the history of
AVID
From one classroom of 32 students to serving nearly 2 million students today, AVID has made the dream of college a reality for countless individuals.
1980
THE BEGINNING
Teachers at Clairemont High School had low expectations for students bussed in from disadvantaged areas of San Diego, which caused a belief that these students could not succeed. Mary Catherine Swanson, English department head and teacher, believed if students were willing to work hard she could teach them the skills needed to be college-ready.
1986
the80s
1989
1991
the90s
1996
1992
2007
2003
2001
the00s
2002
2006
2010
2015
the10s
2014
2018
2020
2022
the20s
2023
2022
2024
2025
the20s
2003
National Conference
The College Board co-sponsored the first-ever AVID National Conference. Today AVID National Conference is the premier forum to discuss and share best practices, attracting thousands of thought leaders and educators from across the nation annually.
2018
AVID Worldwide
AVID is implemented in more than 6,400 schools in 47 states across the U.S., plus schools in DoDEA, Canada, and Australia. AVID impacts 2 million students in grades K–12 and 50 postsecondary institutions.
2023
AVID IGNITE™
AVID launches AVID Ignite™, a summer learning event that provides the flexibility and resources you need to activate your campus community in preparing every student to live a life of possibility.
AVID and AI
AVID helps partners unlock the power of instructional AI providing AVID Elective teachers and AVID Excel Elective teachers with new opportunities to enhance students' critical thinking and writing skills.
2015
AVID EXCEL®
AVID introduces AVID Excel nationwide at Summer Institute to interrupt students’ path to long-term ELL status, accelerate their language acquisition, and put them on a path to AVID and college preparatory coursework.
1991
Recognition
Swanson won the $50,000 Dana Award for Pioneering Achievement in Education, the only public-school teacher ever so honored. The award brought national recognition and growth for AVID.
2025
AVID Certified Educator
AVID certified its first cohort of AVID Certified Educators in April 2025. The AVID Certified Educator experience is designed to foster collaborative learning, professional growth, and mutual support, giving classroom educators a space to share their experiences, challenges, and successes in applying the AVID Foundations of Instruction.
2006
New CEO
Mary Catherine Swanson retired as executive director of AVID in May. In June, AVID Center announced the selection of Jim Nelson, Superintendent of the Richardson Independent School District, Texas, and former Commissioner of Education in Texas, as its next executive director.
2020
AVID DIGITALXP™
More than 27,000 educators participated in AVID DigitalXP, bringing the best instructional and leadership strategies for student engagement into their classrooms and schools.
2007
AVID Elementary
AVID Elementary was launched nationwide, allowing young students to develop strong academic habits early to provide the academic foundation needed to start on a path for college and career success.
1996
Expansion
AVID has expanded to all regions of California, as well as many other states and Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS).
2022
AVID's Impact
AVID is implemented in more than 7,500 schools in 47 states across the U.S., plus schools in Department of Defense Education, Canada, and Australia. AVID impacts nearly 2 million students in grades K–12.
1989
Summer Institute
Summer Institute was introduced as the core event for AVID professional learning. The first AVID Summer Institute was held at the University of San Diego, with 258 attendees.
1992
AVID Center
AVID Center was established as a nonprofit to help serve schools across the nation and around the world. AVID Center would help ensure schools had the professional learning and resources they needed to deliver AVID with quality and fidelity no matter the location.
2014
New CEO
Dr. Sandy Husk joined AVID Center as Chief Executive Officer in January 2014, bringing more than 17 years of experience implementing AVID in the three districts where she has served as superintendent. In her first year as CEO, AVID impacted nearly 1 million students and trained over 47,000 educators.
2002
Top 10
AVID was named one of the top 10 nonprofits in the United States by Worth magazine.
2024
AVID Emerge™ Debuts
AVID Emerge was launched in January 2024. This resource aims to support educators in empowering multilingual students with accelerated language acquisition, success in rigorous courses, and the skills necessary to define their own future.
AVID Student Ambassadors
The AVID CEO Student Advisory launched to ensure student voice stays at the heart of our mission. We partner with four AVID classes, one from each high school grade level from 9th through 12th, where student leaders and their AVID elective teachers collaborate with us to spark innovation, shape new ideas, and bring meaningful campaigns to life. This work connects back to where it all began: our students.
2022
New CEO
Dr. Thuan Nguyen is the current AVID CEO. Dr. Nguyen first joined AVID as Executive Vice President in 2016 and was since promoted to Chief Operating Officer and then to President and Chief Operating Officer. During Dr. Nguyen’s tenure, more than 3,200 schools have partnered with AVID Center, increasing the number of students served by more than 1.5 million.
2010
AVID for Higher Education
AVID for Higher Education was developed, allowing AVID to reach educators and students at all levels, K–16, through customizable professional learning and by helping colleges strengthen their student services and the freshman experience.
2001
Recognition
Swanson was featured as America’s Best Teacher by TIME Magazine, highlighting her simple philosophy of raising expectations and giving students the support they need. The article noted that AVID had become widely regarded as one of the most effective educational reforms ever created by a teacher.
1986
Growth
The AVID system proved to be so successful at Clairemont High School that the California Department of Education granted funds to disseminate the AVID program throughout San Diego County.
