AVID, or Advancement Via Individual Determination, is designed to increase the number of students who enroll in and graduate from four-year colleges and universities. The AVID college readiness system accelerates student learning, uses research-based methods of effective instruction, provides meaningful and motivational professional learning, and acts as a catalyst for systemic reform and change. The system is credited with helping to turn students into confident, college-going scholars and graduates. 

AVID's mission is close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.

SAISD was the first district in Texas to pilot AVID in 1997 with one AVID elective classroom at each of the comprehensive high schools. AVID is offered as an elective course during the school day at all participating schools. Students learn organizational and study skills; they work on critical thinking and asking probing questions and they receive academic help from peers and college tutors. The students also participate in enrichment and motivational activities that make college attainable.

In addition to the AVID elective, we offer AVID Excel at seven middle school/academy campuses. AVID Excel is a middle school elective to support emerging bilinguals and focuses on academic language acquisition and literacy. 

SAISD has a total of four National Demonstration Schools in its District. Young Women's Leadership Academy was designated as an AVID National Demonstration site in April 2022. Jefferson and Longfellow have been designated as AVID National Demonstration Sites since 2011. Whittier received its designation the following year in 2012. The designation is bestowed upon schools deemed highly successful in implementing the AVID college readiness system.  However, at National Demonstration Schools, the system is implemented beyond the elective class and incorporated schoolwide. They serve as exemplary models that other schools interested in implementing AVID can visit to observe the very best of the system’s proven methodologies and strategies. These three campuses are among approximately 170 other schools in the country to hold the designation, which is only about 2 percent of the 5,600 schools in which AVID is implemented.