On the heels of back-to-back Magna awards from the National School Boards Association for work focusing on equity, Anne Arundel County Public Schools has been named as a District of Distinction for its efforts. This year’s award is specific to enhancing student achievement through the AVID program.
The award from District Administration magazine honors school districts that are leading the way with innovative ideas to help students realize their full potential. AACPS is one of 34 school systems across the nation to be honored.
AACPS’ Advancement Via Individual Determination program was selected “because it is yielding quantifiable benefits and could be replicated by your peers in other districts,” J.D. Solomon, editorial director of the magazine, wrote in his letter notifying the school system of the award.
More than 5,450 secondary students across the school system are in enrolled in the AVID program, an academic elective which focuses on students in the academic middle. By utilizing strategies that develop transferable life skills, such as critical thinking, note taking, and time management and supporting students through college and career exploration, AACPS has been able to increase the number of students who graduate and enroll in a two- or four-year college or university, or a trade school. In the 2018-2019 school year, 87 percent of the program’s 463 seniors were accepted to a four-year college or university. Additionally, 70 percent of AVID seniors earned at least one scholarship.
“AVID is a key part of our efforts to Elevate All Students and Eliminate All Gaps,” AACPS Superintendent George Arlotto said. “We have grown the program from targeted instruction for AVID elective students to school-wide instruction for all secondary students. AVID strategies are now infused in all classrooms at all levels. As a result, we have been able to help many more students realize and be prepared to take advantage of a broader array of options for their future.”
AVID seniors in the Class of 2019 were offered more than $43.9 million in college scholarships. Annually, scholarship offers to AVID students represent about 20 percent of the amount offered to all AACPS students.
AVID is in place schoolwide in all 12 high schools, 19 middle schools, the Mary Moss at J. Albert Adams Academy, and 12 elementary schools. Corkran Middle School in Glen Burnie has been designated a National AVID Demonstration Site twice for its excellence in implementing the AVID program. Additionally, North County High School, Marley Middle School, and Point Pleasant Elementary School have been identified as showcase sites which allow other school systems to observe AVID in action.