AVID
12th Grade AVID September 2021 Slides and Video Presentation
2021-2022 AVID Presentation (with audio) - this slide show has audio options for each slide and will give you more information about our AVID program.
April 2024
We are excited to share that East High School has been revalidated as an AVID National Demonstration School! We will continue to be one of the approximately 211 other AVID National Demonstration Schools as a center of teaching and learning that serves as models for implementing AVID and College & Career Readiness. A special shout out to the amazing East staff for creating a culture of excellence, ensuring students have the resources, opportunities, and support to be successful!
October 2023
A joint press conference was held with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, to celebrate the success of the AVID/TOPS (Advancement Via Individual Determination [AVID] / Teens of Promise [TOPS]) program. The University of Wisconsin-Madison's Wisconsin Evaluation Collaborative, a third-party evaluator engaged by MMSD and BGCDC, found that AVID/TOPS helps to narrow achievement gaps in college, in tandem with college prep and other supports. Information from the press conferences was detailed in this Capital times story "AVID/TOPS effective for Madison students seeking college, report says" featuring East students and staff. East High School senior and AVID/TOPS student Khady S. said it’s one of her favorite classes, where “we do a lot of good stuff for each other” and work together to confront challenging classes. “If I didn’t have AVID/TOPS, I’d probably do bad in some of my classes,” Khady said. Classmate Gigi R. said being in AVID/TOPS “is like being part of a family where I know the people around me will push me to do my best.” “For me, the most important opportunity is being a part of the youth apprenticeship and internships of our interests, because it opened many doors for us and helped us figure out what we want to do,” Gigi said.
April 2021
Capital Times featured a story "Bridge work: Programs that support Wisconsin's college-bound students adapt to new realities" featuring East Class of 2021 Senior, Vanessa Hernandez and the East AVID Program.
October 2019
"Study: AVID/TOPS students more likely to enroll in college than similar peers" (Capital Times, October 2019)
What it is
AVID/TOPS is a partnership between the Madison Metropolitan School District and the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County. The initiative works with high school students to prepare them for college. The program offers tutoring, mentorship and paid summer internships in addition to eligibility for college scholarships. It is modeled on two successful initiatives that produce college enrollment rates of over 95%.
AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination)
The classroom component, used in over 4,000 schools nationwide, is a four-year elective class with rigorous standards and strong academic support. AVID levels the playing field for minority, low-income and other students without a college tradition in their families. It is for all students, but targets those in the academic middle. It is a direct support structure for first-generation college-goers. With the AVID curriculum, students learn study skills, Cornell note-taking and other academic note taking strategies, time management, organization, test readiness, critical thinking, writing to learn and group study skills.
TOPS (Teens of Promise)
The outside-the-classroom component emphasizes college preparatory activities and real-world experiences.
Who it's for
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First generation college students
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Underrepresented minority students
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Highly motivated students
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Students in the academic middle with the potential to excel in rigorous curriculum
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Students with positive behavior and good attendance
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Students with fluctuating grades due to inconsistent study habits or poor study skills
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Students who plan to attend a college or university upon graduation
AVID Students...
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have GPAs from 2.0-3.5
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have the desire and willingness to go to college
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are capable of completing a rigorous program, but fall short of their potential
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will typically be the first in their family to go to college
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many students are from low income or minority families
AVID graduates...
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100% accepted to 2- or 4-year colleges
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100% enter college immediately after high school graduation
Mission
AVID's mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.
National Recognition
"East High School’s AVID College Prep Program Recognized as National Model" (Madison 365, October 2016)
East High School has been validated as a National AVID Demonstration School, a distinction given only to the top 2% of schools implementing the college prep program across the country. East High serves as a national teaching and learning center for the implementation of AVID.
“Not only is East High’s AVID/TOPS program making a difference for our students, but it is also a national model for success,” Superintendent Jennifer Cheatham said. “Congratulations to the staff and students at East and our partners at the Boys & Girls Club who have made this program successful.”
Students in the AVID/TOPS program in MMSD are achieving higher GPAs, enrolling in more advanced placement courses, and scoring higher on tests, according to a recent analysis of the programs provided by the Wisconsin Center for the Advancement of Postsecondary Education (WISCAPE).
“It is a tremendous honor to be selected as a demonstration school,” East High Principal Mary Kelley said. “We are proud of our AVID/TOPS program and our school as a whole. Our mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career, and AVID/TOPS has been critical in helping us move forward.”
Contact
Kate Brien
AVID Coordinator
kbrien@madison.k12.wi.us