Great Neck and Salem middle schools in Virginia Beach have earned distinction as Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) National Demonstration Schools. This elite designation has been awarded to only approximately 190 of 5,600 AVID schools in 44 states, the District of Columbia and 16 countries or U.S. territories. AVID National Demonstration Schools exhibit a college- and career-readiness culture through rigor and high expectations for all students throughout the school.

"The staff, students and communities at both of these schools should take immense pride in this notable well-deserved, national recognition," said Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence. "For these schools as well as all of our 86 sites, it's not about awards or banners, but rather about closing the achievement gap and supporting as well as believing in students so that they can succeed regardless of their ZIP code, background or challenges in life. It truly is teaching all students that they can advance through determination."

AVID is a college readiness system designed to level the playing field for all students by providing access, equity, and support to students in the academic middle. These students are often first-generation college students and traditionally underrepresented populations. This tiered program is designed to accelerate rather than remediate students by teaching the tenets of the AVID program, which are writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading (WICOR), to effectively build student agency in preparation for post-secondary opportunities. Students learn to develop and refine their skills to best prepare to become successful lifelong learners.

VBCPS started using AVID in 1998, and 22 schools now use the program.

As national demonstration sites, the schools will host administrators and teachers from other school divisions around the country, serving as models of how to implement tenets of the program, which nationally has had impressive results. According to AVID, 90 percent of students who are part of the program are accepted into four-year colleges.

Learn more about the program by visiting avid.org.

###

Department of Communications and Community Engagement, [email protected]

Like us on Facebook || Follow us on Twitter || Follow us on Instagram
Visit the Core