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Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)
College. Career. Future. We'll Help You Get There.
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, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, 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.
AVID at Obsidian Middle School
At OMS, AVID is offered as an elective class for students in grades 6–8. Students recruited for the AVID elective reflect the AVID student profile — those who demonstrate strong academic potential and who may be first-generation college students, English Learners, members of underrepresented groups, or facing other circumstances that make additional support meaningful.
Inside the AVID elective, students receive targeted support that helps them thrive in the most challenging courses our school offers. They learn how to study smarter, think more critically, collaborate more effectively, and advocate for themselves — skills that matter in middle school, high school, college, and life.
AVID doesn't stop at the elective classroom, though. At OMS, AVID strategies are embedded schoolwide, meaning every student benefits from AVID-informed instruction regardless of whether they're enrolled in the elective.
Is AVID Right for Your Student?
If your student has the determination to succeed and could benefit from extra tools and support, AVID may be a great fit. Talk to your student's counselor or teacher to learn more about how to get involved.
At Obsidian, we believe every student has what it takes. AVID helps them prove it.
The WICOR Framework
AVID-trained teachers use a set of research-based strategies known as WICOR to help students become independent, confident learners. WICOR stands for Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading — and together, these five pillars form the foundation of how we teach students to think and learn at OMS.
Writing helps students process and communicate ideas. One key tool is Cornell Note-Taking, a structured method that teaches students to organize information, identify what matters most, and review it effectively.
Inquiry pushes students to think at higher levels. Using Costa's Levels of Thinking, both teachers and students learn to ask — and answer — deeper, more meaningful questions rather than settling for surface-level understanding.
Collaboration teaches students how to work productively with their peers. Through Collaborative Study Groups, students learn to problem-solve together, support one another, and build the teamwork skills that matter in school and beyond.
Organization is foundational to student success. The AVID Binder gives students a structured system for managing their notes, assignments, and materials — building habits that will serve them throughout their academic careers.
Reading focuses on developing the academic language students need to access complex texts across all subject areas. Sentence frames and vocabulary strategies help students engage confidently with challenging content in every class.
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