Austin, TX—J. Frank Dobie College Preparatory Academy has been selected as a National Demonstration Site for Advancement Via Individual Determination, a kindergarten through postsecondary school system that has supported thousands of students to become confident, college-going scholars.

Dobie, along with more than 120 other AVID National Demonstration sites across the country, was selected through an application screening and review process, which included a site visit by a validation team from AVID's headquarters in San Diego. Adopted by nearly 4,800 elementary, middle and high schools in 48 states and 16 countries and U.S. territories, AVID serves more than 450,000 students.

"I commend Dobie Middle School's principal, Carol Chapman for her leadership in transforming an under-performing school and creating a learning environment of high standards and expectations," Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said. "This recognition by AVID supports what we've always known – the staff and students have created a college-going culture at Dobie."

AVID National Demonstration Sites were initiated in 1993 with a $250,000 award from the Charles A. Dana Foundation of New York. National Demonstration Schools are teaching and learning centers that model the AVID system and exemplify AVID strategies and methodologies. With AVID in place throughout subject area classes, performance levels improve significantly for all students, but especially for those students who have historically been underrepresented in postsecondary education. Schools from around the world that are preparing to implement the AVID system will visit National Demonstration Sites, such as this one, to observe a highly evolved AVID system.

"Schools chosen as demonstration sites have proven their ability to successfully implement the AVID academic elective course and take the strategies school-wide to affect students," Jim Nelson, AVID Executive Director, said. "Dobie was selected as a National Demonstration Site because it has implemented the AVID system throughout the school and can serve as a model for new AVID sites."

To learn more about AVID, please visit http://archive.austinisd.org/academics/sss/avid/index.phtml.