Success Stories

Our work is best shared through the stories and images of our students, and testimonials from others touched by the work we do. We invite you to click on a story below… and be inspired. If you have a story or a comment about how Communities In Schools made a difference in your life, please share it with us.

Success Stories to Read

Breaking Down Barriers

While spending time in classrooms this past month, I met and started forming a relationship with a third-grader, Sara.  She is sweet and friendly, and I noticed she is still a “striving reader and writer,” meaning those academic areas do not come so easily to her.  I learned through talking to her teacher and the […]

Graduation Coaching

Katie went from failing all but one class with a 0.8 GPA in the first quarter to passing all of her classes and raising her GPA to 1.9 at the semester. With regular check-ins with the CIS AmeriCorps members, Katie finished the year strong with a 2.5 GPA in the second semester.

Trip to the Lighthouse Mission

I have witnessed the students’ love those that are strangers to them and that are often seen as outcasts by our community due to their homelessness. I am proud of the way they are representing Shuksan Middle School and as individuals who care and want to help with serious social issues.

Informal Mentoring

I work for Communities in Schools at Squalicum High School and have gotten to know a lot of the students very well. There are a handful of students that are not involved in any of my formal structured programming but come into my office to chat, eat a treat (donated by Woods Coffee) and then […]

On the Road to Success

None of R.C.’s siblings have graduated with their HS diplomas. Of course, this is one of our goals with her. We want to get her to believe she can graduate on time, and to see herself as a success on her way to graduation. On average she has failed about three classes per semester since […]

From Middle School to High School

Starting this month at the high school has been such a rewarding experience. I have had the opportunity to see the growth that students have made from middle school. One boy in particular comes to mind. He is a freshman now and is excelling in high school. In middle school he spent all day in […]

Success Looks Different to Everyone

My role at Kulshan middle school allows me to have a great amount of direct service with students. I contribute by doing goal tracking in an Extended Learning program. I get to meet with students individually and assess what support the school and partners can offer them in order for them to succeed as learners. […]

Building a Program

For the past few weeks I have been working at Kulshan middle school in the LAUNCH program. This is an extended learning program that is still very new to Kulshan culture. I am continually offering support and ideas, and I have helped create a method of tracking student’s goals in the program. My experience so […]

Finding a Home

Juana is a 17 year old married student who was living with her husband and her baby , Julio, before she became homeless. Her husband kicked her and her baby out and when she asked him to at least look after baby Julio he told her that both of them could “sleep in a bush.” […]