Abner Creek Middle School Celebrates National AVID Day
Friday, September 18, 2026
Abner Creek Middle School is proud to join schools and communities across the country in celebrating National AVID Day on Friday, September 18. Mr. Travis Watson and the ACMS AVID Elective students will lead our school in recognizing the students, educators, families, and community members who make college and career readiness a shared commitment.
What Is AVID?
AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. AVID is a college and career readiness program built around the belief that students can achieve their goals when they have the skills, support, confidence, and determination to succeed.
At Abner Creek Middle School, the AVID Elective provides students with a structured environment where they learn how to become stronger, more independent learners. Students are challenged to develop academic habits and personal characteristics that can benefit them throughout middle school, high school, college, and their future careers.
Building Skills for Success
The ACMS AVID Elective focuses on skills that students can use across all of their classes and throughout their academic journey. Students work on:
Focused note-taking
Critical reading
Research and writing
Organization
Study skills
Collaboration
Inquiry
Problem-solving
Goal-setting
Leadership
College and career readiness
Students also develop the characteristics of successful learners, including resilience, work ethic, self-direction, integrity, motivation, determination, enthusiasm, and a growth mindset.
Helping Students Reach Their Potential
The ACMS AVID Elective seeks students generally within a 2.0–3.5 GPA range who have the potential and determination to grow academically. AVID helps these students develop the skills and habits necessary to challenge themselves and pursue higher levels of academic achievement.
The results at Abner Creek Middle School are encouraging:
Nearly 50% of ACMS AVID students earn placement in honors or high school credit classes after completing the AVID course.
This nearly 50% honors rate demonstrates the potential of students who develop strong academic habits, take ownership of their learning, and are willing to challenge themselves.
AVID is not designed to be an easy A or a study hall. It is not a quick fix for academic struggles. Instead, AVID students are expected to participate, think critically, collaborate, solve problems, set goals, and become increasingly independent learners.
The AVID Student
The ACMS AVID student profile emphasizes both knowledge and skills and the characteristics students need for long-term success.
An AVID student learns how to learn, how to study, how to express ideas, and how to learn independently while developing skills in writing, critical reading, tutorials, research, collaboration, inquiry, problem-solving, and organization.
Just as importantly, AVID students are developing into people who are resilient, hardworking, self-directed, motivated, determined, enthusiastic, and growth-minded. They are learning to lead with integrity and take greater ownership of their future.
Celebrating Student Voice
National AVID Day is also an opportunity to celebrate the individual journeys of our students.
As part of the celebration, AVID students and educators are encouraged to reflect on the impact of AVID by completing the phrase:
“Because of AVID, I…”
For some students, AVID may mean becoming more organized. For others, it may mean learning how to study, becoming more confident, setting higher goals, or discovering that they are capable of taking on challenging academic opportunities.
Whatever the journey, the message is the same: determination can open doors.
Celebrating Our AVID Community
National AVID Day reminds us that student success is a team effort. We are grateful for the students who show determination, the families who provide support, and the educators who encourage students to believe in their potential.
At Abner Creek Middle School, we are proud of what our AVID students are accomplishing, and we look forward to seeing where their determination takes them next.
Join us in celebrating our AVID students and sharing your AVID story on social media using #MyAVIDWhy.
Happy National AVID Day, Abner Creek Middle School!
Advancement Via Individual Determination
Helping students develop the skills, confidence, and determination to achieve more and prepare for college, careers, and beyond.
Mr. Travis Watson
AVID Elective Teacher
Abner Creek Middle School