AVID Courses

Site Supervisor of AVID: Mrs. Emily Barkocy, ebarkocy@mhrd.org 

District Director of AVID: Dr. Nisha Zoeller, nzoeller@mhrd.org 

The AVID Program

The AVID  (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Program is a four-year, nationally recognized program for motivated students who wish to take more challenging coursework (honors and Advanced Placement) in preparation for a two- or four -year college but feel they need additional support and individualized attention during the school day. The heart of the AVID Program is the AVID Elective, a 5-credit course that focuses on career and college readiness through tutorials, field trips, career planning, and college admissions preparation. The AVID Program is held at Morris Hills High School but is open to students from all four sending districts through an application process in 8th grade. Additional information can be found here

AVID Courses

AVID ELECTIVE 9: (AV210)

Grade 9; 5 credits; One Year Required. Co-requisite: Enrollment in the AVID Program.

This full year course, AVID Elective 9, is a college readiness course that will become the first course in a sequence of four for the AVID Program. This course will be required for all freshmen in the AVID Program. The course will provide 5 credits toward the 140 credits required for graduation.. The course is aligned to the New Jersey Core Student Learning Standards for English, Technology, Social Studies, and Science, with an emphasis on CPIs in English and Technology. This course will provide students with academic support for Honors and CPA level courses and assist them in the development of career goals, while at the same time exposing them to colleges and universities. Students will learn the following AVID Strategies: Cornell Notes, Costa’s Questions, WICOR, and Tutorials. Students enrolled in this class must be enrolled in the AVID Program.


AVID ELECTIVE 10: (AV220)

Grade 10; 5 credits; One Year Required. Prerequisite: AVID Elective 9 OR Departmental Approval; Co-requisite: Enrollment in the AVID Program.

This full year course, AVID Elective 10 is a college readiness course that will become the second course in a sequence of four for the AVID Program. This course will be required for all sophomores in the AVID Program and will provide 5 credits toward the 140 credits required for graduation. The course is aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for English, Technology, Social Studies, and Science, with an emphasis on CPIs in English and Technology. This course will provide students with academic support for AP, Honors and CPA level courses and assist them in the development of career goals, while at the same time exposing them to colleges and universities. Students will attend college fairs and college visits through the Elective while preparing for college entrance exams.  Students will continue to refine Cornell Notes, Costa’s Questions, WICOR strategies, and Tutorials. 


AVID ELECTIVE 11: (AV230)

Grade 11; 5 credits; One Year Required. Prerequisite: AVID Elective 10; Co-requisite: Enrollment in the AVID Program.

This full year course, AVID Elective 11 is a college readiness course that will become the third course in a sequence of four for the AVID Program. This course will be required for all juniors in the AVID Program and will provide 5 credits toward the 140 credits required for graduation. The course is aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for English, Technology, Social Studies, and Science, with an emphasis on CPIs in English and Technology. This course will provide students with academic support for AP, Honors and CPA level courses and assist them in the development of career goals, while at the same time exposing them to colleges and universities.  Students in AVID Elective 11 will focus on beginning a Service Learning Research Project, the college application process, preparing for college entrance exams such as SAT and ACT, and continue to refine AVID strategies. 


AVID ELECTIVE 12:  (AV240)

Grade 12; 5 credits; One Year Required.  Prerequisite: AVID Elective 11; Co-requisite: Enrollment in the AVID Program.

The AVID Elective 12 is a college readiness seminar course that will become the fourth course in a sequence of four, serving as the culmination of a student’s years in the AVID Program.  The AVID Elective 12 will place a strong emphasis on critical reading and writing, the completion of the AVID 11 Service Learning Research Project, and preparation for external exams, such as Advanced Placement and/or college entrance exams.  This course will be required for all seniors in the AVID Program and will provide 5 credits toward the 140 credits required for graduation. The course is aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for English, Technology, Social Studies, and Science, with emphasis on CPIs in English and Technology.  The AVID Elective 12 will provide students with continued academic support for AP, Honors and CPA level courses, while preparing them to attend four-year universities and assisting them in confirming their post-secondary plans.  Students in the AVID Elective 12 will be required to develop and present a portfolio of their work in the AVID Program, as well as complete the requirements for this seminar course.  


Morris Hills High School

AVID Class of 2023