AVID Program Description

What is AVID?

AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a structured researched-based College Readiness System. It is a school-wide approach to curriculum and rigor. AVID is a program designed to give motivated students support so that they can attend college and achieve their fullest potential. The AVID program serves to support its students through an emphasis on WICOR curricular strategies, which include writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading. By reinforcing study and organizational skills, and encouraging students to take more rigorous and challenging classes, the program seeks to ultimately prepare them for success at a college or university. AVID students have skilled tutors, often college students, to help them with their studies. Students are taken on field trips to various colleges and universities throughout their time in the program to familiarize them with the many post-secondary options available. Community service is advocated throughout the program as students are encouraged to be active members of their school and community. Students are given the resources to help them apply for financial aid, scholarships, grants, and to colleges and universities of their interest. There is also a strong curricular focus on leadership development as the ultimate goal of the AVID program is to support students to become educated and responsible participants and leaders in society.

What is the AVID Elective at the secondary level?

The AVID Elective class supports motivated students as they challenge themselves in more rigorous classes. Students engage in a curriculum that enhances their knowledge on note-taking, time management, organization, writing, and research while being immersed in a college-going culture. The class also includes tutorials that are facilitated by college students and adults and provides support for success in their academically rigorous curriculum. Additionally, the AVID class provides access to information about colleges and universities through field trips, guest speakers, college tutors, scholarship opportunities, and college admission requirement information.

Who are AVID Elective students at the secondary level?

AVID students are those “middle to upper-middle” students that are wanting to take advantage of the opportunity to prepare for college eligibility and success beyond high school. They are capable of taking a more challenging college-prep path which includes Accelerated and Advanced Placement (AP) courses, with support through the AVID elective class. AVID students are typically hard-working with a positive attitude, are collaborative in nature, willing to take rigorous courses, have average to high test scores, have a 2.0-4.0 GPA and have individual determination.

Misconceptions about AVID are it’s……..

• A special education, “at-risk,” ELL program, or study hall

• For students who have consistent behavior issues or students who frequently don’t complete any of their work

• For students who consistently receive grades of “D” or “F”

• For unmotivated students

Inquiry Based Learning

The AVID program serves to support its students through an emphasis on WICOR curricular strategies, which include writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading. By reinforcing study and organizational skills, and encouraging students to take more rigorous and challenging classes, the program seeks to ultimately prepare them for success at a college or university. Students are given the resources to help them apply for financial aid, scholarships, grants and to colleges and universities of their interest.

Bi-Weekly Collaborative Study Groups with Professional Tutors

AVID students have skilled tutors, often college students, to help them with their studies.

Team Building

The best way to support the students taking risks and pushing themselves personally and academically is to build a strong support system through the "AVID family." The bonds created in the AVID classes are part of the magic formula that makes AVID such a success. We mix in hard work with fun activities in and out of school.

Leadership and Community Service

There is a strong curricular focus on leadership development as the ultimate goal of the AVID program is to support students to become educated and responsible participants and leaders in society. Community service is advocated throughout the program as students are encouraged to be active members of their school and community.

College Exploration

Students are taken on field trips to various colleges and universities throughout their time in the program to familiarize them with the many post-secondary options available.

AVID Program Student Expectations

1. AVID students will maintain satisfactory citizenship and character in all classes.

2. AVID students will maintain the district 90% attendance policy.

3. AVID students will maintain a minimum 2.0 in 7th and 8th grade and 2.5 in 9th grade overall GPA without an F in any class.

4. AVID students will enroll in college-preparatory courses, including accelerated and/or advanced placement courses.

5. AVID students will demonstrate effort to be an active participant in all classes, be prepared for all classes with all assigned work completed on time, and take Focused Notes as required.

6. AVID students will come prepared for tutorial sessions and actively participate.

7. AVID students will complete 3 hours of community service per quarter.

8. AVID students will prepare for college entrance exams.

9. AVID students will participate in fundraising projects.

10. AVID students understand that they must meet the academic requirement of a 2.0/2.5 or higher and be in good standing in their classes to be allowed to attend field trips.