Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)

Closing the Opportunity Gap in Education

AVID helps prepare underrepresented students for admission to a four-year college or university. The program fosters a safe culture along with high expectations for teachers and students.

Participating students take an AVID elective throughout middle and high school. The electives provide them with the skills needed to be successful in advancing academically, with the ultimate goal of attending college.

Elementary

At Downey Unified, all our teachers encourage students to think about their college and career plans at a young age. Our schools cultivate a college-going culture by displaying college pennants, banners, posters, and other décor in the classrooms, and our teachers speak about college with the students. By promoting a college-bound mentality as early as elementary school, we begin a ripple effect that continues through our students’ academic journey. Students grow up in an environment where college and careers are no longer foreign concepts but instead the goal.

Secondary

AVID equips students with the resources, support, and preparation necessary for college eligibility and success. At the secondary level, students can take AVID as an elective class to develop essential skills, that include:

• critical thinking
• collaboration
• time management
• study skills and note-taking
• relationship building

Being part of AVID will challenge students to succeed in more academically rigorous classes. Students in AVID will also benefit from tutoring sessions that are led by college students, dynamic guest speakers, team-building activities and field trips to local colleges and universities.