead and beginning the work to shape our next five-year strategic plan.
We know that success depends on collective effort—on families, educators, community partners, and supporters like you. Together, we will continue building a stronger, more connected Atlanta where every student not only stays in school, but thrives beyond it.
STATEMENT OF FINANCIALS
Operating Revenue
Operating Expenses
DONOR LIST
Communities in Schools of Atlanta gratefully acknowledges those who support during FY 2025 made our work possible. This list reflects major donors to CIS of Atlanta and may include support to more than one area, as well as in-kind support. This list is limited to contributions of $10,000 or more: however, we also extend our deepest appreciation to the hundreds of donors who support us with critically needed smaller gifts.
President's Circle
$100,000+
Alston & Bird
Atlanta Housing Authority
Atlanta Public Schools
City of Atlanta
City Schools of Decatur
Clayton County Public Schools
Communities In Schools, Inc.
Dekalb County Public Schools
Fidelity Foundation
Fulton County Public Schools
Georgia Department of Education
James M. Cox Foundation
Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation
Mercedes- Benz USA
Multi-Agency Alliance for Children
QuikTrip Community Foundation
Roark Capital Group
The Coca-Cola Foundation, Inc.
The Goizueta Foundation
Dean's Circle
$50,000-$99,999
Morgens West Foundation
Purpose Built Communities Foundation Inc.
Sandy Hook Promise Foundation
The Imlay Foundation, Inc.
The Zeist Foundation
Professor's Circle
$25,000-$49,999
Annie E. Casey Atlanta Civic Site
Cox Enterprises
Deloitte Foundation
Fulton County Community Services Program
Georgia-Pacific Foundation
John H. and Wilhelmina D. Harland Charitable Foundation Inc.
The Coca-Cola Company
The Scott Hudgens Family Foundation Inc.
Valedictorian's Circle
$10,000-$24,999
AEC Trust
AlixPartners
America's Charities
Anonymous
Anonymous
DeKalb County - Human Services
Georgia Power Company
Georgia Power Foundation
Inspire Brands Foundation
Invesco
JLL
Jonathan and Laura Epstein
Journey for Good Foundation
King & Spalding
Lithia and Driveway
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
The Jack and Anne Glenn Foundation
Toole Design Group
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Yglesias Hollins, Chair
Director
Community Development
The Coca-Cola Company
Josh Hirsh, Vice Chair
Executive Managing Director
JLL
Bert O’Neal, Treasurer
Managing Director
Roark Capital Group
Sarah Spiegel, Secretary
Managing Director
Roark Capital Group
Latanza Adjei
VP, Corporate Services
Georgia Power Company
Eric Barnum
Partner
BakerHostetler
Nell Campbell-Drake
VP, Retail Payment Office
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Jason Fullman
Director - Customer Excellence
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Whitney Gerkin
AVP, Operational Excellence
Cox Automotive
Ovie Mughelli
President
Business Development GA/SC/AL
Wellvana
Patrick O'Boyle
Senior Vice President
Corporate Development
Cox Enterprises, Inc.
Maurice Richard
EX-OFFICIO, NON-VOTING MEMBERS
Brian Harvel, Esq.
Partner, Alston & Bird LLP
Pro Bono Counsel
Frank Brown, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer
Communities In Schools of Atlanta
“They have seen something in me that I’ve struggled to see in myself. It might not be a big step in the beginning, but the little steps turn into gigantic leaps. Communities In Schools of Atlanta is called that for one reason: communities are what keeps us together, and I feel like a lot of schools lack that, but this program maintains that strength of human-to-human connection."
- Raul, 12th grader at Cross Keys High School