AVID is a college readiness system designed to ensure students are academically and socially prepared for success in college. AVID stands for "Advancement Via Individual Determination" and comes from the Latin root avidus meaning “eager for knowledge”.
The mission of AVID is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness. The three main components of the AVID system are: academic instruction, tutorial support, and motivational and college preparation activities. The AVID curriculum covers writing, inquiry, collaborative grouping, organization, and academic reading.
AVID students are enrolled in advanced classes, and attend the AVID academic elective class daily, as part of the regular class schedule. AVID classes are taught by AVID trained teachers. AVID students take the most rigorous courses they can, and receive time in the AVID class to collaborate with both peers and college tutors. Tutors are accessible in the AVID elective class where they facilitate student success in academically rigorous courses. Tutors are college students who also serve as role models for AVID students. All tutors receive formal training in AVID methodologies and the tutorial process.
"AVID has helped me immensely with academics. I learned how to be organized and how to properly take notes. The tutorials helped me to understand things that I had questions about in other classes." - Ayesha Patel
AVID ensures students are aware of the steps necessary for admission to a four-year university, and assistance is provided to complete those steps. Students research different colleges and universities, careers, and majors. They receive assistance selecting the college and major that is the best fit for them, and receive help with college admissions applications and essays, scholarship applications, financial aid applications and more. Additionally, the AVID curriculum includes preparation for SAT, ACT, AP, and CLEP testing.