AVID ~ Advancement Via Individual Determination

AVID Angela Martin
AVID District Coordinator
(817) 276-6366 office
(817) 453-6583 fax

What is AVID?

AVID is an acronym that stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. In MISD, it is an in-school academic support program for grades 5-8 that prepares students for college eligibility and success. AVID places academically average students in advanced classes, and is for all students, but targets those in the academic middle. AVID is offered as an elective course that, like any other class, meets regularly. AVID serves students who are often the least well served in our schools -- students in the middle who are capable of success, but who are not reaching their potential. AVID is currently being implemented in all MISD intermediate and middle schools. Learn more about how AVID can help your student.

The Mission of AVID

The mission of AVID is to ensure that ALL students, and most especially the least served students who are in the middle:

will succeed in rigorous curriculum,
will complete a rigorous college preparatory path,
will enter mainstream activities of the school,
will increase their enrollment in four-year colleges, and
will become educated and responsible participants and leaders in a democratic society

AVID’s systemic approach is designed to support students and educators as they increase schoolwide/districtwide learning and performance.

The AVID Student Profile

The AVID student has the following academic potential:

Average to high test scores
2.0 – 3.5 GPA
College potential with support
Desire and determination

The AVID student meets one or more of the following criteria:

First in family to attend college
Historically underserved in four-year colleges
Low income
Special circumstances

AVID in Texas

In 1997 the San Antonio Independent School District began implementing AVID in just a few schools. Its success in Texas over the past decade has resulted in the implementation of AVID in more than 300 schools in 2006-2007, spanning 59 school districts, which makes Texas’ statewide implementation of AVID the second largest in the nation.

From 2001-2002 to 2006-2007, AVID enrollment increased from nearly 4,500 students to more than 22,400 students
Greater portions of AVID students, when compared to their non-AVID peers, passed the state-mandated Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) exams in 2005-2006.
In 2006-07, 158 high schools and 153 middle schools spanning 62 school districts in Texas participated in the AVID program. Thirty-three new high schools and 54 new middle schools were added within the past year.