Bobby Ukrop and several other leaders from local businesses, government and Chesterfield County Schools took a bus trip to Charlotte, North Carolina to see a Communities In Schools (CIS) program in action. On the way home, everyone was energized and inspired to enact real change in Chesterfield. Mr. Ukrop became the founding Chairman of the Board of Communities in Schools of Chesterfield County and, along with other leaders of the community, began the mission to serve Chesterfield County’s students and their families. The Board hired Martha J. Frickert as the first Executive Director and the program opened in the fall of 1993.
- Manchester Academy at Manchester Middle School served 60 at risk middle school students from across the county that first year.
- Burger King Academy (BKA) at Meadowbrook High School, named for the financial support from the local Burger King Corporation, enrolled 30 students from Meadowbrook High School in the day program and an additional 30 students in a night program that began in 1994. Students completing all course requirements for graduation earned a high school diploma; three students achieved that goal the first year.
- Knightsbridge Academy at Thomas Dale High School enrolled 20 students in the fall of 1993.
- In the Spring of 1994, CIS opened programs at Bellwood and Chalkley elementary schools, with one site coordinator serving both schools.
- In the Fall of 1994, the Knightsbridge Academy merged with Burger King Academy, which began serving students from Bird High School.
- The next year, the Manchester Academy was renamed Turning Point Academy when the former Enon Annex became home to the program.
- With a grant from the Office of Virginia’s Governor in 1996, CIS began operating with full-time site coordinators at Bellwood and Chalkley elementary schools.
Burger King Academy moved to the Perrymont Road Annex, and the program became open to all students in the county. At that time, approximately 100 students enrolled in the day program and more than 300 students in the night program. Later, Burger King Academy becomes Chesterfield Community High and then moves to the former Carver High School.
- In 2003, CIS of Chesterfield expanded to serve Ettrick Elementary School.I
- In 2012, CIS of Chesterfield officially separated from the Chesterfield Education Foundation, becoming an independent 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.
- During a Strategic Planning Retreat in 2014, Board Members were challenged to consider expanding to serve an additional school, resulting in the addition of service for Falling Creek Middle School.
- Chesterfield Community High School becomes the Carver College and Career Academy in 2015, which began offering students the opportunity to enter one of four learning pathways: Building Trades, Business and Technology, Child Development, and Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation.
Later in 2015, CIS of Chesterfield was awarded a 3-year United Way Community Impact grant, enabling the organization to realize its goal of expanding to serve Falling Creek Middle School.
Between 2016 and 2020, CIS expanded to four new schools: Falling Creek Elementary School, Salem Church Middle School, L.C. Bird High School, and Meadowbrook High School.
Between 2021 and 2024, CIS expanded to six new schools: Manchester Middle School, Bensley Elementary School, Hening Elementary School, Carver Middle School, Marguerite Christian Elementary School, and Harrowgate Elementary School.