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CHARLOTTE -- CMS is seeing progress with a new program.

Thomasboro Academy is using the AVID program, or Advancement Via Individual Determination, to help middle school-aged students excel.

Every sixth grader at Thomasboro Academy is a part of the AVID program this year. The program is usually an elective but because the newly formed K-8 school is small, officials were able to offer it to the entire grade.

“It's a program that I believe, when implemented well, has gotten amazing results all across the country," said Superintendent Heath Morrison.

Morrison said Thomasboro is the perfect example. All sixth grade and some seventh and eighth grade students have made major strides since becoming a part of the program.

“It helps me keep track of what I'm doing and how I can get better and stay organized while I'm doing it," said student Trinity Bailey.

AVID is designed to focus on students in the middle academic range, giving them the skills they need to not only succeed now but also prepare them for college. Officials said it's those students who are often ignored but most times end up thriving.

"A lot of times we identify AVID students as those students who actually don't want to be in AVID. We say 'do you want to take AVID?' They say 'no I don't want to do that' but once we get them in and they get that support, they find themselves successful," said program coordinator Frankie Pollock.

The AVID class requires students to keep a binder, learn ways to take effective notes and analyze their information. In only a few months, the sixth graders were noticing the difference.

"It keeps me very organized and it's fun. I like that it's getting us ready to go to college too," said Kuinya Quattlebaum.

School officials said the best way to help some students is not by lowering the bar but raising it. They said at Thomasboro Academy, it's working.

AVID is offered in some other middle and high schools across the district. To find out if your school has the program, talk to the school's counselor.