FBISD AVID PROGRAM

Our Fort Bend ISD AVID program is part of a worldwide network of school districts that support their students as they advance via their own determination. AVID's mission is to ensure that all students, especially those in the middle with academic potential, succeed in a rigorous curriculum, enter mainstream activities of the school, increase their enrollment in four year colleges, and become educated and responsible participants as well as leaders in a democratic society.

Focusing on the mission has resulted in over thirty thousand AVID graduates with a 93% enrollment in colleges. After two years, 89% of the students were still enrolled. Many of these AVID graduates are young leaders in their communities.

Elkins, Hightower, Kempner, and Willowridge High Schools currently have AVID students in grades nine and ten. Students are identified by eighth grade teachers and counselors using a specific criteria. This fall the program will expand to eleventh grade and in 2002 will be a mature ninth through twelfth grade program. At that time, the program will serve over four hundred students.

All four schools are currently going through a thorough AVID certification process. Sites that reach AVID Certified status are considered to be implementing the AVID essentials at a level that helps students realize the AVID mission.

Our AVID students are being elevated in many ways. Their attendance is high, averaging two to four percent above the overall district's ninth grade ADA. They are taking more rigorous courses as well as moving upward from the regular graduation plan to the recommended or distinguished high school program. We are looking forward to increasing the number of Texas Scholars as a direct result of AVID program support!

As we monitor and guide our AVID students we constantly focus on improving their achievement. Our hope is that the AVID students and AVID methodologies will result in school-wide improvement.

In addition to academics, many AVID students are contributing at school and in the community. They are involved in athletics, band, dance, Junior ROTC, theatre, debate, and various school-sponsored clubs. In our communities, AVID students are giving their energy and time to help others. Their contributions will assist them as they complete Part II of the State of Texas Common Application for Texas Public University Admission.

To help provide college preparation for our students, all of the AVID sophomores participated in PLAN (Pre-ACT) testing. Sixty percent of the sophomores took the PSAT test. College preparation is more than testing. AVID students visit universities throughout their high school years. In addition, each student creates a portfolio.

Overall, AVID provides a winning program for our students in the middle. It prepares them for all of their tomorrows as they move upward to meet their potential.

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