AVID is a fourth- through twelfth-grade system to prepare students in the academic middle for four-year college eligibility. It has a proven track record in bringing out the best in students, and in closing the achievement gap. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination.
WHAT IS AVID's Mission?
AVID's mission is to close the achievment gap by preparing students for college readiness in a global society.
The AVID Student
The AVID Elective
The AVID Curriculum
AVID targets students in the academic middle — B, C, and even D students — who have the desire to go to college and the willingness to work hard. These are students who are capable of completing rigorous curriculum but are falling short of their potential. AVID pulls these students out of their
unchallenging courses and puts them on the college track: acceleration instead of remediation.
Not only are students enrolled in their school's toughest classes, such as honors and Advanced Placement, but also in the AVID elective. For one period a day, they learn organizational and study skills, work on critical thinking and ask probing questions, get academic help from peers and college tutors, and participate in enrichment and motivational activities that make college seem attainable. Their self-images improve, and they become academically successful leaders and role models for other students.
The AVID curriculum, based on rigorous standards, was
developed by middle and senior high school teachers in collaboration with college professors. It is driven by theWICR method, which stands for writing, inquiry, collaboration, and reading. AVID curriculum is used in AVID elective classes, in content-area classes in AVID schools, and even in schools where the AVID elective is not offered.
The AVID Parent
Community
Results
AVID parents encourage their students to achieve academically, participate on an advisory board and in AVID parent and site team meetings, and maintain regular contact with the AVID coordinator. Many parents and students participate in AVID Family Workshops.
Colleges demonstrate their support of AVID programs in many ways: they may provide class speakers, offer college credit courses to AVID high school students, include AVID students in residential, academically-oriented summer bridge programs, and follow and support the progress of AVID students during their college careers. The community supports AVID by providing speakers and summer apprenticeships for AVID student.
State-funded, independent research together with AVID’s own data, validate that the AVID college-readiness system works. Consider: AVID students are more likely to take AP classes, complete their college eligibility requirements, and get into four-year colleges than students who don’t take AVID. Almost all AVID students who participate for at least three years are accepted to college, with roughly three quarters getting into four-year universities. AVID also helps ensure students, once accepted to college, possess the higher-level skills they need for college success.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SPECIFIC
AVID is currently offered at 73 site in our district. 46 middle and 27 high schools. Each site has an AVID coordinator who is responsible for recruitment and implementation of the program. Please see your school's coordinator for more specific information.
