Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)

AVID is more than a class — it's a commitment. A commitment from our school to support students who have the drive and potential to succeed in rigorous coursework and beyond, and a commitment from students to put in the work to get there.

What Is AVID?

AVID is a nationally and globally recognized educational program with a proven track record. What started in a single San Diego high school in 1980 has grown into a movement spanning more than 8,000 schools worldwide and serving over 2 million students. School districts with strong AVID programs consistently send more students to college — and more students who complete college — than demographically similar districts without AVID.

The mission is clear: ensure that students who have historically been underserved in higher education have the knowledge, skills, and support to succeed there.

Who Is AVID For?

AVID is designed for students in the academic middle — those who have the motivation and potential to succeed in college preparatory coursework but may need additional support and structure to get there. This includes students who are the first in their family to attend college, students who come from low- to moderate-income households, and students who are capable of more than their current grades or circumstances might reflect.

You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to work.

Why AVID Works

AVID doesn't just tell students they can go to college — it teaches them how. The program's signature WICOR methodology (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading) gives students concrete tools they can use in every class, every year. Students leave AVID not only better prepared for college applications, but better prepared for college itself.

Research consistently shows that AVID students graduate at higher rates, enroll in college at higher rates, and persist through college at higher rates than their peers. For students who are the first in their family to navigate the college process, that kind of preparation and support can make all the difference.

Is AVID Right for You?

Consider applying to AVID if you:

• Are motivated to attend a two- or four-year college after high school
• Are willing to work hard and take on challenging coursework
• Would benefit from extra support, structure, and a college-focused community
• Are the first in your family to go to college, or feel like college is a goal without a clear roadmap

AVID is not for students who have already mastered college-prep skills on their own, and it's not for students who aren't yet ready to commit. It's for the students in between — the ones with the potential and the drive, who just need the right support system around them.