AVID

The AVID College Readiness System serves all RISD students in every grade from kindergarten through senior year.

Overview

AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is an academic system dedicated to closing the expectation gap and opportunity gap so all RISD students are prepared and ready for college and career.

AVID began in RISD in 2003 and aligns with specific campus goals to accelerate and enhance the work already occurring daily.

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

AVID Elementary

AVID Elementary is included in daily classroom instruction across all grade levels to impact schoolwide structures and establish a robust pipeline of highly motivated students. Key components at the elementary level include boosting student success skills through instruction on writing to learn, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading to learn. By teaching and reinforcing academic behaviors and higher-level thinking at a young age, AVID elementary teachers create a ripple effect in later grades. AVID provides scaffolded support to encourage college and career readiness from the start of kindergarten until the end of 12^th grade.

AVID Excel

AVID Excel is the RISD junior high course designed for experienced multilingual students. AVID Excel provides explicit instruction in academic language development through increased emphasis on reading, writing, listening and spoken vocabulary aptitude and overall college readiness skills.

AVID Secondary

AVID Secondary for grades 7-12 equips students with skills to best prepare them for college and career. For one elective period a day, students receive additional academic, social and emotional support that will help them succeed in required rigorous courses. Students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 to 3.5, enroll in at least one rigorous class each term, desire to be campus leaders and then apply and interview before being accepted into the AVID Secondary course. Students accepted into AVID must set high expectations and are given the support they need to prepare for and thrive in postsecondary opportunities.

National Demonstration Schools

RISD is home to two AVID National Demonstration Schools. Richardson High School and Berkner High School have become centers of AVID teaching and learning.

These schools serve as models for other districts interested in learning about the AVID College Readiness System. Berkner and Richardson High School clearly demonstrate the ongoing pursuit of excellence to ensure college readiness for AVID students with improved academic performance for all students on the campus due to this more equitable, student-centered approach to learning.