12 Toledo schools win Race to the Top grants

The Ohio Department of Education has awarded grants to 12 schools in Toledo Public Schools through the federal Race to the Top program.

The grant, called Advancement via Individual Determination, is a college readiness program aimed at increasing college enrollment and success. The dozen TPS schools include Scott High School and the elementary schools in the Scott and Woodward learning districts.

Scott and Woodward high schools had AVID grants last school year; Scott's grant is a renewal. Woodward's initial grant was for two years, and it will continue its program this year.

At the two high schools, the AVID program takes a group of freshmen who have grade-point averages between 2.5 and 3.5 and puts them through an elective course each year.

At the elementary schools, AVID funds help eighth-graders make the transition to high school.

Some schools received two-year grants worth with $25,000 for the first year and $18,000 for the second. Others received one-year grants for $26,500.

The elementary schools awarded grants this year were Glenwood, Jones, Pickett, Robinson, Rosa Parks, Chase STEM, Leverette, Ottawa River, Riverside, Sherman, and Spring.