SAN DIEGO, Dec. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a San Diego-based non-profit, proven college-readiness system, recently released data providing clear evidence that shows the impact AVID has in closing the achievement gap and preparing typically underserved students for college. The initial data offer comparisons for AVID high school graduates from 2010 and 2011 and show that AVID graduates outpaced their national cohorts in persisting in college in freshman and sophomore years. AVID Center contracted with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) to acquire postsecondary enrollment information for the period studied.

While year one data is significant, even more significant are the percentages of AVID graduates overall who persisted into their second year of college when compared to the U.S. cohort. AVID graduates—largely derived from historically underrepresented populations—are persisting into their second year of college at very similar rates across all student groups.

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AVID Center’s CEO, Dr. Sandy Husk, announced the results of the research study, stating, “The report is nothing short of remarkable. Considering that more than two-thirds of the AVID graduates are from low socioeconomic backgrounds and minority populations, that AVID graduates outpaced their national cohorts in persisting in college is a testament to both the determination of the students and teachers, and the AVID strategies and skills that were used and learned during high school.”

The report released in a white paper entitled, “AVID Secondary Students’ College Enrollment and Persistence: What Equity Gaps?” provides a general overview of the 2010 and 2011 cohorts of AVID seniors, their enrollment in college, their rates of persistence into the second year, and a brief illustration of enrollment and persistence rates disaggregated along characteristics commonly associated with achievement and equity gaps. A full copy of this report may be requested through Dr. Dennis Johnston, Senior Director and Chief Research Officer at AVID Center in San Diego, via email at djohnston@avid.org.

Dr. Johnston commented, “Equity gaps, which are typically seen and all too expected in educational attainment, have not yet surfaced for AVID students currently enrolled in college. Signs of equitable persistence among diverse groups of college students, as illustrated in the research findings, are evidence of success from our efforts to close the achievement gaps by preparing all students for college readiness and success.”

ABOUT AVID
AVID is a non-profit, proven college readiness system that closes the achievement gap. Today, AVID is implemented in approximately 5,000 schools in 44 states, the District of Columbia, and 16 countries/ territories and impacts more than 800,000 students in grades K–12 and in 43 post-secondary institutions. The AVID College Readiness System transforms a school’s academic culture to increase the number of students who enroll in four-year colleges and succeed in higher education and training. www.avid.org