Madison East High School has again been selected as a National AVID Demonstration School, a distinction given only to the top schools in the country implementing the college prep program. The recognition means that East High is a national model for the implementation of AVID.
“We are very excited to have one of our schools receive this recognition,” said Michael Johnson, CEO of BGCDC. “Through our partnership with MMSD, we are making a difference in the lives of students by putting them on a path to realize their greatest potential.”
“Not only is East High’s AVID/TOPS program making a difference for our students, but it is also a national model for success,” Superintendent Jennifer Cheatham said. “Congratulations to the staff and students at East and our partners at the Boys & Girls Club who have made this program successful.”
AVID or Advancement Via Individual Determination is a college readiness system that includes an elective course focused on organizational strategies, study skills, critical thinking, tutorial support, and career and college awareness. In MMSD, AVID is partnered with the Teens of Promise (TOPS) program through the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County. TOPS provides full-time student coordinators in each of the four high schools, summer internships, after-school mentors, funding for more than 40 tutors during the elective course, and a variety of college and career field trips.
The school joins approximately 150 other AVID National Demonstration Schools and was selected through an application process, screening, and review, which included a site visit.
AVID Chief Executive Officer Sandy Husk, PhD, notes the significance of attaining Demonstration site recognition. “Schools recognized as National Demonstration Sites have proven their ability to successfully implement the AVID Elective course and take the strategies schoolwide to impact all students,” says Dr. Husk. “Madison East High School was selected as an AVID National Demonstration School because it has implemented the AVID System throughout the school and can serve as a model for new AVID sites.”
Students in AVID/TOPS have seen consistently positive results, achieving higher GPAs, enrolling in more advanced placement courses, and scoring higher on tests.
“It is a tremendous honor to be selected as a demonstration site, and we are proud of our AVID program and our school as a whole,” said East Principal Mike Hernandez said. “The use of AVID strategies schoolwide has positively impacted students and staff, and we continue to see a more engaged and college-ready student body.”
