Advancement Via Individual Determination, AVID, is a program that prepares students in the academic middle for success in both college and career pathways. Students take an AVID Elective course throughout high school that provides them with the skills needed to be successful academically with the ultimate goal of attending college and or advancing along a career pathway. For 50 years, AVID has been instrumental in preparing students for success beyond high school.
The core component of the AVID Program is the AVID Elective Course, which supports students as they challenge themselves in rigorous classes. Students are taught writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading skills while being immersed in a college-going and career-focused culture. The class also includes tutoring sessions that are led by college students and provide support for success in academically rigorous curriculum. Additionally, the AVID class provides access to information about colleges and universities and careers through field trips, guest speakers, scholarship opportunities, college admission requirement information, micro-internships, full internships, and apprenticeships.
Students who are interested in the AVID program are required to complete an application and take part in a Zoom interview with members of the RMHS AVID Site Team.
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The ideal AVID student is in the academic middle (not in all honors and AP courses and flourishing within them), while having a desire to work hard and having a strong interest in exploring college and career options. Special consideration is given to students who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- first in his or her family to attend college
- part of a historically underserved population in a four-year college admissions process
- special circumstances (this can be for many different situations)
- AVID recruits students who are motivated to do well and who are serious about their academic futures.
