• What is AVID?

    "The goal of education in America must be for the purpose of teaching all of our students to the very highest levels—for lifting up all people."

    —Mary Catherine Swanson, AVID Founder

    AVID Center

    What AVID Does

    Simply, AVID trains educators to use proven practices in order to prepare students for success in high school, college, and a career.

    How AVID Works

    AVID brings research-based strategies and curriculum to educational institutions in elementary, secondary, and higher education.

    The AVID system annually provides more than 30,000 educators with training and methodologies that develop students' critical thinking, literacy, and math skills across all content areas throughout the entire campus, in what we call Schoolwide AVID.

    AVID:

    Teaches skills and behaviors for academic success

    Provides intensive support with tutorials and strong student/teacher relationships

    Creates a positive peer group for students

    Develops a sense of hope for personal achievement gained through hard work and determination

    As a result, policymakers and educators now consider AVID's mission to be an essential strategy for closing the achievement gap, making college access and success available to all students.

    AVID Elective

    AVID Secondary starts with an elective class for one period a day, where students 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.

    Curriculum

    The AVID curriculum, based on rigorous standards, was developed by middle and high school teachers in collaboration with college professors.

    It is based on best teaching practices in writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading, and it is supported by state and national content standards.

    AVID curriculum is used in the AVID Elective and content-area classes in AVID schools to guide teachers and students, while planning strategies for success, by focusing on time management and study skills.

    AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.