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High School and Post-High School Success


Ensuring our Students’ Success in and after High School

It is the Foundation’s intention that Lawrence Township high school graduates are prepared to immediately start—and succeed—in post-secondary education and/or careers. To accomplish this, the Foundation sponsors MAC (My Achievement Center) and AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) programs in the district’s two high schools.

My Achievement Center (MAC)

MAC is in its 6th year of operation and the program continues to grow at both Lawrence North and Lawrence Central High Schools, allowing students to visit the Center during study hall to get extra help with coursework. MACs offer not only tutoring services, but an opportunity for students to make connections with caring adults who can work with them in a small setting and provide more personalized attention. MACs have become an integral part of the township high schools and are the hub of many other programs, such as WIN at Lawrence Central and After-MAC at Lawrence North, which provide tutoring after school hours.
 

  • Lawrence Central MAC has an average of 192 total visits per day
  • Lawrence North MAC general tutoring visits incresed by 30% during 2009-2010
  • Lawrence North After-MAC attendance increased by 72% during 2009-2010
  • MAC tutoring labs encompass credit recovery and increase graduation rates
  • Student visits to MACs at both high schools total approximately 30,000 per year

In 2009, upon the recommendation of Lawrence Central alumni Frank Levinson, Ph.D., the Foundation received a $330,000 endowment for the Lawrence Central WIN tutoring program. Received from the Small World Institute Fund, an advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, this endowment provides key program funding that benefits all students utilizing WIN’s after school tutoring and support.


Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) is a college preparedness program getting incredible results at over 4,500 schools throughout the country, including Lawrence Township. AVID students are those in the academic middle of the spectrum, who are striving to achieve yet falling short of their full potential. AVID provides the support and rigor needed for these students to be successful in high school and prepared for college. The program also instills self-confidence in young people that empowers them to be their best.

AVID Highlights and Accomplishments:

  • Lawrence Township has instituted the AVID program in both high schools and in all of our middle schools.
  • In the last 3 years, 90% (136) of our AVID graduates went on to college (the national AVID average is 74%).
  • Of this 136, 120 or 88% are either still in college or have completed college.
  • Approximately 95% of Lawrence Township AVID students attend college with some sort of financial aid, scholarships, grants or loans.
  • For the past 2 years in a row, Lawrence Township has graduated an AVID student in the Top 30 of her academic class (Andrea Perkins, LC 2010; Emily Thomas, LC 2011).
  • The average GPA of all AVID students increased by 4%.
  • AVID students are preparing themselves for college through enrollment in more rigorous courses, practicing note-taking and studying skills, and working with their mentors to set and achieve personal goals.

Each May, AVID graduates from both high schools are honored with a ceremony to honor their academic accomplishments and to celebrate their future academic careers. Here are excerpts from the speeches of 4 different 2011 AVID graduates:

Lonnie Vance
“In life we all have a destiny. Our destiny is not determined by those around us, but rather by the individual choices we make.  We cannot predict the outcome of our destiny, but we do have the power to make the absolute best of it.”  Read Lonnie’s entire speech here.

Elizabeth Hix
“Everyone asks what I have learned through high school. I say I have learned to take notes in a way that will help.  I have learned to study more efficiently and effectively. I have also learned that there are people who care about our education other than our family.” Read Elizabeth’s entire speech here.

Emily Thomas
“What is AVID? After being a part of the AVID program for 5 plus years, the best answer that I can give is “me”.  I am AVID.  Along with my classmates, we are the products of AVID and thus we are its definition.”   Read Emily’s entire speech here.

Jamale West
“Homework, problems in school, problems out of school – no matter what the problem has been, the AVID family has helped us to help ourselves and made us all feel safe and comfortable discussing things we normally don’t discuss with everyday classmates.”  Read Jamale’s entire speech here.

As a key partner with the Foundation in this effort, USA Funds continues to give significant financial support to the AVID program in Lawrence Township Schools.