It helps students work for success in high school. It pushes students to work for success in college. It encourages students to work for success in the future.

Five years ago at Homestead High School, Principal Brett Bowers worked to have a course to help students reach their full potential. This course is called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). “AVID is a course designed to help students develop skills so that they are successful in high school, college and beyond their education,”  Mrs. Jennifer Zortman, AVID instructor, said.

Since AVID was introduced, the class has increased in popularity. Awareness about the course’s helpful tools and skills has spread.  Adeline Damron, sophomore, said, “I signed up for AVID because I knew that I needed help being more organized, and it helps set you up for success in college.”

AVID creates a classroom atmosphere like no other. “[AVID] provides students with a team environment in an academic setting, but allows the students to develop a positive working relationship with classmates as well as adults,” Mrs. Zortman said. Students work together to help each other improve the skills and use the tools they are taught.

AVID has a different curriculum for each grade, focusing on different skills and tools each year. Nicole Zingale, senior, describes what AVID’s program consists of depending on the grade they are currently in.

Throughout freshman year, students work on different skills and strategies to be successful in high school. Sophomore year focuses on building those skills to a higher level, so that they can begin their college search. Zingale explains further that during junior year, students work on ACT test taking skills and continue their college search. Finally throughout senior year, students begin to apply for college and scholarships.

AVID students begin to see improvement in the other classes they are taking through the tools and activities AVID provides. “[AVID] is very helpful if you are ever confused in one of your classes. Twice a week we come to class with a question from one of our core classes. In small groups, people help you work through the question until you come up with an answer,” Damron said.

Effects of AVID go past the classroom and continue into the real world. Students take away skills and characteristics that will aid them in the future. Zingale said, “AVID has helped me become an active student and helped me develop the skills I need to be successful in college.”

The valuable skills and tools will stay with the students after they leave Homestead. Zingale said, “I will take away the academic skills that AVID has helped me to develop, especially the Cornell note-taking method.” AVID helps students be successful in high school, college and in the future.

As students go through AVID, they work for success and learn many important skills and tools. However, this class provides much more than just academic improvement. This course is more than just a class, AVID creates a community. “From freshman to senior year there is a class built around support, family and a desire to do well,” Mrs. Zortman said.