The AVID Flock

AVID Mission

Advancement Via Individual Determination.

AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap and prepare all students for college/career readiness and success in a global society.

AVID is a philosophy: hold students accountable to the highest standards, provide academic and social support and watch them rise to the challenges.

Find out more about the AVID Secondary Program nationally.

The AVID Elective

Who is in AVID?

The AVID elective targets students in the academic middle, students who earn Bs, Cs, and possibly a rare D but who have a strong desire to succeed academically, go to college or pursue a defined career path. Students in the AVID program share a determination to work hard. Students may also be the first in their families to attend college or come from traditionally underrepresented groups in higher education. In some cases students have a lagging skill like reading or math or a particular challenge that makes the classroom setting more difficult.  AVID students are capable of completing rigorous curriculum but may be falling short of their potential. AVID places these students on the college track, requiring them to enroll in our school’s toughest courses, such as honors and IB. To support them in the rigorous coursework, AVID students practice organizational and study skills, develop critical thinking, learn to ask probing questions, receive academic help from peers and college tutors, and participate in enrichment and motivational activities to make their college dreams a reality.

What do students do in the AVID Elective?

The AVID Elective is the core of the AVID Secondary Program.  Each week students work on skills through the tutorial process, binder and agenda checks and other AVID curriculum. The curriculum is built on a 4-year model:

9th Grade: Strong focus on overall academic success, organization, note taking, study habits and goals.  AVID curriculum is centered on Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization and Reading (WICOR).

10th Grade: Builds on 9th grade curriculum and begins preparing students for standardized college entrance tests like the SAT/ACT.  Students continue to cultivate academic skills in preparation to take IB classes in the junior and senior years.

11th Grade: In addition to deep academic support, students learn about the FAFSA process, research colleges, write a sample personal statement and resume and engage in career research. 

12th Grade: Culmination of support in the college application process and continued academic achievement.

Students in the AVID program visit 1-2 colleges a year, take field trips, have quarterly academic celebrations and hear from guest speakers who help students connect to critical thinking and career pathways.

What are the requirements to join the AVID Flock?

Students must apply to the AVID program and be interviewed in order to be accepted.  In general, students may not have any more than 2 grades falling below a C.  Students should show evidence of determination and a strong desire to be successful.  Students who are currently enrolled in an AVID program at another high school or middle school, may transfer directly into an AVID cohort at LHS without completing the interview process.