Advancement Via Individual Determination

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a nonprofit educational organization that partners with K–12 schools, districts, and higher education institutions to close opportunity gaps and improve college and career readiness for historically underserved students. AVID is headquartered in San Diego, California. ^[1]

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination)

Founded	1980
Founder	Mary Catherine Swanson
Founded at	San Diego, California, U.S.
Focus	Education; College and career readiness
Headquarters	San Diego, California
Area served	United States; Department of Defense Education Activity; U.S. Virgin Islands; Canada; Australia
Methods	Professional learning, curriculum support, partnerships with schools
Chief Executive Officer	Thuan Nguyen
Website	https://www.avid.org/

As of 2025, AVID operates in more than 7,400 schools across 47 U.S. states and several international locations, including Australia, Canada, and Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools.^[2][3]

As of 2025, AVID's President and chief executive officer is Thuan Nguyen.^[4] According to AVID Center, the program operates in more than 7,400 K–12 schools across 47 U.S. states and several international jurisdictions.^[5]

AVID Center

AVID Center is a course that school districts and college campuses can contract with to provide learning, curriculum, and support services. Districts and campuses decide which parts of the AVID College and Career Readiness System will best serve their needs.^[6][7][8] AVID Center has offices in San Diego and Dallas.

History

AVID originated in 1980 at Clairemont High School in San Diego, California, where English department chair Mary Catherine Swanson created an elective course to support students in the academic middle as they enrolled in rigorous coursework.^[9] The program's development is commonly linked to court-ordered desegregation in San Diego Unified in the late 1970s, which brought bused students to Clairemont; AVID combined high expectations with structured academic and social supports.^[10][11]

In AVID’s first year, Swanson’s class included 32 students—28 went on to four-year universities and two attended community college, and all of them eventually earned college degrees, illustrating the program’s early success and proof of concept. ^[12]

During the mid-1980s, AVID expanded within San Diego Unified. A district history notes that by 1986 four SDUSD high schools had launched AVID, the California Department of Education provided funds to disseminate the program across San Diego County, and in 1987 the SDUSD Board of Education mandated AVID in all district high schools.^[13]

By the early 1990s, AVID expanded beyond San Diego, leading to the creation of AVID Center, a nonprofit organization to manage program dissemination nationwide.In the early 1990s, researchers at the University of California, San Diego, studied AVID as part of broader investigations of “untracking,” culminating in the book Constructing School Success: The Consequences of Untracking Low-Achieving Students (Cambridge University Press, 1996).^[14]

To support expansion beyond San Diego, the nonprofit AVID Center was established in 1992; nonprofit registries list the organization as tax-exempt since 1997.^[15][16]

By the early 2000s, AVID had expanded nationally through AVID Center, a nonprofit organization that coordinates training, curriculum, and research partnerships.

In 2001, Swanson received the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education and was named one of TIME magazine’s “America’s Best Teachers.”^[17]

AVID subsequently expanded internationally. An archival history notes that by 2001, AVID had been implemented in schools in **Canada** and in the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (**DoDEA**) school system, alongside continued national growth.^[18] AVID is now offered in DoDEA Americas and DoDEA Europe schools, with several designated as Schoolwide Sites of Distinction.^[19]

In **Australia**, AVID was introduced in 2011 when The Victoria Institute at Victoria University received funding to trial the program. In 2015, AVID Center granted Australia an exclusive site license to operate nationally, and in December 2024 AVID Center approved the establishment of its first international subsidiary in Australia to provide direct governance and expansion support.^[20]

Implementation

AVID is implemented through partnerships between schools and districts that provide an AVID elective and embed instructional strategies summarized as WICOR — Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading — across all subject areas.

The U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) describes AVID as a framework that strengthens student organization, study skills, and access to rigorous coursework.^[19]

According to the San Diego Reader, the program’s classroom model emphasizes structured organization systems—helping students manage their time, plan weekly tasks, and learn how to communicate effectively with teachers. ^[21]

Students typically choose to participate in the AVID elective, and the same teacher often remains with a cohort of students for several years, building continuity and trust. Teachers described the program as a “family” environment where students set goals, support one another, and develop a strong sense of belonging.

Tutoring is also a key element of the model. Many AVID classrooms integrate near-peer or college tutors—often AVID alumni—who reinforce content knowledge and serve as role models for students who see themselves reflected in their mentors. ^[21]

Impact, Research, and Evaluations

Since 1980, AVID has been closely studied by numerous research teams and individuals.^[22] Independent studies and government reviews show generally positive results for AVID’s effectiveness.

