Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)
AVID is a premier college and career readiness program designed to equip students with the essential skills they need to succeed in higher education and beyond. The program places a special emphasis on fostering growth in writing, critical thinking, teamwork, organization, and reading.
At Dr. Augustine Ramirez Intermediate School, we proudly offer AVID as an elective for both seventh and eighth-grade students.
Skills for Lifelong Success
Our curriculum goes beyond standard academic content. We focus on building the foundational behaviors that drive long-term success. In the AVID classroom, scholars master critical skills such as:
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Focused Note-Taking: Learning how to capture, process, and study information effectively.
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Critical Thinking & Analysis: Developing the ability to evaluate, analyze, and synthesize complex concepts.
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Self-Management: Setting personal goals and mastering time management.
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Collaborative Learning: Mastering reading and writing strategies while learning how to effectively collaborate with peers.
Our dedicated team of educators utilizes a wide variety of instructional strategies to engage, support, and challenge students of all ability levels and language needs.
A Two-Year Journey
While students benefit from any time spent in the program, the AVID team at Ramirez highly encourages a two-year commitment to maximize growth. Our program follows a intentional, progressive structure:
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7th Grade: Highly structured and focused on the fundamentals. Students learn the mechanics of focused notes, participate in collaborative AVID tutorials, build organizational habits, and engage in team-building activities.
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8th Grade: Builds directly on the success of the seventh-grade foundation. The focus shifts toward community building and cultivating a supportive "AVID family" dynamic, with the ultimate goal of energizing students to continue their AVID journey into high school.
Beyond the Classroom
AVID scholars don't just learn about college—they experience it. Students in both 7th and 8th grade have the unique opportunity to attend exciting college field trips, giving them a firsthand look at various campuses in our area.