Comparison study of AVID and GEAR UP 10th-grade students in two high schools in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas

This is a study of four groups of high school students: 3 groups enrolled in two college preparatory programs, AVID and GEAR UP, and a control group not enrolled in a college preparatory program in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Differences in student educational aspirations, expectations and anticipations, knowledge of college entrance requirements, knowledge of financial aid, and academic achievement in mathematics were examined. Researchers used various methods of statistical analyses as well as focus groups to gather their data. This study examined 10th graders and is the first part of a 2-year study of AVID and GEAR UP students. The study found no significant differences in educational expectations/anticipations among the four groups – almost all of the students expected to get a college education. Yet still, higher aspirations and college knowledge were found among AVID and GEAR UP students, and significantly higher academic preparation was found for AVID students, in the form of Advanced Placement course-taking, higher level mathematics classes taken in high
school, and course-taking for college credit.