Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a global nonprofit organization that operates with one guiding principle: Hold students accountable to the highest standards, provide academic and social support, and they will rise to the challenge. AVID’s kindergarten through higher education system brings research-based curriculum and strategies to students each day that develop critical thinking, literacy, and math skills across all content areas.

AVID’s Impact

For more than 35 years, AVID has prepared students for college readiness and success. From its beginnings in one
classroom with 32 students in San Diego, it now impacts the lives of hundreds of thousands of students throughout the United States and the world. At its sites, AVID affects leadership, systems, instruction, and culture.

Here at Castle Park High School, our AVID program is offered as a coh orted program beginning in the 9th grade year through the end of the 10th grade year. The students enroll in an AVID elective class with a teacher that also teaches the same students in a core subject such as Science, Math, English, or Social Science. The reason is to accelerate the college-going atmosphere for students in preparation for either Advanced Placement (AP) courses or entrance to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program starting their 11th grade year. We expect all students will not only graduate from high school but will enter a college program after graduating, with emphasis on attending a 4-year university.

The AVID elective class teaches explicitly the strategies students need to for success in all of their classes in high school and beyond. AVID emphasizes Organization, Focused Note-taking and Reflection, Presentation Skills, Reading and Writing strategies, Collaboration among peers, and other academic skills needed for class. The success of AVID students is based upon a clear understanding of how education can improve your future and creates motivation for higher academic success.

Linked here, you will find statistics that reflect the success of AVID students from any background directed towards any future goal.

For more information on the AVID Program at Castle Park High School, please contact:

Robert Charlton
AVID Coordinator / Teacher
Robert.charlton@sweetwaterschools.org