Administrators and faculty at Granite Park Junior High were elated to hear from the AVID “bigwigs” that the school’s status as a National Demonstration School (the only school in Utah to earn the distinction) will be renewed for another year.

The AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program is in place in more than 4,900 schools nationwide. The program is designed to increase school wide learning and performance through elective classes that focus on boosting students in the academic middle.

To become a National Demonstration School, outside consultants need to assess if there is a high level of systematic rigor and fidelity to a research-driven learning process at the school.

“In essence, this designation suggests that our school is one that other schools, particularly AVID schools, could use as a successful model,” said assistant principal Aaron Wilson.

There are 16 schools (elementary and secondary) with the AVID program in Granite School District.