A 2023 multisite randomized controlled trial published in Pediatrics found that AVID students transitioning to high school had healthier peer networks, lower odds of substance use, and—among male students—lower stress and higher engagement, compared to control groups.^[23]

A 2020 study in the Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness examined 10,397 students using quasi-experimental methods. It found associations between AVID participation and high school as well as postsecondary outcomes, and estimated program costs.^[24]

The U.S. Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse identifies AVID as an evidence-based intervention that increases participation in advanced courses for underrepresented students. ^[25]

Student voices cited in the San Diego Reader describe AVID as a transformative experience that builds academic confidence and ambition:

“I feel like having regular classes isn’t challenging enough … AVID widened my options. I’m a first-generation college student, and AVID helped me learn strategies across years.” This testimony aligns with existing evaluation findings about AVID’s impact on motivation and college readiness ^[21]

Other studies have reported improvements in executive function among middle school students in AVID programs,^[26] and higher college enrollment rates in participating schools.

School-level reporting of impact

Beyond academic research, multiple schools and districts publicly report how AVID influences student and school outcomes, often blending descriptive statistics with program narratives.

For example, **Amador County Unified (CA)** states that AVID students achieve a **98 % graduation rate**, **93 % meeting four-year college entrance requirements**, and **88 % persistence into the second year of college**.^[27] In **Houston ISD (TX)**, a district “Impact Report” notes that AVID is active in 94 schools (57 elementary, 37 secondary) and highlights staff training and student participation metrics.^[28]

In **Portland Public Schools (OR)**, an internal evaluation emphasized the AVID elective's “supportive, family-like” environment and its contribution to school culture and student engagement.^[29] **Creekside High School** in Fulton County (GA) hosted a showcase where visiting educators observed AVID strategies across classrooms, with school leaders citing positive cultural impact beyond the elective.^[30]

Products and Programs

AVID provides curricular tools and professional learning strands aligned to its college-readiness framework.

AVID Excel focuses on long-term English learners, building academic language and supporting transition into advanced coursework. ^[31]

Student Summer Offerings include bridge and enrichment programs designed to prepare students for honors and advanced courses. ^[32]

Events

AVID’s professional-learning calendar includes national, regional, and virtual events.

Summer Institute (SI) – A multi-city, three-day event for educators and school teams. Independent sources confirm graduate credit options and annual locations, including San Diego and Orlando. ^[33][34] The San Diego Reader describes the Summer Institute as “the gold standard for teacher training,” noting that AVID Center hosts the event annually and trains nearly 80,000 educators each year across multiple cities. ^[21]

National Conference (NatCon) – The organization’s annual event for educators and students, featuring keynote presentations and educator-led sessions. Independent school coverage reports student keynote participation and thousands of attendees.^[35]

Leadership

As of 2025, Thuan Nguyen serves as AVID’s Chief Executive Officer. Independent profiles and interviews highlight his focus on scaling professional learning, broadening AVID’s digital resources, and meeting the needs of diverse learners. ^[36]

Recognition

AVID has been recognized by school districts, municipalities, and state governments through official proclamations and observances.

AVID Day

AVID Day is an annual observance recognizing AVID educators, students, and alumni. It is typically held on September 12 and includes school and community events, student reflections, and social media campaigns using the theme “Because of AVID, I …” and the hashtag #MyAVIDWhy.^[37]

Schools and districts across the United States mark the occasion. In **Tyler, Texas**, students held classroom celebrations and shared “Because of AVID, I …” statements as part of the nationwide campaign.^[38] In **White Plains, New York**, Highlands Middle School students and staff held an AVID Day assembly featuring chants and student testimonials about the program's impact.^[39]

AVID Day events often include community participation. At **Berry Shoals Intermediate School** in South Carolina, professionals from across the workforce visited classrooms to talk about their careers and answer student questions as part of the school's AVID Day celebration.^[40] In **Greensville County, Virginia**, the district announced its participation in AVID Day and encouraged students and families to share reflections online.^[41]

Several districts have tied AVID Day to program outcomes. In **Hillsborough County, Florida**, the district highlighted that AVID was offered in 86 schools serving over 10,000 students, with the Class of 2025 AVID seniors achieving a 100 percent graduation rate and 92 percent meeting requirements for four-year college eligibility.^[42] In **Martin County, Florida**, students at Martin County High School shared their “Because of AVID, I …” reflections and wore college attire to mark the occasion.^[43]

Some observances have included government recognition. In **Pulaski County, Arkansas**, Judge Barry Hyde declared September 12, 2025, as “AVID Day,” honoring more than 1,300 district students enrolled in AVID. The district reported that all AVID seniors graduated and pursued postsecondary options, including college, military, and careers.^[44] In **Greeley, Colorado**, Mayor John Gates presented a city proclamation recognizing AVID Day, with celebrations across district schools.^[45][46]

Media coverage has also highlighted the observance. In Illinois, local outlet WIFR reported that Freeport schools joined the national celebration by completing “AVID Why” statements and reflecting on the district's nearly 30-year involvement with the program.^[47]

Texas proclamation

Also in 2025, the State of Texas issued a statewide proclamation honoring AVID's 45-year legacy and designating September 12 as AVID Day. The proclamation noted that AVID operated in 161 districts and 1,058 sites across Texas, serving more than 205,000 students, and reported that 92 percent of Texas AVID seniors who applied to college were accepted.^[48]