AVID Secondary
AVID Elective/Excel Elective (6-12 Grade)
About
Our Secondary Schools
AVID Elective (6-12 grade)
The AVID Elective is an academic program that prepares students for college and career by teaching them the skills and characteristics needed to be successful through rigorous content, leadership opportunities, and tutorials.
The AVID Elective is...
- For students who have the potential for honors, advanced, Pre-AP and AP work in school but need support paired with rigor.
- Rigor with support that includes each student's own individual determination and the support of teachers, other AVID students, family members, AVID teacher, and college tutors.
- Students maintaining a 2.0 GPA or higher throughout the school year.
The AVID Elective is not...
-
An "at-risk" system. It is designed to support students who would otherwise not attend and graduate from a four-year college/university.
- For students who fail to complete any of their homework.
- For students who consistently receive grades of "D" or "F."
- For unmotivated students; they must have individual determination.
Who Should Apply?
The AVID student is a student with academic potential:
- Average-to-high test scores
- 2.0-3.5 GPA
- College potential with support
- Desire and determination
The AVID student meets one or more of the following criteria:
- First in family to attend college
- Historically underserved in 4-year colleges
- Low-Income
- Special circumstances (e.g.,family structure)
AVID Excel Elective (7-8 grade)
AVID Excel's mission is to change the trajectory of long-term English learners by accelerating language acquisition, developing literacy, and placing AVID Excel students on the path to high school AVID and college preparatory coursework.
AVID Excel is...
- A cohort in which ESOL students participate in intensive academic language building throughout middle school to prepare for the high school AVID Elective.
- Seven consistent learning strands--reading, writing, oral language, academic vocabulary, study skills, and self-determination and leadership.
- Accelerated language acquisition, increased overall achievement and student access to rigorous coursework.
- Scholar groups with college tutors twice a week.
AVID Excel is not...
- An "at-risk" system. It is designed to support students who would otherwise not attend and graduate from a four-year college/university.
- For students who fail to complete any of their homework.
- For students who consistently receive grades of "D" or "F."
- A mandatory course; application is voluntary.
Who Should Apply?
The AVID Excel student:
- Has good ideas but needs help expressing them.
- Listens with interest but can miss information.
- Needs 5-6 repetitions for mastery.
Completes assignments with added support. - Enjoys school but can become discouraged.
- Comes from a low-income or single-parent family.
- Would be first in their family to attend college.
- Has potential and may also have special circumstances that could be obstacles to achievement.
Application Information
Important Information for Students Applying for AVID
Application Window: October 7, 2024 - January 31, 2025
If you have any questions please see your AVID Elective teacher or classroom teacher.
Required Steps For Applying For AVID
Applications will be available on Monday, October 7, 2024 and are due on Friday, January 31, 2025. It is your responsibility, as an AVID Student applicant, to follow-up with your teachers and school office to ensure all requested information has been submitted. An incomplete application packet may result in the student not being eligible for selection into the AVID program. If you have questions or would like to check the status of your application please reach out to your teacher or email avid@usd259.net
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times can my child submit an application for AVID?
The WPS AVID Student Application is linked to the students district profile and district email address, through Microsoft. The application settings will only allow each student to submit ONE application each year. Therefore, it is essential that students DO NOT take the application link on a trial run! Doing so will lock them out of submitting a completed application. Each middle school will provide students with necessary information to prepare them to properly submit their application for AVID.
What if the AVID School that my child wants to attend is NOT their base school
Students who attend a school that does not have the AVID elective may still apply for the program. They will have to apply for a special assignment if accepted. Click on the button below to learn more.
- If accepted through this process, transportation will not be provided and students must maintain good attendance, behavior, and grades.
- Student athletes may have to sit out an entire calendar year (KSHSAA rule).
Click Here For Important Information About Special Assignments
What if my child is applying to a Magnet School?
You will not know if your child has been accepted into a WPS Magnet program until after the AVID application window has closed. Therefore, there is a question on the application that asks, Have you applied to a Magnet program? If yes, which one(s)? Once the AVID application window closes, all completed applications will be sorted and submitted to the appropriate middle schools based on the responses in the application.