Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), a program that prepares students for college, has expanded from CHS and El Roble Intermediate to Oakmont Elementary and Vista del Valle of CUSD, AVID is a college-readiness system that is designed to increase school wide learning and performance. Strategies that were once targeted towards an older age group are now going to be taught to students in elementary schools.

“Our schools are currently part of a college community. It’s a better way to support AVID Center’s mission by preparing students at the elementary level for college readiness,” Principal of Oakmont Elementary Stacey Stewart said.

At the elementary level, AVID is split up into three stages: “beginnings,” “foundations,” and “bridges.” The beginnings classrooms are for students at a younger age and are designed to promote writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading. During the foundations stage, students begin to become more independent learners and finally, at the bridges stage, students become independent thinkers as they start to analyze what they are thinking, and understanding exactly what they are learning.

“Currently, Oakmont and Vista del Valle are the only AVID Elementary schools but we would love to see the promotion of a college-attending culture in all elementary schools,” Principal of Vista Del Valle Elementary School David Stewart said.

AVID will be teaching elementary students strategies like note-taking, organization, and time management that can be transferred to their junior high and high school careers.

Expanding to further elementary schools would provide CUSD with an opportunity to educate even more students about the AVID tactics. It is believed that if AVID is taught to students at such young age, there will be a huge effect to the AVID community.

“Expanding AVID to elementary schools will help them properly prepare themselves for college and will help them get an idea of who they want to be and what they want to do when they grow older,” CHS AVID student senior Kaylee Jorgensen said.

The AVID program starting at such a young age is expected to have a huge impact on the AVID system. Starting in elementary school provides students with a head start on valuable life skills.