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MARCO FORSTER MIDDLE

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RECENT AVID ACTIVITIES

RECENT AVID ACTIVITIES

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Marco AVID
Marco AVID is:

AVID Advisor:
Kevin Gerow ktgerow@capousd.org
Marco AVID is:

  • A program for hard-working students who want to go to college.
  • A path to academic and personal success
  • A part of one of the most successful educational programs in the world
  • An elective for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students who may continue to enroll in AVID through high school
  • Support for academic classes
  • Preparation for high-school success
  • Preparation for college
  • University field trips
  • Educational field trips
  • Friendship and camaraderie
  • Students helping students
  • Tutorials with support
  • Career planning
  • Academic skill building
  • Test preparation
  • Fun — and hard work
gpa graph
RESULTS
2016 Marco AVID Cumulative GPA:  3.77
2015 Marco AVID Cumulative GPA:  3.79
2014 Marco AVID Cumulative GPA:  3.71
Former Marco AVID students are currently enrolled at the following universities and colleges:
  • Agnes Scott College
  • Brigham Young University (Hawaii)
  • Brigham Young University (Provo)
  • California State Polytechnic University Pomona
  • California State University Dominguez Hills
  • California State University Fullerton
  • California State University Humboldt
  • California State University Long Beach
  • California State University Sacramento
  • California State University San Francisco
  • California State University San Marcos
  • Claremont McKenna College
  • Kansas State University
  • Loyola Marymount University
  • Pitzer College
  • St. Olaf’s College
  • Trinity College
  • University of California Davis
  • University of California Irvine
  • University of California Merced
  • University of California Riverside
  • University of California San Diego
  • University of California Santa Cruz
  • University of Hawaii
  • University of New Mexico
  • University of Northern Arizona
  • University of San Diego
  • University of San Francisco
  • University of St. Thomas
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AVID?
AVID is an in-school academic support program for grades 6-12 that prepares students for college eligibility and success.  AVID helps students organize themselves, promotes academic success, orients students with all things related to college, pushes students into the most advanced classes that they are prepared to handle, and drives students toward personal success.  AVID is offered as an elective course that, like any other class, meets daily. 
 
What does AVID stand for?
Advancement Via Individual Determination.  Enrollment is voluntary by students who are determined to advance.
 
Why should a student join Marco AVID? 
Because they are hard-working, have a positive attitude about school, and want to participate in a program that has proven to guide students into four-year college.
 
What is the goal of an AVID student?
Earn acceptance into a four-year university.
Attend a four-year university the fall after high school graduation.
Earn scholarships to help pay for college
 
Is Marco AVID a remedial program? 
No.
 
Is Marco AVID an ESL/ELD program?
No.  While some students in Marco AVID may be English learners, they are in Marco AVID because they are hard-working students who want to attend college.
 
May a student whose parents went to college join Marco AVID? 
Yes, if space permits. Priority will be given to those highly-motivated students who will be first-generation college students. 
 
May a student join Marco AVID during the school year?
Yes, but the schedule change may have to wait until the end of the quarter.
 
Can students with bad grades get into Marco AVID?
No, students must demonstrate a potential for academic success, as well as a positive attitude about school and schoolwork before they may be enrolled in Marco AVID.
 
Can students with behavior problems get into Marco AVID? 
No, students must demonstrate a certain amount of self-discipline and maturity before they may be enrolled in Marco AVID.
 
Is Marco AVID an easy class? 
No.  AVID is an academic class whose students work harder than average students.
 
Does Marco AVID go on field trips? 
Yes, Marco AVID students attend several college orientation trips, as well as other educational and fun field trips.  WARNING:  Do not join Marco AVID only because you want to go on field trips.  Field trips are only part of the AVID educational experience.  Students who earn D’s, F’s, N’s, U’s or discipline points are not allowed to attend Marco AVID field trips.
 
Can a student get kicked out of Marco AVID? 
Yes.  Students who earn low grades or discipline points or who demonstrate a consistently negative attitude or who make lifestyle choices that are unlikely to foster success will be transferred out of Marco AVID.
 
Can a student earn their way back into Marco AVID? 
Yes.  A student who has earned their way out of Marco AVID may earn their way back into Marco AVID by working hard, completing work, staying out of trouble, demonstrating a positive attitude about school, working off discipline points, and reapplying.
 
Can a student take Marco AVID and another elective? 
Yes, if space is available in zero-period PE.
 
Are Marco AVID students required to take part in Marco AVID activities and field trips.
Yes.  Activities and field trips are critical parts of the Marco AVID program and all Marco AVID students are expected to participate when they are allowed.
avid group

Marco AVID is a class for hard-working students who want to go to college.

student contract
AVID HISTORY

AVID HISTORY

Former Marco Forster teachers Elizabeth Baron-Fields and Bea Dillehunt brought the AVID program to Marco Forster Middle School in 1995.
 
After some intense recruiting, they were able to assemble some 40 students to form Marco AVID’s first class. Within three years Marco Forster became an AVID National Demonstration School. Many of those first Marco AVID students have gone on to great success. Many have graduated college, some are successful businessmen and women, others excel in other fields, and still others are now pursuing advanced degrees at colleges like USC and Georgetown.
 
Over the past twenty years, hundreds of students have found success through Marco’s AVID program. In 2004, Alex Gottdank and Kevin Gerow were asked to take over the Marco AVID program. Enrollment and academic success increased in the years since, as Marco AVID enrollment soared past 100 students. In 2008, Karen Salazar became the first Marco AVID student to earn the Marco Forster Student of the Year Award. Four more Marco AVID student have earned the same distinction since then. In June of 2008, MarcoAVID.com was born, and in the fall of 2009, we expanded our AVID program to include sixth grade students. Ken Soto and Nick Corbin have joined Kevin Gerow as AVID teachers as enrollment in Marco Forster's AVID program has now surpassed 300 students.
 
While we work to improve and expand our Marco AVID program, with your support we look forward to helping more Marco students find academic and personal success.
avid students