Blog

As schools navigate new challenges, AVID is focused on meaningful solutions that meet educators where they are. In this Staff Spotlight, Gina Gamnis shares how listening closely, building together, and staying centered on students guide her work—and what that means for partners.

At Murrieta Mesa High School, WICOR® is everywhere. See how weekly walkthroughs, student voice, and intentional recognition helps the campus drive measurable gains in learning and access to advanced coursework.

No new platform. No extra funding. Just consistency. See how one AVID teacher’s commitment to recognizing student effort became the most reliable driver of postsecondary readiness at Rickards High School.

In a time of rising skepticism about higher education, personal success stories can be compelling but misleading. AVID President and CEO Thuan Nguyen looks beyond anecdotes to the evidence, and makes the case for why education after high school still matters for equity, mobility, and student futures.

On Teacher Appreciation Day, we honor the educators who bring AVID’s mission to life in classrooms across the country. AVID teachers help students develop skills that last far beyond one course or one year. They teach students how to organize their thinking, ask meaningful questions, collaborate with purpose, advocate for themselves, and see opportunity as something within reach.

Behind AVID’s programs is a disciplined commitment to learning what works and improving it over time. Dr. Cassie Freeman, AVID Center’s Vice President of Research and Data, leads the team that brings research, data, and collaboration together to guide decisions and strengthen support for educators and students.

How Rampello K‑8 shows what it takes to become an AVID National Demonstration School at the Elementary Level

AVID Center’s Head of Core Products and Services, Shanda Martin, is turning real classroom needs into clearer tools, stronger systems, and more consistent implementation for educators nationwide.

When Pasco High created a multilingual accelerated math pathway, the impact was immediate: 126 newcomer students have now accessed advanced math, and 61 have earned college credit—compared to just one student before the program began. See how AVID strategies and purposeful professional learning helped one teacher’s vision grow into a model any school can replicate.

Bernard Campbell Middle School teachers used Summer Institute to sharpen their AVID practice and bring consistency to instruction across every classroom. Their intentional approach is already shaping student engagement, teacher collaboration, and schoolwide belonging.

At Ridge Point High School, leaders rebuilt the master schedule around what students actually wanted to take—analyzing demand early, staggering hard‑to‑schedule courses, expanding online and summer options, and reallocating staff to open more AP and AVID Elective sections. By saying “yes” to AVID and student ambition, the school created space for opportunity: nearly 20% more students accessed AP courses, AP scores of 3+ climbed from 64% to over 82%, and 100% of AVID seniors were accepted to 4-year universities. Ridge Point shows how a master schedule, done right, can unlock access for all.

Practical, high‑impact strategies any school can implement to expand access to rigorous courses and support ambitious student goals.

Tamieka Thomas knows what impactful professional learning looks and feels like. What she didn’t expect was to experience it in a virtual breakout room.

Discover how the AVID Certified Educator journey helped one teacher shift from instinctive teaching to intentional instructional design using the Continuous Improvement Cycle to elevate student ownership, engagement, and outcomes.

Explore practical ways to design more intentional lessons using the 4 Es—Enter, Engage, Evaluate, and Exit—and strengthen instructional choices to create learning experiences that build clarity, confidence, and deeper engagement for every student, with clear objectives, real-time feedback, and purposeful reflection.

Salem‑Keizer Public Schools has become a standout in recruiting, engaging, and retaining students in AVID. By aligning feeder patterns, removing barriers, and honoring student agency, the district is nearly doubling national middle school retention rates and tripling high school persistence rates. Explore how this large, demographically diverse Oregon district, with three AVID National Demonstration Schools, keeps students engaged and progressing.

When Bremerton School District recognized that AVID students were developing the same skills local employers were requesting, leaders saw an opportunity to rethink alignment. By reclassifying AVID as a CTE course, the district removed scheduling barriers, protected funding, and expanded access to rigorous career pathways. Discover how this shift strengthened both programs and opened more doors for students.

Site Teams across districts gather mid-year to review data, apply the Continuous Improvement Cycle (Plan–Do–Study–Act), and share innovative practices. This replicable approach can help your team prioritize what matters most and strengthen AVID implementation for the second half of the school year and beyond.

