Reminders about AVID at WHS

AVID is not:

• An “at-risk”, nor remedial program

• A study hall for students who “need homework help”

• For unmotivated students

AVID is:

• A program designed to support students who are: first-generation college-bound, historically underserved by 4-year universities, low-income, or have other special circumstances

• A structured preparatory system that teaches and instills skills and habits that will support students in any class

• A direct support structure for students with potential to meet or exceed college entrance requirements

• A professional development program providing training to educators, especially in the areas of rigorous curriculum, problem-solving, collaboration and critical thinking. 

Want to learn more? Check out these videos from our own AVID students.

The Mission of AVID

AVID is designed to increase school-wide learning and performance. The mission of AVID is to ensure that all students, and most especially students in the middle with academic potential capable of completing a college preparatory 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 participants and leaders in a democratic society.

AVID is an academic, regularly scheduled elective class based on writing as a tool of learning, inquiry method, and collaborative grouping. The three main components of the program are: academic instruction, tutorial support, and motivational activities. AVID classes include specific instruction, including Writing, Inquiry/Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading. AVID students practice strategies in each of these areas, both individually and collaboratively.

Each week, students also have an AVID Tutorial, which is very different from a traditional tutoring situation. AVID Tutorials are designed to mimic the problem-solving, critically- thinking, student-centered, metacognitive study groups of successful university students. Students do not get time to complete homework in these sessions. Instead, they access their resources, use inquiry and collaboration to explore a concept in depth, usually mastering a higher level of understanding than they otherwise would have.

At Windsor High School, AVID classes start out with three big 9th grade classes, narrowing to three smaller 10th grade classes, and only two 11th and 12th grade classes. Our AVID students who remain and graduate as AVID seniors are the ones who are willing to work hard, be pushed out of their comfort zones and into the most challenging classes our school offers. Their hard work and dedication pay off, as the vast majority of them are accepted into four-year universities, even though some of them are the first in their families to even graduate high school. We are exceedingly proud of them, and glad we share them with you.

AVID students should be students with academic potential. That means that they should have: average to high test scores, 2.0-3.5 GPA, and college potential with support as well as desire and determination. AVID students should meet one or more of the following criteria: first to attend college in their family, historically underserved in 4-year colleges, low income, or special circumstances.

Statistics for AVID students:

• 95% are enrolled in a college or university

• 71% are attending a four-year university

• 24% are attending a two-year college

• 75% of the graduates are working either full or part-time to send themselves through college