In three years, Norman Public Schools (NPS) has gone from receiving a state grant to becoming a showcase school for the national program AVID (advancement via individual determination).

Jonas Jones, a PHS senior, started as an AVID student in 2009 to strengthen his organization and leadership skills. Jones had a 3.4 grade point average and attributes his current 4.0-plus GPA to AVID.

The AVID program is in 21 Wichita secondary schools — all seven comprehensive high schools and 14 middle schools — and serves about 1,750 students, said district spokeswoman Susan Arensman.