On Feb. 4, Bedichek Middle School was selected to join the ranks of approximately 140 AVID National Demonstration Schools.

AVID—Advancement Via Individual Determination—is a kindergarten through postsecondary curriculum that aims to turn underperforming students into college-going scholars and graduates.

"It is a tremendous honor to be selected as a demo, and we are proud of our AVID program and our school as a whole," said Principal Dan Diehl. "We are fired up."

The school earned a three-year certification, the highest level a campus can receive. 

Diehl said the use of AVID strategies schoolwide has had positive effects on students and staff, including a more engaged and college-ready student body.

"The AVID college readiness system has been the primary catalyst as we have transformed the academic performance and culture of our school," Diehl said. 

He said that since implementing AVID, Bedichek has seen measureable results, including:

• in-school suspensions dropped from nearly 200 to fewer than 40 per year.
• A record number of students are now taking algebra.
• 100 percent of students passed the algebra end of course exam in spring 2014.

As part of the AVID Demonstration Sites Network, campuses must develop a model program with schoolwide participation using AVID's methodologies. This includes students keeping a detailed binder and learning to take notes in the Cornell note-taking style.

Schools—from around the U.S. and the world—that want to implement the AVID system visit demonstration schools to observe how the system works on a daily basis.

For more information or to schedule a visit to Bedicheck, contact AVID Coordinator Mariza Rebmann at (512) 841-4010 or Principal Dan Diehl at (512) 414-5187.