Palmer Middle School stands out as a National AVID Demonstration School, a designation only awarded to an elite group of schools nationwide. In fact, Palmer is the only school in Georgia to carry the title.

The Cobb middle school recently held an Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) showcase where visiting educators from across the nation and state could see AVID in action. The visiting educators, which included district leaders from metro Districts like DeKalb, Fulton, and Rockdale counties, could learn best practices from Cobb educators and students at Palmer.

The report from the visiting AVID Re-Validation Team stated, “From the moment you step on the campus of the Palmer Panthers, you feel the warmth, sense of urgency, and desire to support students. It is clear there is a love for the students and the profession. Palmer serves as a center for teaching and learning in Cobb County, Georgia. The staff members at Palmer Middle model collective educator agency and routinely engage in professional learning so that all educators across the campus can support their scholars. “

The AVID showcase kicked off with presentations from AVID leadership, including Dr. Vijay Koilpillai, Cobb School System District Avid Coordinator; Shannon Kiger, Principal of Palmer Middle; Alison Fridborg, Palmer AVID Site Coordinator; and Annetta Williams, Palmer AVID Connections Teacher.

Following the showcase, Palmer staff learned that the school will continue to carry the title of an AVID National Demonstration School.

AVID National Demonstration Schools are exemplary models of the AVID College Readiness System. Demonstration Schools undergo a rigorous validation process and are required to be revalidated every few years to ensure high levels of implementation, with quality and fidelity to AVID strategies schoolwide. The AVID WICOR strategies focus on Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading.  

Palmer first earned AVID certification in 2006. Three years later, Palmer was named an AVID National Demonstration School. The Cobb school has undergone multiple validation processes to maintain its elite status. 

There are currently 11 AVID schools in Cobb, including five middle and six high schools. 

LGE Donates to Tapp Middle to Support AVID Program

One of the AVID schools in Cobb is Tapp Middle School, which recently received a substantial donation to support the school’s AVID program. Tapp received a $2,500 donation from LGE Credit Union to support our AVID program. 

The AVID class offered at Tapp provides students in grades 6th, 7th, and 8th with a daily period dedicated to fostering the development of academic habits necessary for achieving success in high school and college. Students learn about organization, study skills, communication, and self-advocacy. They also learn to take structured notes and answer and ask high-level questions that go beyond routine answers.

The strong college-going culture within Tapp encourages students to think about their college and career plans before they reach high school. The students even participate in nearby college tours throughout the year, and the LGE donation will help fund those upcoming college tours.