FONTANA, CA – Sequoia Middle School has been named an Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) National Demonstration School, reflecting its thriving college-going culture and strong academic curriculum.

Sequoia will serve as a model for other schools and districts that are interested in implementing AVID, which narrows the achievement gap between the lowest- and highest-performing students and ensures more students enroll in four-year colleges.

“The achievement means everything to us, and shows that our students can be successful, go to college, and make a difference in the world,” Sequoia AVID Coordinator Christine Clark said. “Through AVID, our students also develop study habits and interpersonal skills that they can carry with them through life.”

Sequoia offers an AVID elective to 250 students that provides structured, peer-led tutorials twice a week, with in-class and after-school support from college tutors. AVID elective students tour local colleges and universities throughout the year and complete 10 hours of community service each semester.

The school also uses AVID strategies in all classes, including focus notes, interactive notebooks, collaborative study groups, and after-school tutoring upon teacher request.

Sequoia is the second Fontana Unified school to earn the honor, held by less than 3 percent of AVID schools nationwide. Fontana High School has held the AVID National Demonstration School status since 2006.

Demonstration schools undergo rigorous validation process and must be revalidate every few years, to ensure high levels of implementation, as well as quality and fidelity to AVID strategies schoolwide.

Sequoia’s efforts to drive student success and promote college and career readiness through AVID also secured the school a spot on the 2018 Schools to Watch list.

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FUSD_SEQUOIA_AVID: Sequoia Middle School was named an AVID National Demonstration School, an honor held by less than 3 percent of AVID schools nationwide.