Sam Houston Middle School was nationally recognized at a ceremony today for their commitment to college and career readiness by AVID. AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a non-profit that helps schools to change students’ lives by encouraging college and career readiness.
Houston Middle School was named an AVID “National Demonstration School” because of their commitment to college readiness through their elective classes, implementation of curriculum and high expectations for students and staff. The award is significant because Houston is not only the first middle school in Irving ISD to receive this designation, but also it will serve as a model for other schools wishing to implement the AVID program.
In addition to being named a demonstration school, Houston also received four commendations during the recognition ceremony. These included: Shared Leadership; One-to-One Technology Device per Student; Learning Through Writing; and Critical Reading.
Now that Houston has received this prestigious status, the campus can become a mentor for other DFW middle schools desiring to receive this same distinction. This is a game-changer for students, giving them more time to prepare for the future, explore college options and develop effective test-taking strategies and critical thinking skills – all while in middle school.
This incredible honor has been five years in the making. Sam Houston principal Jeffrey Dorman believes this to be a win-win for the district, Houston and the AVID program. “I am so proud of the Houston Middle School team for their determination and dedication to our students,” says Dorman. “We have worked tirelessly for this honor, and to see it come to fruition is a dream come true. I want all of our students at Houston and in Irving ISD to know that they can do anything they set their minds to accomplish, and through the AVID system we can do just that.”
