what is AVID? The history and goals of the program

At GHS, you may hear the acronym AVID. Teachers sometimes say, “Today we are using AVID strategies,” “The AVID program,” and “These are AVID-style notes.” But really, what is AVID? 

  The AVID acronym stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. According to Mrs. Rabassa, an AVID 1 teacher, “AVID gives students in the academic middle, who are first-generation college-bound students, to explore academic classes that they've never been able to explore before, and fast forward in the future, that will help them with the whole college process.” Greenwich High School has many students who fall under this demographic of first-generation students, and many don’t get the opportunity to learn about these college-readiness skills outside of AVID. It is offered here at GHS with its strategies and as a class where students can learn more in-depth. 

The program originated in 1980 by English teacher Mary Catherine Swanson at Clairemont High School in San Diego. Clairemont High School had low expectations for the students who came from poor areas of San Diego, saying that they couldn’t succeed. However, Ms. Swanson believed in those students. She thought, “If students were willing to work hard, I could teach them the skills needed to be college-ready” (AVID/Closing the Opportunity Gap in Education). She created the AVID program that prepared the students for four years of college. After the AVID system worked at Clairemont High School, the California Department of Education granted funds to bring the AVID program to other schools in San Diego in 1986. A few years later, the AVID program expanded and was adopted by other states. AVID experienced a significant expansion between 2007-2015, with AVID being taught in elementary schools, summer programs, conferences, and, most importantly, high schools. Today, AVID is embedded in over 7,000 schools in 47 states, with 2 million students learning the AVID approach.  

The program's objective is “to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in global society” (AVID/Closing the Opportunity Gap in Education). Students in the AVID program have the opportunity to have access to many different skills designed to prepare them to go to college. These skills and strategies can include organizational strategies, time management, note-taking techniques, goal setting, and one key strategy: the tutorials. Tutorials are a process AVID students take to solve some of the trickiest questions in their classes. The students complete a form to document the questions they find challenging. This question is then presented in groups of approximately six individuals. Instead of merely providing the answer to the presenter, the group engages by asking relevant questions to guide the presenter toward finding a solution to the problem. All AVID levels are provided tutors who are there to facilitate the process of helping out the presenters. One of those tutors at GHS is Karina Bhawnai. She works with the AVID 1 class, and she says, “While watching AVID 1 tutorials, I believe that this process can directly help the AVID students by allowing them to use repetition, which is shown to improve memorization and retention of information.” These skills, among others, can equip AVID students with improved methods for success, both in college and throughout their high school years. AVID 1 student Jordan Borba says, “AVID really helps with my studying skills, speech, and so much more that the units provide.” 

AVID mainly provides a look into the future. In AVID, students engage in college preparation activities, which include researching various college options, gathering insights from current college students about their experiences, and participating in college field trips to gain direct knowledge of campus environments. AVID 4 student Leen Alarjawi says, “AVID’s support with college has been most crucial for senior year. They had resources available at a discount to get our college essays done early. They also provided extra help to come into class to help us without supplemental help.” 

AVID can also give students easier access to college, such as different scholarships and financial aid. AVID is designed for students whose parents have not completed college, providing them with additional support. AVID 1 teacher Mrs. Rabassa believes that it, “...makes the high school experience different for students because they're given opportunities that not all students are given... some students who have the support of outside counselors and family that can help them with this process, and so now I think with this program, we're giving students an even playing field.”  AVID doesn’t just focus on college but also on what students will do after college. Students get to explore different career choices and expertise. Overall, the students in AVID have the opportunity to develop skills that can benefit them in their future high school years and in college. Being surrounded by a supportive community that is there to assist them through both the challenges and successes they may encounter.

The AVID program is essential at GHS, and it is crucial that students who are under the demographic know about this opportunity. If you have any questions, you can contact the AVID administrator, Mara Subach, or any of these AVID teachers: Mrs. Rabassa, Mr. Olmsted, Ms. Liu, Ms. Ostruzka, Ms. Brown, Mrs. Bittman, Mr. Alcorn, and Mr. Kovac. 

Work Cited 

Solano, Sugely. “What is AVID and What are the Benefits?” Raising Language Learners, https://raisinglanguagelearners.com/what-is-avid-and-what-are-the-benefits/. Accessed 24 February 2025.

AVID® / Closing the Opportunity Gap in Education, https://www.avid.org/. Accessed 25 February 2025.