AVID

Overview

AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a nonprofit college-readiness program offered at more than 2,500 U.S. high schools, designed to help students develop the skills they need to be successful in college.  The program places special emphasis on increasing writing, critical thinking, teamwork, organization, and reading skills. AVID lessons are also designed around teaching tenacity, grit, perseverance, and persistence. 

What do AVID Students Learn?

The curriculum focuses on building skills and developing behaviors that lead to success.

Students learn skills like note-taking, reading and writing strategies, and how to interact with peers and work in groups. They can then practice those skills in more challenging courses, such as honors and Advanced Placement classes, that they are encouraged to take. In addition to steering students toward a rigorous academic curriculum, the AVID program focuses heavily on college readiness.

Students need more than content knowledge to be successful in college. They need critical thinking skills to be able to evaluate, analyze, and synthesize.  They also need to develop specific skills and strategies around goal-setting, time management, and note-taking. They are guided through the process of applying to college, financial aid, scholarships, SAT/ACT preparation, and career explorations.

Students have the option to attend multiple field trips in order to experience different colleges in every grade level.