AVID

  • AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. The goal of AVID is to prepare students for college and career success in a global society. We use AVID to prepare our students for their futures by exposing them to a variety of learning and organizational strategies. The goal of AVID is to close the achievement gap. For more information about the AVID College Readiness System please visit www.avid.org.

    In high schools (9-12), AVID is offered as an elective class, although students will experience AVID strategies in other classrooms.

    High School AVID
    AVID focuses on helping those students who might not otherwise get to college. Students in the AVID elective class take advanced courses and are given the support they need to succeed and prepare for achieving their college dreams.

    Frequently Asked Questions 

    What can I do to support my child in AVID?
    One skill that is important in AVID is organization. This means students are expected to use binders or agendas to keep up with school work. Ask your student to show you their binder and check their agenda planners daily. Their planners will list homework, what they learned, and may include notes from the teacher. Contact your child’s school for additional ways you can support AVID and get involved.

    How does the AVID Elective help students?
    Students in the AVID Elective are held to higher expectations and given the support they need to succeed and prepare for postsecondary opportunities. By encouraging, assisting, and advocating students every day, AVID greatly increases their chances of making it to and through college.

    Why was my student selected/nominated for the AVID elective class?
    Your student shows potential to succeed in advanced courses and could benefit from the peer community and skills taught in the AVID Elective class. Your student's teachers believe your child can succeed academically as they prepare for college and a career with the help of AVID.

    Is the AVID elective a remedial course?
    AVID is not a remedial course. Students in the AVID Elective enroll in advanced courses and receive the support they need to succeed in those classes.

    Why do AVID students have to take advanced coursework?
    Many students progress from grade to grade without ever challenging themselves to achieve more. They do well enough to graduate but it doesn't mean that they are college-ready.

    My child is not in the AVID Elective. How can they benefit?
    AVID is designed to impact the leadership, systems, instruction and culture of a school. In other words, AVID impacts the learning environment of the entire campus. AVID schools support high expectations and levels of achievement for all students. Although AVID is an elective course for selected students, all students end up benefitting when teachers use AVID strategies in their classes

    What can I do to prepare my child for college?
    Your child's needs will depend on their current grade level. AVID has resources and tips available to help you when preparing your child for college. Also, be sure to contact your child's school for related deadlines, college visit opportunities and ways that you can help.

    How does AVID help students with Standardized Tests?
    Standardized tests describe "what" students should know. AVID strategies teach students "how" to learn and master the skills needed to learn what they should know. The expectations of AVID align with state standards in many ways. For example, the higher-level thinking skills required by STAAR (i.e., analyzing, comparing, inferring) are the exact skills that AVID has promoted and used to design its curriculum for the last 30 years.

    How does AVID help with STEM? (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
    AVID curriculum and strategies are applicable in all subjects but AVID also has specific curriculum developed to support learning in math and science courses.
    Additionally, there are AVID STEM Summer Bridge Programs available in CISD to increase support for student achievement in math and science and to encourage student growth and interest in STEM fields.
    These summer programs offer advanced math and science content incorporating AVID strategies in engaging, collaborative lessons and activities.

    Who can I contact with more questions about AVID?
    Please contact the one of the AVID District Directors with all of your questions. We can put you in touch with your local AVID school for more information.