AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination)
AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a class where students support each other academically, while striving to achieve college and/or career goals.
AVID students commit to taking on increased academic expectations, like maintaining an organization system, taking challenging classes, and engaging in the AVID tutorial process. They also receive increased support to help them to achieve their goals. In AVID, students push themselves to be the best they can be, knowing that to do so they need the support and encouragement of a strong academic community to get there.
Apply for AVID!
Any Capitol Hill student who will be in either 7th or 8th grade next year is eligible to apply for AVID. Admittance to the AVID program is competitive, and unfortunately we cannot offer a place to everyone who applies. The ideal AVID student is someone who tends to get average grades and test scores, who has a strong drive to be successful. AVID students are frequently on a path to be the first, or among the first, in their family to go to college, or are from backgrounds that are under-represented in colleges and universities. If you are wondering if AVID might be right for your student, contact our Program Coordinator, Sarah Schupanitz at sarah.schupanitz@spps.org.
The last day to submit AVID applications for the 2024-2025 school year is Friday, April 5th!
What is AVID?
Individual Determination
An ideal AVID student is someone who has what we call "individual determination"-- a drive to succeed--but knows that they need some help to reach their goals. Community and mutual support is at the center of what we do, but AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, because we know that each of us needs to push ourselves to succeed.
Community
AVID is a place where students come together to build skills and get support that help in all of our other classes. It's where to get help with content that's confusing, reflect on academic progress, and set goals for the short and long term, and push our thinking. Most importantly, AVID is a community where students support and encourage each other. In a lot of ways, AVID is like your "home base" at school!
College and Career Exploration
College and career readiness is a central focus of the AVID program. While college may not be part of everyone's academic journey, AVID students work to academic and professional skills that will help them, regardless of what they do after high school. AVID students learn and do research about colleges and careers, as well as going on college visits and field trips focused on careers.
Continue Through High School
Most of the high schools in Saint Paul Public Schools, as well as many other districts, have an AVID program, and 8th graders who are in AVID can continue in the program at their high school. In high school, AVID supports students through every stage of the college application process, teaches skills for getting a job, and provides that community support that is at the center of AVID.
