2025 - 2026 Recruitment Video
2025 - 2026 Recruitment Video
What is AVID?
The AVID program (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a comprehensive initiative aimed at promoting college and career readiness throughout the school. It is designed to assist students in succeeding in middle school and preparing for high school and their post-secondary education and future careers. AVID achieves this by focusing on academic support, skill development, and fostering a college-going culture to empower students to reach their full potential. Here are some key ways in which the AVID program contributes to high school student success:
1. AVID incorporates the latest research-based practices for college and career readiness into the entire school campus. At the secondary level, AVID instructional practices are also applied schoolwide, and the AVID Elective class offers an additional layer of support for students who choose to participate.
2. AVID offers professional learning opportunities and resources that help teachers enhance student performance by incorporating effective teaching practices, promoting self-advocacy, offering support, and building positive relationships that encourage high levels of student engagement.
3. AVID is a leader in providing professional development, with more than 25,000 educators receiving training each year.
AVID Elect students sharing what they learned with each other.
AVID Elect students building lasting relationships by working together for a newspaper fashion show.
The AVID Elective Class
The AVID elective is specifically designed to assist students in their academic journey and college readiness. It focuses on equipping students with essential skills, including note-taking, organization, study habits, and time management. Additionally, it provides strategies for promoting critical thinking and fostering collaboration.
AVID primarily targets students who may be the first in their families to pursue higher education or face educational challenges due to their backgrounds. The program aims to encourage and prepare these students for college opportunities by creating a structured and supportive learning environment. It often includes features like tutoring, exploration of college and career options, and inspirational guest speakers or field trips to guide and motivate students towards achieving success in both their academic and career pursuits.
The AVID Elective serves as the cornerstone of AVID Secondary. It is tailored for students who are academically capable and aspire to attend college, especially those who may be the first in their families to do so or come from underrepresented groups in higher education. This program places these students on the path to college by encouraging them to enroll in challenging courses like Honors and High School credit classes. AVID students receive support in handling rigorous coursework through the development of organizational and study skills, critical thinking abilities, peer and college tutor assistance, and participation in activities that inspire and motivate them to turn their college dreams into reality.
AVID Elect students visiting Piedmont Park, while learning about the Fibanacci sequence.
AVID Elect students designing schools of the future at Museum of Design Atlanta.
What can students expect?
Curriculum
AVID secondary curriculum includes:
Research Skills
Research Papers
Public Speaking
Focused Note-Taking
Philosophical Chairs
Socratic Seminars
Scholarship & Financial Aid Research
Goal Setting
Mission Statements
Self Discovery & Reflection
Character Development
Tips for Success
Interpersonal Relationships
Organizational Skills & Projects
Time Management
Money Management
College Readiness Skills
College Exploration
Career Exploration
The Process of Getting a Job (Resume, Mock Interviews)
Study Skills
Community Service Projects
Tutorials
Tutorials
Trained AVID Tutors lead tutorial sessions twice each week in AVID Elective classes. Tutors are excellent role models of motivated, organized, and successful people. During each tutorial session, students come prepared with questions that they need assistance answering. In a small group setting, the tutor’s role is to guide the students as they assist one another. Tutorials help students who are enrolled in rigorous coursework keep up and succeed in their college prep classes.
AVID Admission Requirement
AVID is a program for students who have a grade of C or better and a strong desire to go to a four-year college or university. Although AVID serves all students, it focuses on the least served students in the academic middle. Students in the program take an AVID elective class. The class focuses on writing, critical thinking, collaboration, reading, note-taking, study skills and college/career/motivational activities. Students are expected to keep an organized binder and take notes in class. Students are also expected to maintain satisfactory citizenship and attendance in all classes.