What Is AVID?

AVID is a fourth- through twelfth-grade system to prepare students in the academic middle for four-year college eligibility. These are students who are capable of completing a college-prep curriculum but may be falling short of their potential. The core component is the AVID elective, which supports students as they tackle the most rigorous classes. AVID’s teaching strategies, curriculum, and trainings are used not only in the AVID elective class but also by subject-area teachers schoolwide.

AVID STUDENTS

AVID students are enrolled in a school’s toughest classes, such as Advanced Placement, and attend an academic elective class called AVID-taught within the school day by a trained AVID teacher. The three main components of the program are academic instruction, tutorial support, and motivational activities. Their self-images improve and they become academically successful leaders and role models for other students. They are proud to be in the program.

Parents

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.

Results

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 that students, once accepted to college, possess the higher-level skills they need for college success.

                                                                   Curriculum                                                            

 The AVID curriculum, based on rigorous standards, was developed by middle and senior high school teachers in collaboration with college professors. AVID is based on writing as a tool of learning, the inquiry method, collaborative grouping, organization strategies, and academic reading.      

Throughout their time in the AVID elective class, students have an opportunity to work through points of confusion with bi-weekly tutorial sessions with college tutors. AVID students also spend time preparing for standardized and college-entrance exams (AVID also pays for them to take the SAT and ACT!). Their senior year, they apply for college and scholarships in the elective classroom to ensure that they aren’t missing vital steps of the application process. AVID students also get to visit a different college each year, exposing them to different universities that could potentially be in their future!

Interested in joining AVID?

If AVID sounds like a good fit for you, please see Mrs. Christ in room 2408, email her at allyssa.christ@killeenisd.org, or talk to your counselor for more information!