What if you could measure students’ belief, confidence, and ownership? In Levy County, the data tell a nuanced story: two of their three elementary schools saw gains of up to 8% in Student Agency in only 1 year. Discover how their approach is reshaping classrooms and what it could mean for yours.

PE teachers once doubted AVID could fit in a gym class. Through modeling and peer learning, they proved it’s possible—and powerful. Discover simple strategies to bring AVID into any classroom.

For years, AVID strategies thrived in classrooms—but something was missing. Freeport School District discovered the key to scaling success wasn’t more enthusiasm. The schools needed a plan. Learn how AVID Districtwide Strategic Planning aligned systems, strengthened teacher capacity, and boosted student outcomes—transforming AVID from an initiative into a way of doing business.

What happens when eighth graders lead professional learning for their teachers? At Cockeysville Middle School, AVID scholars transformed the conversation about rigor. From modeling WICOR strategies to challenging teachers to rethink instruction, these students proved that leadership starts early—and that the most powerful PD might come from the voices in our classrooms.

Clear systems, shared purpose, and empowered teachers can change a school from the inside out. Bruce Lolling, a veteran educator and administrator with over three decades of experience, reflects on how AVID creates a culture where instruction improves, collaboration thrives, and students gain the confidence to reach their goals.

What begins as a spark can grow into lasting change. Heather Darrow, a principal with more than 25 years in education, shares how AVID fuels teacher leadership, strengthens collaboration, and builds school cultures that sustain meaningful transformation.

When AVID becomes the mindset, culture begins to shift. Principal Derwin Farr shares how intentional leadership and high expectations have shaped a more collaborative and student-centered school.

For principal Renee Kory, excellence is not a goal. It is the expectation. Through AVID as the foundation of her work, she has built a campus culture grounded in opportunity, rigor, and empowered teacher leadership.

Step inside Rebecca Lazarou’s classroom and learn how purpose shapes her practice. Through intentional design, steady routines, and AVID-aligned inquiry, she creates a space where students feel supported and engaged.

Strong student relationships don’t end after the first weeks of school. Learn strategies that keep trust, collaboration, and engagement alive all year long.

Kick off the school year with free, high-quality tools from AVID Open Access that empower teachers, students, and families. Explore how this resource hub makes engaging, equitable learning easier than ever.

Learn how AVID professional learning empowers educators, elevates instructional practice, and builds schoolwide capacity for student success. Insights from district leaders reveal why strategic, teacher-centered PD can transform entire learning communities.

Providing meaningful, individualized feedback is one of the most powerful ways to improve student achievement—but it’s also one of the hardest to sustain. Explore how AVID Instructional AI is helping educators deliver timely, consistent feedback at scale, backed by research and real classroom impact.

Professional learning is a journey, not a one-time event. Discover how AVID’s Professional Learning Journeys and Communities of Practice support educators at every stage, helping them invest in their growth while creating collective impact in their classrooms, schools, and districts.

School leaders are facing unprecedented challenges—from literacy gaps to teacher burnout and student absenteeism. In this recap of AVID’s "Championship Learning for Every Student and Teacher" webinar series, discover practical insights and real-world strategies from principals who are driving meaningful change on their campuses.

Community is a powerful force that helps educators and students thrive in an ever-changing world. Learn how the AVID Certified Educator program brings educators together to collaborate, grow, and strengthen their impact on student success.

At AVID, we’ve seen firsthand how community and philanthropic connections bring about positive change. If you’re considering building these types of relationships within your school or district, the information in this blog will provide inspiration and resources to help get you started.

More than one million AVID graduates are shaping their futures in college, careers, and beyond, but their AVID journey doesn’t end at graduation. Discover how AVID Alumni Services is building a powerful, nationwide network that connects alums, inspires current students, and creates new opportunities to give back, grow, and lead the next generation.

Principals play a powerful role in student success, and great AVID principals lead with intention. In this post, Brett Bowers highlights 10 ways they embed AVID into their leadership, aligning instruction, modeling WICOR®, and making college and career readiness a schoolwide reality for all students.