In addition to Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses, students may enroll in AVID, an academic elective class, taught during the school day by a trained AVID teacher. The three main components of the program are academic instruction, tutorial support, and motivational activities. Students’ self-image improves, they become academically successful leaders, and are role models for other students.

The AVID curriculum was developed by middle and high school teachers in collaboration with college professors. AVID is based on writing as a tool for learning, inquiry method, collaborative grouping, spatial and mental organization, and academic reading.

Writing

• Cornel Note-Taking
• Learning Logs
• Quickwrites and Reflections
• Process Writing
• Peer Evaluation
• Authentic Writing

Inquiry

• Skilled Questioning Techniques
• Costa’s Levels of Thinking
• Socratic Seminars
• Tutorials
• Investigations
• Questions that Guide Research

Collaboration

• Socratic Seminars
• Tutorials
• Philosophical Chairs
• Group Activities and Projects
• Peer Editing Groups
• Service Learning Projects

Organization

• Binders and Organizational Tools
• Calendars, Planners, and Agendas
• Graphic Organizers
• A Focused Note-Taking System
• Tutorials and Study Groups
• Project Planning and SMART Goals

Reading

• Deep Reading Strategies
• Note-Taking
• Graphic Organizers
• Vocabulary Building
• Summarizing
• Reciprocal Teaching