Advancement Via Individual Determination (or AVID) is a nationally recognized non-profit college readiness system with the mission to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society.

AVID students overcome obstacles and achieve success. They graduate and attend college at higher rates, but more importantly, they can think critically, collaborate, and set high expectations to confidently conquer the challenges that await them.

AVID focuses on executive functioning skills to succeed at a four-year university:

Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading (WICOR)

AVID is for students who want to go to a four year university but have some sort of obstacle standing in their way.  We serve students who have many special circumstances, including but not limited to:

•  being the first in their family to graduate from high school or the first in their family to attend a 4-year university. 

• having parents unfamiliar with the United States university system (such as families from other countries).

• being from an underserved population (for example: students experiencing homelessness, living at a low SES, living with a disability, etc.).

• living with a non-parent custodial guardian.

• having unique family extenuating family circumstances (such as: students working to help support their family, being adopted or in foster care, having chronic illness or living with someone with chronic illness, etc.) 

• and many more.

The AVID curriculum uses these skills to prepare students for college and careers after high school:

• Writing: Students in AVID use reflective writing practices to both increase communication skills and also to practice metacognition.

• Inquiry: Every Tuesday and Thursday, students engage in the Tutorial process where they work out questions for review in their academic classes.

• Collaboration: Students in AVID are expected to work together.  they complete group projects, work together in Tutorial groups, and participate in class discussions through the Socratic Seminar and Philosophical Chairs formats.

• Organization: AVID students are expected to gather their work for all classes in their binder.  Students use the binder organization process to keep track of all their work in their classes as well as creating Focused Notes using the Cornell method.

• Reading: Students practice the fundamental reading skills necessary for college readiness.