Originally housed in what is now Lincoln Elementary (450 E. 3700 South), Granite Park Junior High in South Salt Lake is accustomed to change.

Since its founding in 1961, Granite Park has successfully weathered numerous transformations and has built a strong foundation of academic prosperity for an incredibly diverse community. Here are some nifty facts about the school you may not have known:

AVID program – In 2009, Granite Park was selected to be one of 20 pilot schools world wide to implement the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) college-readiness program. The mission of AVID is to ensure that all students succeed in a rigorous curriculum designed to lead them down a college preparatory path.

Tumaini Welcome & Transition Center – This two week transitional program assists K-12 newcomers who are enrolling in a US school for the first time. The curriculum includes oral language, school culture, literacy, numeracy, computers, and collaborative learning.

Focus on the future – Wherever you are in Granite Park, you will see decorations, banners and posters that remind students and staff about the importance of preparing for college, career and life. Some of the most compelling adornments are posters that feature a photo of a past or present student and a quote about their career/academic goals.