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Robert O. Townsend Junior High

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AVID

A yellow stick figure with arms raised in the air.

 

About AVID
AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. It is a college readiness system that prepares students in kindergarten through 12th grade for college eligibility and success. Some colleges and universities have also implemented AVID to help their students. Since it began in 1980 in California, AVID has been adopted by more than 7,000 schools, including 40 colleges and universities, in 44 states and 16 countries, making a difference in the lives of more than 2 million students.
 
AVID is for all students but targets those in the academic middle and who are usually under-served. Its systematic approach supports students and educators as they increase school-wide/district-wide learning and performance. AVID is not a remedial, niche, or college outreach program. It is not a free ride or a study hall. AVID students must learn and apply the skills they are taught in the AVID elective class in all of their classes as well as do the academically rigorous work required. AVID-trained educators also share AVID methodologies and strategies with their fellow educators at their school, so that all students, not just those in the AVID elective class, can benefit from AVID.

Being in the AVID class is voluntary, but students are encouraged to stay in AVID until their senior year. In 12th grade, they receive support in learning about financial aid, scholarships, and applying to colleges and universities. Students can choose to self-exit from the class, or they can be exited if they do not meet the AVID standards and requirements. Being an AVID student is hard work and the expectations are high, but in the end, the many valuable rewards are worth it.

The 11 AVID Essentials
These are the key elements to AVID's success.
1. AVID student selection
2. Voluntary participation
3. AVID elective class offered during the school day
4. Rigorous course of study
5. Strong, relevant writing and reading curriculum
6. Inquiry to promote critical thinking
7. Collaboration as a basis of instruction
8. Trained tutors
9. Data collection and analysis
10. District and school commitment
11. Active, interdisciplinary site teams

    • Places AVID students in rigorous curriculum and gives them the support they need to achieve their goals
    • Provides students with a supportive team and family environment made up of teachers, counselors, fellow students, their families, and AVID tutors
    • Redefines the teacher’s role as that of student advocate
    • Transforms schools by creating a college-going culture throughout an entire school, impacting all students

  • AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society. It is designed to ensure all students, especially the least served students who are in the academic middle to:

    • Succeed in rigorous curriculum
    • Complete a rigorous college preparatory path
    • Enter mainstream activities of the school
    • Enroll in a college
    • Become educated and responsible participants and leaders in their communities and our society
       

  • AVID is for middle to upper middle academic students. These students have the potential to take accelerated and other rigorous courses but may need to develop the skills needed to be successful in these courses.

    • AVID combines rigor with support that includes the student's individual determination and the support of teachers, other AVID students, their families, and AVID tutors.
    • Students must maintain at least a 3.0 or higher GPA throughout the school year as well as maintain good attendance and good citizenship.

    • Must be at least 2.5 GPA
    • Must be a hard worker, have a positive attitude, and work collaboratively with others
    • Complete college requirements prior to graduation
    • Must take at least one rigorous course each year while in AVID
    • Usually underrepresented in colleges and universities
    • College potential with support
    • Good attendance
    • Demonstrates good citizenship in and out of the classroom
    • Has the desire and individual determination to work hard and succeed
    • May be first generation in family to attend college
    • Special circumstances
    • Able to work well with others

    • AVID is not an at risk program. It is designed to support students who would otherwise may not have the opportunity to attend and graduate from college.
    • AVID is not for students who don't do any of their homework.
    • AVID is not for the consistently D or F student.
    • AVID is not for unmotivated students. They must have individual determination.

“AVID will help us realize the American Dream,
that through persistent effort and self-determination,
all of our dreams can in fact become a reality."
- Jesus Medrano, AVID 2002, MIT 2006