For the past three years, Heaton Middle School has been rated as a “certified” AVID School for its exemplary work in readying young Hawks for a productive and enriching life beyond middle school.

On Thursday, Heaton was rewarded for those years of dedication by being named an AVID Demonstration School. Nationwide, only about 170 schools — 2 percent — have reached this distinguished level.

Gordon Mosher, an official validator from AVID, was on hand Thursday to bestow the honor during an afternoon school-wide assembly.

Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID, is a curriculum designed to help students — especially those traditionally underrepresented in higher education — develop the skills to be successful in college.

Big congratulations for the District 60 middle school!