AVID History Timeline
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Transcript
the history of
AVID
From one classroom of 32 students to serving nearly 2 million students today, AVID has made the dream of college a reality for countless individuals.
1980
THE BEGINNING
Teachers at Clairemont High School had low expectations for students bussed in from disadvantaged areas of San Diego, which caused a belief that these students could not succeed. Mary Catherine Swanson, English department head and teacher, believed if students were willing to work hard she could teach them the skills needed to be college-ready.
1986
the80s
1989
1991
the90s
1996
1992
2007
2003
2001
the00s
2002
2006
2010
2015
the10s
2014
2018
2020
2022
the20s
2023
2022
2024
2025
the20s
2003
National Conference
The College Board co-sponsored the first-ever AVID National Conference. Today AVID National Conference is the premier forum to discuss and share best practices, attracting thousands of thought leaders and educators from across the nation annually.
2018
AVID Worldwide
AVID is implemented in more than 6,400 schools in 47 states across the U.S., plus schools in DoDEA, Canada, and Australia. AVID impacts 2 million students in grades K–12 and 50 postsecondary institutions.
2023
AVID IGNITE™
AVID launches AVID Ignite™, a summer learning event that provides the flexibility and resources you need to activate your campus community in preparing every student to live a life of possibility.
AVID and AI
AVID helps partners unlock the power of instructional AI providing AVID Elective teachers and AVID Excel Elective teachers with new opportunities to enhance students' critical thinking and writing skills.
2015
AVID EXCEL®
AVID introduces AVID Excel nationwide at Summer Institute to interrupt students’ path to long-term ELL status, accelerate their language acquisition, and put them on a path to AVID and college preparatory coursework.
1991
Recognition
Swanson won the $50,000 Dana Award for Pioneering Achievement in Education, the only public-school teacher ever so honored. The award brought national recognition and growth for AVID.
2025
AVID Certified Educator
AVID certified its first cohort of AVID Certified Educators in April 2025. The AVID Certified Educator experience is designed to foster collaborative learning, professional growth, and mutual support, giving classroom educators a space to share their experiences, challenges, and successes in applying the AVID Foundations of Instruction.
2006
New CEO
Mary Catherine Swanson retired as executive director of AVID in May. In June, AVID Center announced the selection of Jim Nelson, Superintendent of the Richardson Independent School District, Texas, and former Commissioner of Education in Texas, as its next executive director.
2020
AVID DIGITALXP™
More than 27,000 educators participated in AVID DigitalXP, bringing the best instructional and leadership strategies for student engagement into their classrooms and schools.
2007
AVID Elementary
AVID Elementary was launched nationwide, allowing young students to develop strong academic habits early to provide the academic foundation needed to start on a path for college and career success.
1996
Expansion
AVID has expanded to all regions of California, as well as many other states and Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS).
2022
AVID's Impact
AVID is implemented in more than 7,500 schools in 47 states across the U.S., plus schools in Department of Defense Education, Canada, and Australia. AVID impacts nearly 2 million students in grades K–12.
1989
Summer Institute
Summer Institute was introduced as the core event for AVID professional learning. The first AVID Summer Institute was held at the University of San Diego, with 258 attendees.
1992
AVID Center
AVID Center was established as a nonprofit to help serve schools across the nation and around the world. AVID Center would help ensure schools had the professional learning and resources they needed to deliver AVID with quality and fidelity no matter the location.
2014
New CEO
Dr. Sandy Husk joined AVID Center as Chief Executive Officer in January 2014, bringing more than 17 years of experience implementing AVID in the three districts where she has served as superintendent. In her first year as CEO, AVID impacted nearly 1 million students and trained over 47,000 educators.
2002
Top 10
AVID was named one of the top 10 nonprofits in the United States by Worth magazine.
2024
AVID Emerge™ Debuts
AVID Emerge was launched in January 2024. This resource aims to support educators in empowering multilingual students with accelerated language acquisition, success in rigorous courses, and the skills necessary to define their own future.
AVID Student Ambassadors
The AVID CEO Student Advisory launched to ensure student voice stays at the heart of our mission. We partner with four AVID classes, one from each high school grade level from 9th through 12th, where student leaders and their AVID elective teachers collaborate with us to spark innovation, shape new ideas, and bring meaningful campaigns to life. This work connects back to where it all began: our students.
2022
New CEO
Dr. Thuan Nguyen is the current AVID CEO. Dr. Nguyen first joined AVID as Executive Vice President in 2016 and was since promoted to Chief Operating Officer and then to President and Chief Operating Officer. During Dr. Nguyen’s tenure, more than 3,200 schools have partnered with AVID Center, increasing the number of students served by more than 1.5 million.
2010
AVID for Higher Education
AVID for Higher Education was developed, allowing AVID to reach educators and students at all levels, K–16, through customizable professional learning and by helping colleges strengthen their student services and the freshman experience.
2001
Recognition
Swanson was featured as America’s Best Teacher by TIME Magazine, highlighting her simple philosophy of raising expectations and giving students the support they need. The article noted that AVID had become widely regarded as one of the most effective educational reforms ever created by a teacher.
1986
Growth
The AVID system proved to be so successful at Clairemont High School that the California Department of Education granted funds to disseminate the AVID program throughout San Diego County.