1. Advancement Via Individual Determination
AVID was created by one exceptional teacher who recognized that students from low-income families without a college-going tradition could succeed in high school and be college ready.
In 1980, Mary Catherine Swanson was teaching English at Clairemont High School when San Diego schools were being desegregated. Students from urban schools were being bused to the suburbs. Many teachers thought that these students wouldn’t be able to succeed, but Mary Catherine believed that they just needed the opportunity and the right support.
She recruited 32 low-income, diverse students with average grades (C students) and enrolled them in college preparatory classes and an elective class she designed to develop study skills, provide tutoring in collaborative study groups, and focus on writing for learning. The simple formula remains the same: raise expectations of students and, with the AVID support system in place, they will rise to the challenge.
[L. avidus]: eager for knowledge

2. What is the Mission of AVID?
AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.

3. More AVID Information AVID started in San Diego, California in 1980
As of 2015:
AVID is in 47 states and 16 other countries
in almost 5,000 schools and serving over 1,000,000 students!

4. Who Gets to be in AVID? Students with Academic Potential:
Average to High Test Scores
2.5–3.5 GPA
College Potential with Support
Desire and Determination
Good Citizenship
Good Attendance Record
Strong Work Habits

5. Who will support me in AVID?
Colleges
and
Universities
AVID
Support
Staff
Community
Parents
AVID
Coordinator
(AVID Elective
Teacher)
Student
Administration
Tutors
Subject
Area
Teachers
Counselors 5

6. What will we do in AVID?

7. What skills will we develop in AVID?
Writing
Inquiry
Collaboration
Organization
Reading

8. Conversations with a partner:
In your own words, what is AVID?
How do you think the collaborative support of AVID helps you be successful?
How do you think AVID will help you accomplish your “I believe…” statements?