A Comparison Study of AVID and GEAR UP 10th-Grade Students in Two High Schools in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas

This study examines 4 groups of high school students enrolled in 2 college prepara-tory programs, AVID and GEAR UP. Differences in student educational aspirations, expectations and anticipations, knowledge of college entrance requirements, knowl-edge of financial aid, and academic achievement in mathematics were examined. Adelman’s (1999) anticipations scale was used to measure the college plans of the 4 groups of students. Main findings included higher aspirations and college knowledge for AVID and GEAR UP students, and significantly higher academic preparation for AVID students. This study examined 10th graders and is the first part of a 2-year study of AVID and GEAR UP students. Hispanics have made tremendous strides over the past several years in college en-rollment rates. The increase in Hispanic college enrollment grew by 161 % be-tween 1976 and 1997 (Perna, 2000). It is the highest growth of any of the ethnic groups in the United States. Yet Hispanics are the ethnic group that is least likely to attend college. As reported in the 2000 U.S. Census (U.S. Census Bureau, 2002), the Hispanic population has grown by over 60 % since 1990; 80 % of that growth i