EF Green Junior School hosts Texas City ISD students during AVID Campus Tour.
By: Kendall David, Executive Director of Community Engagement
AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a school-wide system ingrained into our district’s instructional framework. AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society. AVID provides our campuses with tools to set high expectations and leverage WICOR (writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading) so that all students learn at high levels. Does AVID work? Nationwide, 76% of AVID seniors are from low socioeconomic backgrounds; nevertheless, they outperform their peers in crucial metrics:
This year, Goose Creek CISD graduated 212 AVID seniors. To be considered an AVID senior, the student must have participated in the AVID elective class for all four years of high school. AVID seniors were offered $4,977,162 in scholarships and received 293 university acceptance letters. In addition, two AVID seniors chose to enlist in the military, and 19 students earned an associate’s degree.
Ashbel Smith, Carver, and Crockett Elementary piloted AVID during the 2022-2023 school year. AVID Elementary consists of teaching and reinforcing behaviors and higher-level thinking at a young age. Elementary students developed the academic habits they will need to be successful in middle school, high school, and college in an age-appropriate and challenging way. Carver focused on school-wide planners and binders to teach organizational and note-taking skills, while Crocket and Ashbel Smith focused on WICOR (writing, inquiry, collaboration, and reading) strategies.
Goose Creek Memorial High School is entering its fourth year of holding the AVID National Demonstration School status. They are one of only 52 demonstration schools in Texas and one of the only high schools in the area. AVID National Demonstration Schools are exemplary models of the AVID College Readiness System. Demonstration Schools undergo a rigorous validation process and must revalidate every few years to ensure high levels of implementation, with quality and fidelity to AVID strategies school wide.
IMPACT Early College High School earned the title of AVID School-wide Site of Distinction this year, demonstrating excellence in instructional practice and the promotion of college readiness school-wide. IMPACT, and their partnership with Lee College, used AVID to support their students in the early college high school setting by leveraging organizational strategies and following the tutorial process.
Dell Scholars, a scholarship program through the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, names 500 high school seniors as Dell Scholars, and each of them is awarded a scholarship. Students completed seven essays and submitted letters of recommendation from their teachers. Keren Gonzalez, an AVID senior at GCM, earned the award this year. Recipients will receive a $20,000 scholarship, personalized support resources, a laptop, $500 per year in textbook credits, and teletherapy services if needed. Keren will attend the University of Texas in Dallas next fall.
For the first time in Goose Creek CISD history, GCCISD has five staff members that earned the title of AVID National Staff Developer. Those employees include Dr. Matt Bolinger, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources; Kendall David, Executive Director of Community Engagement; Kim Fox, Director of Counseling and College and Career Readiness; Dawona Miles, AVID Coordinator at Lee High School; and Veronica Phillips, AVID coordinator at E.F. Green Junior School. Before being accepted, staff developers undergo a three-year vetting process and are tasked with providing strategies that empower educators to close opportunity gaps.