Communities In Schools of Rowan County, part of the nation’s dropout prevention network, announced that is has been reaccredited by the Communities In Schools national office. Communities In Schools’ Total Quality System (TQS) accreditation signals that the organization is effective in helping students stay in school and graduate on-time, and that it follows best practices in nonprofit management.

Communities In Schools developed TQS after a five-year, longitudinal national evaluation conducted by an independent evaluator showed that schools effectively implementing the Communities In Schools model had higher graduation rates and lower dropout rates. They also performed better than comparison schools in increasing the percentage of students meeting or exceeding math and reading proficiency in fourth and eighth grades, a crucial predictor of high school graduation.

“The renewal of our reaccreditation reaffirms our commitment to providing students with best-in-class services and acting as a nonprofit and education leader in our community,” said Vicky Slusser, executive director.

In Rowan County, Communities In Schools is a United Way-funded program and receives significant support from the Blanche and Julian Robertson Family Foundation, The Salisbury Community Foundation, Rowan-Salisbury Schools, The Margaret C. Woodson Foundation and True North from the National Communities In Schools organization in addition to support from many local businesses and individuals. CIS Rowan has site coordinators in eight schools — South Rowan High School, North Rowan Middle, North Rowan High and North Rowan Elementary, Knox Middle and Overton Elementary, Hanford Dole and Koontz Elementary schools. Last year, CIS Rowan provided services to more than 5,000 students and their families.

“I congratulate Communities In Schools of Rowan County for continuing to be a nonprofit leader in the education sector,” said Daniel J. Cardinali, president of Communities In Schools. “Our accreditation process is a testimony to our network of passionate professionals who are proven to help change the lives of students each and every day.”

More than 100 Communities In Schools affiliates are accredited, but Communities In Schools of Rowan County is among the first three in the nation to be reaccredited.