AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a college-preparation program that is offered as an elective class to students at Marshall High School and Marshall Junior High School looking to prepare for entrance into a four-year college or university. The class is designed to help students acquire skills and behaviors they will need to do well and gain acceptance to four-year colleges and universities upon graduation from high school. We hope the links and information below can help you, but do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions or concerns. Go Mavs!

• AVID Handbook
• MHS AVID Application
• MJHS AVID Application: 6th Grade | 7th and 8th Grade
• Teacher/Counselor Recommendation Form 

Students are taught study skills, note-taking, time management, organization, reading, writing, collaboration, and research skills, while learning about college and career options for the future. AVID students learn both in the classroom as well as outside of classroom through field trips to colleges, universities or other cultural sites. The elective class includes time for tutorial groups, where students receive help with material from their other academic classes. AVID recruits students who are motivated to do well and are willing to work hard to make success a reality, now and in the future.

If this sounds like the right class for your student and something they would be interested in, please encourage and support them in applying to be part of the AVID College Readiness Program in MISD.

The AVID College Readiness System began in 1980. It was developed by Mary Catherine Swanson, a teacher who believed that all students were capable of completing rigorous curriculum, given the appropriate skills and support to do so. For more than 30 years, AVID Secondary has been responsible for accelerating the learning of students and promoting a schoolwide college going-culture. Currently, AVID is implemented in more than 4,900 schools in 45 states and 16 countries/ territories. AVID impacts more than 700,000 students in grades K12, as well as students in 28 postsecondary institutions. AVID in MISD is implemented in grades 8-12.

Schools implementing AVID at the highest levels of fidelity show significantly higher student achievement across all academic and course enrollments. AVID’ belief is that students receive messages about expectations for college from the environment in which they learn. Therefore, it is important for students to be immersed in an academic, college-going environment. The AVID campus exemplifies a college-going culture.

The AVID System increases schoolwide learning and performance for ALL students in grade K16. The AVID System restructures the teaching methods of an entire campus and opens access to curricula that will ensure four-year college eligibility and academic success for students.