AVID

AVID Mission Statement

AVID’s mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society.

Why AVID?

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is an in-school academic support program for students. The purpose of the program is to prepare students for college eligibility, career preparation and success as early as elementary school.

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) has created a program to provide students with tools and strategies for academic and social success in school, higher education and beyond. According to the organization, AVID is more than just a program, rather, "At its heart, AVID is a philosophy: Hold students accountable to the highest standards, provide academic and social support, and they will rise to the challenge.”

Since 2007, GPISD has instituted the AVID program in 2 high schools, 2 multi-level (6-12) schools, 5 middle schools, 2 multi-level (PK-8) schools, and 1 elementary school. Of those, Grand Prairie High School earned the distinction of AVID National Demonstration School, which is the highest AVID distinction; and most recently, South Grand Prairie High School, AVID Schoolwide Site.

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The AVID Impact
The implementation of AVID in schools provides students with an opportunity to:
- Succeed in rigorous curriculum
- Complete a rigorous college and career preparatory path
- Teaches content-specific strategies for reading, writing, thinking, and speaking
- Increased coping skills
- Increased desire and determination to be successful
- Provides an exploration of academic interests, college majors, and careers.
- Encourages students to be involved: clubs, sports, band, chorus
- Provides opportunities to conduct service-learning projects
- Guides AVID seniors through the college application and scholarship application process
AVID implementation in elementary school lends to a schoolwide approach, while AVID secondary offers students the opportunity of a regularly scheduled elective class during the school day. The AVID elective has three main components:
- Academic Instruction
- Tutorial Support
- Motivational Activities and Exposure
Both AVID Elementary and AVID Secondary utilize a collection of teaching and learning strategies called WICOR, which stands for writing. Inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading. These strategies guide students in understanding concepts and articulating ideas at increasingly complex levels. WICOR strategies support student learning in any classroom. Below are a few examples of WICOR strategies:
Profile of An AVID Scholar

AVID scholars are expected to have responsible behavior, attend school regularly, encompass a positive attitude toward their peers and teachers, and a personal desire to go the extra mile to obtain their college and career dreams.

GPISD AVID scholars come from diverse backgrounds. Some will be the first in their families to attend college, some may be unsure about taking advanced, AP or dual credit courses without support from academic tutors, some may be academically ready, but need support in organization and study habits. AVID scholars may also be motivated to do well but could benefit from increasing their skills to reach their full potential.