AVID - Advancement Via Individual Determination

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.

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

AVID is designed to increase schoolwide learning and performance.  The mission of AVID is to ensure that all students and most especially the least served students in the middle capable of completing a college path:

• Will succeed in rigorous curriculum,

• Will enter mainstream activities of the school

• Will increase their enrollment in four-year colleges, and

• Will become educated and responsible part pants and leaders in a democratic society.

Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Why do AVID students have to take advanced coursework? My student is not in the elective, how are they benefiting? How does AVID align with the TEKS?

Ways to help your student at home:

Showing Interest in His/Her Progress

• Talk to your student about school.

• Be aware of your student's classes and his/her performance in each. Praise your student's strengths, and help him/her find ways to improve in areas of weakness.

• Ask to look at your student's binder.

• Review your student's tutorial request forms to see what kinds of questions he/she is asking in class.

• Find out who your student's friends are.

• Be enthusiastic and supportive. Your student's participation in AVID will keep him/her motivated and excited at outreaching the goal of attending a four-year college or university.

Encouraging Good Study Habits

• Provide a quiet place free of noise and distractions where your student can study and do his/her homework.

• Show that you care by asking your student what topic(s) he/she is studying in a particular class.

• Be positive and give praise when your student takes notes.

• Be an audience for your student-listen as he/she recites or shares what he/she is reading.

• Ask questions to help your student clarify or think more deeply about what he/she is reading.

• Volunteer to help your student prepare for tests by asking the questions he/she has written from lecture or textbook notes.

What is AVID Rally Days?

Every spring, all of the middle and high school AVID Elective Class students and teachers get together for a Rally Day to celebrate AVID on their campuses. In April 2018, we had over 400 middle schools and over 800 high school students share their campus AVID videos, listen to a guest speaker, and participate in a Q&A panel discussion made up of former Alief AVID graduates.