AVID

Advancement · Via · Individual · Determination


Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)

Avid is an Four-year program which includes a yearly two credit AVID elective study skills/college prep course and an AVID Study Hall in the freshman and sophomore years. Students have class with teachers three days per week and collaborative inquiry sessions (small study groups) with tutors two days per week. Avid is an invitational program based on test scores; qualified students are invited and 8th-grade teachers recommend students based on attendance, behavior, and motivation.

Students become eligible for AVID based on the following traits:

    • Ethnic groups who are underrepresented at the post-secondary level and/or first-generation college-bound students.

    • Students who have a desire to improve executive functioning skills required for college readiness.

    • Highly motivated academically as demonstrated through attendance, behavior, grade point average, and 8th-grade team recommendation.

    • MAP RIT score of 220-230 in reading and a math MAP RIT score of 231 and above. Students who meet the criteria and have higher scores may elect to apply as well.

    • Eligible students must complete an application, essay, and interview as additional factors to complete program placement.

AVID Requirements

Student essay and interview required; AVID is added to the schedule as a placeholder. It is later removed if admission documents have not been completed.

Summer school is not required but highly recommended (Prep to 1 Humanities English, any Fine or Applied Arts, Prep Math, Bridge to Geometry, or Reading and Math in the Social Context).

GradesStudents in the AVID Program are responsible for regularly reviewing or submitting an academic summary. This report gives information on current grades in each class. Grades and support comments are a means of determining where students need assistance. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA (national AVID minimum) in order to be in good standing with the program. Binders and Time ManagementAVID freshmen and sophomores are required to use binders to demonstrate organization. Binders are checked several times throughout each quarter. Students are advised on how to manage their time for efficient studying and assignment completion. Standardized Test Preparation for College Entrance ExamsStandardized test preparation is provided for all AVID juniors and is taught 2nd and 3rd quarter during their AVID elective. Foundational Methodologies

Each program focuses on a set of writing, collaboration, inquiry and reading skills that are designed to assist students in major content courses.

  • Cornell Notes

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

  • Concept Mapping

  • Costa’s Levels of Questioning – 1, 2, 3

  • Binders/ Time Management

  • Many forms of Column Notes

College Trips

Students who participate in AVID are invited to attend over 12 field trips to Midwest colleges and universities throughout four years of high school. These trips are designed to get students motivated about attending college and provide background knowledge to assist them in making the right college choice. For more information about college trips, please contact the AVID/STAE Programs Assistant at 847-424-7685.