Schools open tomorrow
AVID College Readiness Program
AVID helps prepare students for college and success in a global society.
About AVID
AVID, or Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a nonprofit organization that created the AVID college readiness program.
The AVID program builds on each student's own individual determination to succeed while also:
- Teaching skills for success in academically challenging courses, college, and career
- Providing support from teachers, other AVID students, college tutors, and family members
- Emphasizing writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading (WICOR)
- Supplying tutoring, mentorship, and college exploration activities outside of regular classroom hours
Get involved in AVID, it can change your life
AVID can change your life
The AVID program helps middle and high school students who have the potential to succeed in college, honors classes, and college prep, but may not have the support they need or know what opportunities are available. AVID helps students:
- improve academic performance
- increase the likelihood of high school graduation
- prepare for college and career readiness
- provide opportunities for scholarships
- offer personalized mentoring and support
Watch the video to hear how AVID helped North Garland alum, Nievez Montanez, achieve her college dreams.
How AVID supports students
As both an elective class and a program, AVID helps students build confidence, academic skills, and student agency. It provides resources like tutoring, organizational skills, and study strategies. The program also immerses students in experiences and information that help them learn what's available in college and careers.
Students in the AVID elective are encouraged to take challenging college-prep courses such as Advanced Placement (AP) and honors classes. In addition to receiving the support needed to succeed in those advanced courses, AVID classroom activities focus on and support the following areas:
- Critical thinking, questioning, and reading skills, including tutorial sessions
- Strategies for organization and time management, including the use of binders, planners/agendas and academic portfolios, note-taking skills and study habits
- Character development including self-awareness, goal setting and community and school involvement
- Communication skills such as public speaking and speaking with adults and peers
- Writing skills, as well as help with writing applications and other types of writing like essays
- Collaboration through class discussions, team-building lessons and learning with and from peers
- College preparedness and awareness through guest speakers, field trips, college and career exploration
- Understanding college admission by helping students review requirements, write personal statements, fill out financial aid forms, and apply for scholarships
Unlike other programs that focus on remediation or enrichment, AVID emphasizes the development of self-advocacy, higher-order thinking, and a growth mindset.
Who can be in AVID?
Students in the AVID elective represent the underserved “students in the middle” who, with the support of the AVID program, will graduate high school ready for college, career, or the military.
Eligibility varies by school. Typical AVID students have academic potential and:
- Plan to attend college or post-secondary institution after high school
- Have the potential to succeed in higher-level coursework and have shown a good work ethic
- Are historically underserved in post-secondary institutions
- Have passing test scores (STAAR, etc)
- Maintain a 2.0-3.5+ GPA (Or 70-100% for middle school)
- Have special circumstances as determined by the school’s site team that make the AVID elective the best choice for the student
- May be the first in their family to attend college*
- English Language Learners and Special Education students*
In most cases, if the student's schedule has room for the AVID elective and they meet the criteria listed above, they can be in AVID.
*These are special considerations.
Join AVID
Students must apply to be placed in the AVID elective and interviewed by the school's AVID team. They must sign a contract indicating their desire and determination to go to college.
For more information, contact the AVID Department or your middle or high school’s AVID Coordinator.
AVID Excel
AVID Excel is a version of AVID for middle school students learning English. It helps emergent bilinguals prepare for taking AVID and college prep courses in high school. 96.4% of AVID Excel students are recommended for college prep courses in high school. AVID Excel teaches students to use research-based strategies as they write, organize their learning, understand complex texts, learn inquiry techniques, and work with peers.
Students in AVID Excel:
- Scored "Advanced" or "Advanced High" on TELPAS
- Have not met standard STAAR Reading
- Have spent 4+ years in U.S. schools
National Demonstration Schools
Less than two percent of the most successful AVID campuses across the country can be called National Demonstration Schools. One of our schools has earned this distinctive title:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Expand AllDoes AVID provide scholarships?
AVID provides students with opportunities to apply for various scholarships, both through the AVID elective class program and its network of partner organizations. The program also helps students learn how to search and apply for additional scholarship opportunities.
What are the requirements for students to stay in AVID? Can students take AVID for all four years of high school?
Students stay in AVID throughout high school, as the curriculum builds on the prior years. AVID students are expected to:
- be in good academic standing
- participate in AVID activities
- work on developing their college readiness skills
They may also be asked to take advanced courses and attend college preparation events.
What are the key components of the AVID, and how do teachers use them?
AVID’s curriculum is built on WICOR: Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading. These strategies are used in all subjects to help students develop strong academic habits, critical thinking skills, and other skills that prepare students for college and/or careers.
Teachers across different subjects are trained to implement AVID’s WICOR strategies into their curriculum. This helps create a consistent academic environment where students develop the necessary skills to succeed in college-level work.
Is AVID only for students struggling academically?
AVID is not a remedial or at-risk program. While it is often aimed at students who may be underrepresented in higher education and fall within the academic middle, AVID is available to all students who wish to get a higher education.
How are AVID tutors chosen?
AVID tutors are often college students who have demonstrated academic success and are trained in AVID’s tutorial process to help students with their coursework while developing their student agency. These tutors use socratic inquiry and strategies that promote student-led learning and critical thinking, encouraging students to develop independence.
Discover more programs & services
Contact us
For more information about AVID, contact: