Decades of College Dreams

  • AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other postsecondary opportunities. Established more than 35 years ago with one teacher in one classroom, AVID today impacts nearly 1.5 million students in 46 states and 16 other countries/territories.

    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, especially students traditionally underrepresented in higher education.

    How AVID Works

    AVID brings research‐based strategies and curriculum to educational institutions in elementary, secondary, and higher education. The AVID System annually provides 60,000+ 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

     Definition of an AVID student    

    AVID targets students in the academic middle:

    • Who have the DESIRE to go to college and the WILLINGNESS to work hard
    • Students who are CAPABLE of completing a rigorous curriculum, but are falling short of their potentional 
    • They might be the FIRST in their families to attend college. 
    • Many are from low- income or minority families.