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AVID

Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID)

AVID logo

AVID stands for Advancement via Individual Determination. It is an academic elective course that prepares students for high school and college readiness and success.

AVID students engage in a college preparatory curriculum that incorporates strategies focused on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading to support their academic growth. Students also participate in tutor-facilitated study groups, motivational activities, academic success skills, experiential activities, and field trips.

What happens in the AVID Class?

In AVID, students develop a sense of agency, responsibility, and personal growth, helping them thrive academically and socially:

  • Improved Academic Skills: a focus on organizational, study, and time management skills, empowering students to become more effective and independent learners.
  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: inquiry-based learning supports students to approach academic challenges with a problem-solving mindset.
  • Increased Confidence and Self-Advocacy: students build the confidence to speak up, ask questions, and advocate for their needs
  • College and Career Awareness: students explore high school and higher education options and future career paths to aim for success beyond middle school.
  • Collaborative and Communication Skills: students listen actively, share ideas respectfully, and work together to achieve common goals.
WRITING INQUIRY COLLABORATION ORGANIZATION READING
  • Cornell notes and learning logs
  • Quick-writes and reflections
  • Process writing
  • Peer evaluation
  • Authentic writing
  • Skilled questioning techniques
  • Tutorials
  • Costa's level of questioning
  • Socratic Seminars
  • Research and investigations
  • Group Activities
  • Tutorials
  • Philosophical Chairs
  • Socratic Seminars
  • Peer Teaching and Editing
  • Service Learning
  • Folders and organizational tools
  • Calendars, planners, and agendas
  • Graphic Organizers
  • Study groups
  • Focused note-taking
  • Smart goals
  • Deep Reading strategies
  • Note-taking
  • Graphic Organizers
  • Vocabulary Building
  • Reciprocal teaching
  • Reflecting and summarizing

For more information or to get your questions answered, contact Kirby Callam callamk@district65.net or (847) 859-8059.

Ready to Apply?!

AVID is an elective class taken in place of Advisory in 6th grade. For 7th Grade and 8th grade, AVID is taken in place of the Spanish or French world language class.

For the 2024-25 school year, students entering the 6th grade who qualify and are recommended by their 5th grade teacher will be enrolled in AVID with the opportunity to opt-out to take the regular 6th grade Advisory class if they prefer. All other rising 6th grade students are invited to apply to be considered for any remaining, open seats.

Students entering 7th grade can apply for AVID at Chute, Haven, King Arts, and Nichols. Students who are enrolled in AVID are expected to take the AVID elective class through the 8th grade. Follow this link for further details regarding transferring in or out of the AVID class.

Students who receive Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) services as a native Spanish speaker are required to take Spanish Literature Arts in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades as their elective course. As a result, they are not eligible for the AVID or Advisory class in 6th grade.  For more information about required EL services for your child, please contact Amada Zamudio at 847-859-8106 or by email at zamudioa@district65.net.

Priority is given to students who will be best served with challenging work to develop their writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading skills to access and excel in honors and AP-level courses in high school.