Study: Nashville AVID students enroll in college at higher rates than peers

Metro Nashville Public Schools students who take part in the Advancement Via Individual Determination program are more likely to enroll in college and take advanced courses than similar classmates who do not, according to research released Oct. 27 by NashvillePeer, a partnership between Vanderbilt Peabody College and district leaders.

The analysis found AVID participants were more than 5 percentage points more likely to enroll in college than comparable non-participants. About 7 percentage points more AVID students took part in Early Postsecondary Opportunities, which include Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses, and 6 points more completed one.

Sean Corcoran, a professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt Peabody College, served as a lead researcher on the project. He said the program targets students who may not have pictured themselves in higher education. "AVID is geared to kids who maybe weren't considering college," Corcoran said. "And it aims to change that culture and get them prepared and interested in higher education."

Differences were sharpest among English learners, economically disadvantaged students and those with mid-range prior grades. AVID students were about 3 points more likely to enter four-year institutions, with wider gaps for English learners, economically disadvantaged students and those entering with low prior achievement.

AVID also teaches notetaking, time management, goal setting and critical thinking, and guides students through college applications and financial aid forms. Corcoran said exposure to college-level material changes how students see their own abilities. "It boosts students' confidence," he said. "It prepares them for what's ahead, but I think it also changes their views on whether college might be a good option for them."

AVID students were not more likely to earn postsecondary credit from those courses, but Corcoran said the access still matters. He said the program normalizes advanced coursework rather than leaving families to seek it out alone.

Sanjana Ballal-Link, executive director of school counseling and post-secondary readiness at MNPS, said the results point to where the program is strongest. "What's important about this research is that it helps us see not only that AVID is making a difference, but where that difference is greatest," she said. "We can use that evidence to be more intentional about which students we're reaching, how we prepare them for rigorous coursework, and how we support them on the path from middle and high school to college."

The William T. Grant Foundation awarded NashvillePeer an additional $349,380 to continue the work for two more years, through June 2028. The renewal extends the project to five years and brings total funding to nearly $1 million. The current analysis accounts for prior AVID experience, including in middle school, but does not examine whether sustained participation produces different results. Corcoran said examining whether middle school exposure affects high school outcomes would be an important next step, particularly as the district expands AVID into earlier grades. "These results are promising," Corcoran said. "They reaffirm MNPS's investment in the program and show that when kids are exposed to college-level material, they realize it's something they can do."