AVID
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a college‐readiness system designed to increase the number of students who enroll in four‐year colleges.
About AVID
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a college‐readiness system designed to increase the number of students who enroll in four‐year colleges. Although AVID serves all students, it focuses on the least served students in the academic middle. The formula is simple—raise expectations of students and, with the AVID support system in place, they will rise to the challenge. The AVID system has been adopted by thousands of schools representing almost every state, as well as many other countries and territories. Also, AVID is beginning to spread to elementary campuses, as well as postsecondary institutions. Schools and districts have taken AVID’s methodologies and WICOR strategies (writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading) from the elective course and implemented them schoolwide and districtwide to impact student learning.
The AVID Faculty
One key to a successful AVID program is a site coordinator/teacher who is a respected site instructional leader, who works well with secondary school personnel and college students and faculty, who can organize curriculum as well as activities, and who is committed to serving the needs of target students. The coordinator also works with colleagues to implement AVID methodologies schoolwide, to place students in college preparatory curriculum, and to work with counselors to guide students through the college application process.
The AVID Student
AVID targets students in the academic middle for their respective campus - who have the desire to attend college and the willingness to work hard. These are students who are capable of completing a rigorous curriculum but are falling short of their potential. Typically, they will be the first in their families to attend college, and many are from low‐income or minority families. AVID places these students into AP and Honors courses and puts them on the college track: acceleration instead of remediation.
The AVID Elective
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 asking 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
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 the WICR 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.