Baker Middle School will implement the nationally-recognized AVID program for incoming sixth-graders for the 2004-05 school year. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a nationally-acclaimed program that boasts a college placement rate of 94 percent.

AVID is a middle school through senior high school academic program dedicated to helping students who are academically "in the middle" and who have the potential for success in college preparatory curriculum. AVID students are enrolled in the most rigorous curriculum a school can offer. They work with tutors through higher level questioning strategies and are motivated to complete a college preparatory path. AVID students receive support for success in this rigorous curriculum through the AVID elective class, a regularly-scheduled elective within the normal school day.

Baker Middle School implements a pyramid of interventions, including mentors for at-risk students, math tutorial classes and Sylvan Leaning tutoring after school. Baker staff members also make school-wide home visits to each student's home at the beginning of the school year. In addition, the school mandates study hall for students who academically are not meeting with success, and it has a partnership with Metro State College of Denver in which students in the teacher prep program do internships at Baker (in addition to having their classes held at the school). Metro students serve as mentors to Baker students, and Baker teachers team with the instructor in teaching the college class.

The school holds monthly parent seminars on topics including drugs, alcohol and the middle school student, how to help your child with homework, gang activity and the middle school child, and math night. Progress reports are sent home every three weeks to all students.

A team of Baker teachers and staff will attend the week-long AVID training sessions this summer in preparation of implementation of AVID in the upcoming school year. Incoming sixth-grade students may apply to be an AVID student. Core content area teachers are trained in the AVID strategies, which include Socratic Seminars, Cornell Notes, student binders, learning logs and notebook organization and focused study skills. The purpose is to restructure the teaching methods of an entire school.

If you are interested in learning more about AVID or applying for enrollment at Baker Middle School for the 2004-05 school year, please call the school at 303-620-5560.

Baker Middle School is located at 574 W. 6th Ave. For more information, contact Linda Torres, principal, at 303-620-5560.