Cohort 1 📍 Region 7

Grayson County’s implementation of a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) across its six schools gave the division a clear structure for integrating the Community Schools work. Rather than building a separate program, the division mapped Community Schools onto the teams, meeting structures, and data practices already in place. This foundation ensures students have consistent support for their basic needs in every building. Every school operates a clothing closet and school supply program. Four of the six have laundry rooms. All six run substance use prevention programming and in-school health clinics.

Staff are paid stipends to mentor students, an intentional investment in a rural community with limited staffing availability. All of it serves a shared goal across every school in the division: reducing chronic absenteeism. At Grayson Highlands School, that rate has dropped from 10% to 5%.