Communities In Schools (CIS) of Western Nevada proudly announces significant achievements for Washoe County students during the 2023-2024 school year. Part of the nation’s leading evidence-based stay-in-school organization, CIS of Western Nevada supported nearly 10,000 students across Washoe County in Title 1 or high needs schools, with growth to the program.
Despite the significant challenges for Nevada students—including child poverty rates doubling, academic achievement gaps widening, and 26% of students chronically absent—CIS has made remarkable progress. The CIS evidence-based model provides Site Coordinators and a resource room inside schools to eliminate barriers to learning. From schoolwide to case-management support, CIS focuses on goals to improve attendance, behavior, coursework performance and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL).
“We are thrilled to share the exceptional progress our site coordinators, students and schools achieved this year,” said Nicole Willis-Grimes, Executive Director at Communities In Schools of Western Nevada. “From expanding into new schools, to reducing chronic absenteeism, and helping remove barriers for students to stay in school and ultimately graduate, 2024 was a defining moment for our program.”
Outcomes That Matter
CIS Western Nevada’s data-driven approach to student success led to remarkable results for the 2023-2024 school year, including:
CIS Western Nevada’s data-driven approach to student success led to remarkable results for the 2023-2024 school year, including:
- CIS of Western Nevada served 9,586 students in 15 schools and provided case-management support to 661 students.
- 91% of case-managed seniors graduated in 2024.
- CIS also provided over $339,000 in essential items to students and families, ensuring that fundamental barriers to success were addressed. These basic needs include clothing, food, hygiene products, school supplies, vision exams/glasses, transportation, dental care and more.
- Case-managed student goals met or achieved included improvements in the following:
- Attendance: 64 percent as compared to 54 percent during the previous school year.
- Social-Emotional Learning: 87 percent as compared to 80 percent the previous year.
- 100 percent of Natchez Elementary School case-managed students achieved or made progress in attendance, behavior, coursework and SEL.
- All data is authenticated through a rigorous verification process performed by the Communities In Schools National Office.
A link to the full report is available here: https://www.cisnevada.org/our-impact/
(Pages 20-25 have information on Western Nevada schools.)
Looking Ahead
As CIS Western Nevada marks its 10th anniversary this year, it remains committed to expanding its evidence-based wraparound services to reach even more students in Nevada. This includes partnering with five additional schools and serving more than 1,000 additional students in the Washoe County School District. The 2025 Benefit Concert featuring Yachtley Crew at Grand Sierra Resort on April 18 is one of many ways to support local students in achieving their dreams.
As CIS Western Nevada marks its 10th anniversary this year, it remains committed to expanding its evidence-based wraparound services to reach even more students in Nevada. This includes partnering with five additional schools and serving more than 1,000 additional students in the Washoe County School District. The 2025 Benefit Concert featuring Yachtley Crew at Grand Sierra Resort on April 18 is one of many ways to support local students in achieving their dreams.
About Communities In Schools of Western Nevada
Communities In Schools (CIS) of Western Nevada is celebrating its tenth anniversary this 2024-2025 school year and is currently supporting more than 10,000 students at 20 schools across Washoe County School District, including Anderson Elementary School, Booth Elementary School, Desert Heights Elementary School, Desert Skies Middle School, Clayton Middle School, Dilworth Middle School, Duncan Elementary School, Hug High School, Innovations High School, Juniper Elementary School, Mathews Elementary School, Natchez Elementary School, Palmer Elementary School, Pine Middle School, O’Brien Middle School, Sparks High School, Sparks Middle School, Traner Middle School, Vaugh Middle School and Veterans Memorial.
CIS places full-time caring and trusted adults, called Site Coordinators in Title I and high-needs schools to support students with case management, resources, and connections to community services inside the school in a dedicated CIS resource room. CIS’s mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and succeed in life.
The organization taps into a statewide network of more than 120 community nonprofits, partners, and agencies, literally bringing the community into the school to get students whatever they need to overcome the barriers they face that prevent them from achieving academically. From eyeglasses, dental care, health care, and professional counseling to food, school supplies, clothing, transportation and even housing, CIS identifies student needs and finds a way to address them, closing the gaps they experience in their everyday lives. CIS’ long-term vision is for every child enrolled in a Title I or high-needs school to have access to a CIS site coordinator and their evidence-based model of Integrated Student Supports, otherwise known as wraparound services.
