AVID

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is an academic elective course that prepares students for college readiness and success, and it is scheduled during the regular school day as a year-long course. Each week, students receive instruction that utilizes a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum provided by AVID Center, tutor-facilitated study groups, motivational activities, and academic success skills. In AVID, students participate in activities that incorporate strategies focused on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading to support their academic growth. Additionally, students engage in activities centered around exploring college and career opportunities and their own agency. 

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avid descriptions by grade

AVID 6

Grades: 6 Length: One Semester Required 

The 6th grade AVID Elective course is an introduction to the AVID philosophy. Students will develop an awareness of the values accompanying academic goals and success. The course will focus on building students’ self-confidence and communication skills in working with peers and adults. Students will be exposed to reading strategies that will assist them in building vocabulary and understanding a variety of texts and will also focus on pre-writing techniques, summary writing, and structural components of note-taking. Students will increase college and career awareness through guest-speaker presentations, field-trip opportunities, and research. 

AVID 7

Grades: 7 Length: Full Year

The 7th grade AVID Elective course builds upon the foundational components of the AVID philosophy. Students will refine short- and long-term goals and, as a result, begin to understand the value in taking charge of their actions. They will start working on intrapersonal and interpersonal skills as well as formal and informal speech. Students will complete self-evaluations and peer evaluations related to reading, writing, organization, and speaking. In broadening their writing practice, students will begin considering audience, purpose, and form in their writing. Students will take an active role in their learning, understanding the roles of all members in assignments and collaborative lessons. They will expand their knowledge base regarding note-taking in relation to studying and test preparation. Students will be exposed to various field trips, guest speakers, and research to increase their knowledge of college and career options.

AVID 8

Grades: 8 Length: Full Year

The 8th grade AVID Elective course is the year of preparation for high school. Students will regularly exhibit and utilize the skills and strategies learned in the 6th and 7th grade AVID courses. They will refine previous goals, focusing on their transition to high school as part of a college-preparatory path. Their writing will focus on completing all steps of the writing process and varying style, word choice, vocabulary, structure, and voice. Major writing assignments include persuasive, expository, descriptive, and timed writing. Students will transition from active learners to leaders. Other areas of focus include increasing the use of technology and building upon test-preparation and test-taking knowledge. Students will broaden their experience with analyzing text and utilizing appropriate reading strategies in various settings. They will become more involved in guest-speaker presentations and field trips, particularly as they relate to preparation and prior knowledge. Students will also participate in college-preparatory testing and build connections with the high school they will attend. 

AVID 9

Grades: 9 Length/Credits: First Semester Required - May Choose to Continue Second Semester (0.5 credits per semester)

Some students will have previous experience with AVID in the middle school grades, and some students will be experiencing AVID for the first time. Either way, the 9th grade AVID Elective course will serve as a review of the AVID philosophy and strategies. Students will work on academic and personal goals and communication, adjusting to the high school setting. Students will increase their awareness of their personal contributions to their learning as well as their involvement in their school and community. There is an emphasis on analytical writing, focusing on personal goals and thesis writing. Students will work in collaborative settings, learning how to participate in collegial discussions and use sources to support their ideas and opinions. Students will prepare for and participate in college entrance and placement exams while refining study skills and test-taking, note-taking, and research techniques. They will take an active role in field trips and guest-speaker preparations and presentations. Their college research will include financial topics and building their knowledge of colleges and careers of interest. 

AVID 10

Grades: 10 Length/Credits: Full Year (1.0 credit)

During the 10th grade AVID Elective course, students will refine the AVID strategies to meet their independent needs and learning styles. Students will continue to refine and adjust their academic learning plans and goals, increasing awareness of their actions and behaviors. As students increase their rigorous course load and school/community involvement, they will refine their time-management and study skills accordingly. Students will expand their writing portfolio to include analyzing prompts, supporting arguments and claims, character analysis, and detailed reflections. Students will also analyze various documents in order to participate in collaborative discussions and develop leadership skills in those settings. Students will expand their vocabulary use, continuing to prepare for college entrance exams. Text analysis will focus on specific strategies to understand complex texts. Lastly, students will narrow down their colleges and careers of interest based on their personal interests and goals. 

AVID 11

Grades: 11 Length/Credits: Full Year (1.0 credit)

The 11th grade AVID Elective course is the first part in a junior/senior seminar course that focuses on writing and critical thinking expected of first- and second-year college students. In addition to the academic focus of the AVID seminar, there are college-bound activities, methodologies, and tasks that should be undertaken during the junior year to support students when they apply to four-year universities and confirm their postsecondary plans. 

AVID 12

Grades: 12 Length/Credits: Full Year (1.0 credit)

The 12th grade AVID Elective course is the second part in a junior/senior seminar course that focuses on the writing and critical thinking expected of first- and second-year college students. Students will complete a final research essay project with research skills gained in their junior year in AVID. In addition to the academic focus of the AVID senior seminar, there are college-bound activities, methodologies, and tasks that should be achieved during the senior year that support students as they apply to four-year universities and confirm their postsecondary plans. All AVID seniors are required to develop and present a portfolio representing their years of work in the AVID program, as well as complete the requirements for the seminar course.