Great Neck and Salem Middle schools in Virginia Beach have once again received distinction as AVID National Demonstration Schools. This elite designation has been awarded to only 200 of 8,000 AVID schools in the United States and around the world. 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 families at these schools should be proud of this well-deserved, national recognition," said Virginia Beach City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence. "The AVID system changes lives by helping our teachers close the opportunity gap and prepare all students for enrollment, enlistment or employment. AVID alumni who go to college are four times more likely to graduate than their national peers. The program instills determination and helps students realize they can succeed regardless of the challenges in life. It truly is teaching all students that they can advance through determination."

As national demonstration sites, Salem and Great Neck Middle schools will host administrators and teachers from other school divisions around the country, serving as centers of teaching and learning to model systems for AVID implementation.

AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a college and career readiness system designed to close the opportunity gap for all students by providing access, equity, and support. AVID Elective students are often first-generation college students from traditionally underrepresented populations. Through WICOR - writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading - students learn to develop and refine skills in order to become successful lifelong learners. In Virginia Beach last year, 100 percent of AVID Elective Seniors graduated on time.

VBCPS first implemented AVID in 2000, and 30 schools across the division now use the college and career readiness system. Great Neck and Salem Middle schools were recently recertified after first receiving National Demonstration status in 2019. Learn more about the program by visiting avid.org.

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Department of Communications and Community Engagement, [email protected]

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