The 9th grade AVID Elective aids students’ transition into, through, and beyond high school. It promotes early college awareness by guiding students to explore colleges based on academic, financial, and social fit. The course emphasizes goal setting, fostering motivation and strategic planning. Students will study how authors use symbols to show deeper meanings in both reading and writing to enhance their interpretative and expressive skills. Critical thinking is applied through research on post-secondary options. The course explores financial literacy, covering goal setting, debt management, and budgeting. AVID I also provides a leadership opportunity for students to serve in their community. AVID students are expected to enroll in challenging courses (Advanced, Pre-AP, and AP, etc.) and receive support through academic study groups during class time. This course combines academic, financial, and social learning, preparing students for a successful high school journey.