Advancement via Determination (AVID) is an innovative educational program designed to enhance student eligibility for 4-year college admissions. While much research has been done at the high school level, little is known about AVID's effect on the academic success of middle school students and how teachers, AVID participants, and parents of AVID participants view the value of AVID. This study used a mixed-method, one-shot quasi-experimental case study to investigate the relationship between AVID and students' academic performance as measured by attendance rates, overall grade point averages, and scaled scores on the California State Test (CST) at three southern California middle schools. All AVID participants who completed the program were compared on these measures to an equal number of non-AVID students sharing similar demographic and academic profiles. In addition, focus group interviews were conducted with teachers, AVID participants, and parents of AVID participants to evaluate the extent of support for the program. While the results showed no statistically significant relationship between participation in AVID and academic performance, members of the focus groups unanimously rated AVID as effective in empowering participants to fully demonstrate their potential in school. In addition, the insight into the perceptions of stakeholders involved in the AVID program provided by the results of this study may lead to wider adoption of AVID for middle school students. More importantly, the success of AVID may lead to other innovative educational reforms at the district, state, and national levels. Taken together, these initiatives will help educators, particularly those who teach in minority and lower socioeconomic areas, close the widening gap in academic performance between their students and those in the more affluent neighborhoods. This in turn, will transform America to a society where every child, regardless of race and ethnicity, is provided a leveled playing field where success is no longer a dream, but an achievable reality. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]