At an assembly, punctuated by confetti canons and thunderous student applause, Eastmont Middle earned a rare distinction on Wednesday.

The home of the Patriots is one of two schools in Utah ever to be named an AVID National Demonstration School, a designation signaling the school’s student achievement and commitment to college- and career-readiness.

“This is a very special privilege you have earned,” remarked regional AVID Executive Director Valeri Angus, who flew to Salt Lake for the Nov. 20, 2024 announcement. “Only about 1 percent of thousands of AVID schools across the country are Demonstration Schools.”

AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), is a research-backed college-prep program offered at 7,500 schools across the country, including five in Canyons: Eastmont Middle, Mt. Jordan Middle, Glacier Hills Elementary, Sandy Elementary, and Jordan High School.

About 300 Canyons students are currently enrolled in the program, electing to take rigorous Advanced Placement Courses and follow the AVID curriculum, which emphasizes reading, writing, research, collaboration, note-taking, and study skills.

If college- and career-readiness is the goal, AVID gives schools, teachers and students a proven system and structure to get there, explained Eastmont Principal Stacy Kurtzhals. “This is a monumental achievement…This honor is not simply a title — it is a testament to the dedication, resilience, and passion that fill our classrooms and hallways every day.”

Demonstration schools undergo a rigorous validation process and are required to be reevaluated every few years to ensure high levels of implementation of AVID strategies. Part of receiving the designation is agreeing to be a model for other AVID schools to visit and learn from.

“To reach this milestone, it has taken unwavering commitment from our entire educational community” from the school’s educational coaches and current and former teachers to the support staff, parents and, of course, the students, Kurtzhals said. “The work has not been easy and has required countless hours of planning, professional development and the steadfast belief in the potential of each and every student.”

Although AVID serves all students, it focuses students in the academic middle. The goal with the program is to raise expectations. “AVID starts with academic rigor and ensuring every lesson goes beyond the surface to encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and a deeper understanding of content,” Kurtzhals said. 

It also encourages students to own their learning, gives them a shared vocabulary for success, and builds the confidence of students and teachers.  “I went to college to learn what to teach, but learned from AVID how to teach,” an Eastmont teacher said at Wednesday’s assembly.

Numbers also tell the story. AVID alumni are four times more likely to graduate than their peers, and testing shows they reach college-readiness benchmarks at rates far above the national average.

Eastmont Middle’s recognition as a Demonstration School is just the beginning, vowed Kurtzhals. “Together, we will continue to build on this foundation, upholding our commitment to rigor, breaking down barriers, aligning our work, and advocating fiercely for the success of every student who walks through our doors.”