Roswell High Reaches Next Level In AVID Program

ROSWELL, GA -- Roswell High School achieved benchmarks to rise to the next level in their AVID program status. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. It is a program that equips and trains teachers to provide extra mentoring and training to eligible students, so they have the necessary skills to succeed on a path to college and career success. Regan Pierce, the Roswell AVID Coordinator, is leading this program.

During the 2015-16 school year, Naomi Kirk, the original AVID Coordinator and current Graduation Coach determined that there were students at Roswell who would benefit from the program. They opened their first two elective classes in 2016-17 and began AVID training for members of each academic department. Throughout the year, the AVID team created a college and career-centered environment for the students in the program. It focused on providing support for writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading. They also implemented tutorials twice a week to help students set goals and monitor their academic progress.

In 2017-2018, the AVID program welcomed new freshmen from Elkins Pointe and Crabapple Middle, who have strong programs and work closely with Roswell to identify potential AVID students.

In May, Roswell graduated its first senior class, all of whom were accepted to the college or university of their choice.

To earn certification, the AVID team collects evidence from the site team and students and then submits the information with the Secondary Coaching and Certification Instrument, which contains 74 different components. They must test and refine the process to illustrate its success to achieve certification, and the process is still a continuum. Certification can be obtained after the first or second year and is re-evaluated yearly. Roswell received its certification in the 2016-17 school year. Beyond certifications, AVID schools progress to a Meets AVID Expectations, then Emerging AVID Schoolwide, and finally Sustaining AVID School.