Linked Learning Certified Pathways
Research shows quality is key to Linked Learning experiences that prepare students to succeed in college and career. Linked Learning Certification establishes clear standards for implementing the approach with fidelity. Schools with certified pathways show their dedication to continual improvement, unlock real benefits for all students—and are recognized for their commitment to excellence and equity in education.
Today, there are 109 Linked Learning Certified pathways across 58 schools and 14 California districts. Of certified pathways presented below, 53 have earned the Silver distinction, and 56 have earned Gold.
Last updated November 4, 2026
Antelope Valley Union High School District
Antelope Valley Union High School District has made Linked Learning central to how it prepares its 22,000 students for what comes next. The district's career academies span agriculture, engineering, digital design, biomedical sciences, aviation, and more—all tied to high-opportunity careers in the local economy. Two of its pathways were among the first twelve Gold Certified Linked Learning pathways in the nation. The district's vision: every graduate prepared to pursue college and any career they set their sights on.
Gold Certified Middle School Pathways
SOAR Prep Academy, Academy Prep Junior High School
Gold Certified High School Pathways
SOAR Prep Academy, Academy Prep Junior High School
Biomedical Science Academy, Eastside High School
Media and Engineering Academy, Lancaster High School
Silver Certified High School Pathways
Green Enterprise, Antelope Valley High School
Education and Social Services, Eastside High School
Biomedical Pathway, Lancaster High School
Television and Video Academy, Quartz Hill High School
ARISE
A social justice-centered public charter school in East Oakland's Fruitvale Village, ARISE was built on the belief that students who are first-generation college-bound, largely from immigrant families, and historically underserved deserve a high school experience that prepares them to lead, not just to graduate. Its Linked Learning pathway emerged from deep staff conversations about what students truly need—combining rigorous college prep with semester-long internships, career connections in healthcare and education, and wrap-around support for the whole student.
Gold Certified Pathways
Public & Community Health, ARISE High School
Silver Certified High School Pathways
Education for the People, ARISE High School
Carlsbad Unified School District
Carlsbad Unified has long recognized the value of connecting classroom learning to students’ interests and future ambitions. Its career pathways integrate rigorous academics with hands-on learning, industry partnerships, and opportunities to explore careers.
Gold Certified High School Pathways
Film Academy, Carlsbad High School
Fresno Unified School District
Fresno Unified believes a career-ready graduate is a student with every option open to them after high school. Its Linked Learning pathways weave technical coursework into rigorous academics, answering the question students ask most: Why do I need to learn this? Across its high schools, students intern with local employers, earn industry certifications, and build the critical thinking and communication skills that matter in any field. From biomedical sciences to public service to finance and entrepreneurship, Fresno Unified's Linked Learning Certified pathways are transforming what high school can look like for the city's students.
Gold Certified High School Pathways
Medical Academy of Science and Health, Erma Duncan Polytechnical High School
Medical Education & Research Academy (MERA), McLane High School
Business, Entrepreneurship, & Technology, Phillip J. Patiño School of Entrepreneurship
Silver Certified High School Pathways
Biomedicine, Bullard High School
Law & Social Justice, Bullard High School
Biomedical Sciences & Technology, Edison High School
Engineering Design & Development, Edison High School
Innovative Design and Applied Technology Academy, Erma Duncan Polytechnical High School
Arts, Entertainment & Design, Herbert Hoover High School
Horticulture Arts, Herbert Hoover High School
Public Service, Herbert Hoover High School
Finance & Entrepreneurship, McLane High School
Health Academy, Roosevelt High School
Public Service, Roosevelt High School
Agriscience & Technology, Sunnyside High School
Health Sciences, Sunnyside High School
Multimedia & Marketing, Sunnyside High School
Video Production Academy, Sunnyside High School
Long Beach Unified School District
Every high school student in this district is enrolled in a pathway, making Long Beach Unified one of the few truly wall-to-wall Linked Learning districts in the state. That commitment is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: When students can see how their learning connects to something they care about, everything changes. Here pathways pair A-G academics with real industry experiences—from global logistics with the Port of Long Beach to criminal justice, public health, engineering, and the arts. LBUSD was one of the original nine Linked Learning pilot districts, has since become a regional hub that mentors other districts, and continues to deepen the work through its Long Beach College Promise, which supports students from pathway to degree.
Gold Certified High School Pathways
The California Academy of Mathematics and Science (CAMS)
Academy of Law & Justice, Cabrillo High School
Criminal Justice & Investigation, Ernest McBride High School
Engineering, Ernest McBride High School
Sato Academy of Mathematics and Science
Silver Certified High School Pathways
Academy of Global Logistics, Cabrillo High School
Health Occupations & Sports Medicine, Lakewood High School
The Software Engineering and Gaming Academy (SEGA), Millikan High School
Hospitality and Culinary Arts, Richard D. Browning High School
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified was one of the original nine districts to pilot Linked Learning in California, and it has since grown into one of the largest and most ambitious pathway systems in the country—with over 70 pathways across 58 career sectors in all of the state's 15 designated industry areas. The district's vision is clear: every student graduates as an adaptable, worldly-wise, and influential citizen ready for both college and career. What makes LAUSD's approach distinctive is its Graduate Profile—a set of expectations that culminate in a senior portfolio defense, where students present four years of rigorous work before a panel of teachers, community members, and industry professionals.
Gold Certified Middle School Pathways
Engineering and Architecture, Hollenbeck Middle School STEMM Magnet
Laurel Cinematic Arts & Creative Technologies Magnet School
Southeast DREAMS Magnet, Southeast Middle School
STEAM Magnet, Los Angeles Academy Middle School
Gold Certified High School Pathways
G+Steam, Chatsworth Charter High School
School of Business and Tourism, Contreras Learning Complex
Patient Care, Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School
Global Media Studies Magnet (GMS), Grover Cleveland Charter High School
New Media Acadamy, Hollywood Senior High School
Huntington Park Institute of Applied Medicine, Linda Esperanza Marquez High School
Los Angeles High School of the Arts
Biomedical Science, Reseda Charter High School
Eastside STEM Magnet
Biomedicine & Engineering, STEM Academy of Hollywood
Sylmar Biotech Health & Engineering Magnet
Law and Public Service Magnet, Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School
Medical and Health Sciences, Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School
Silver Certified High School Pathways
Musical Entertainment & Digital Arts (M.E.D.i.A.), Carson Senior High School
Global Business Magnet, Gardena High School
Medical Services Academy, Gardena High School
Helen Bernstein Cinematic Arts & Creative Technologies Magnet
Academy of Biomedical Sciences and Child Development, Hollywood Senior High School
Law and Social Justice, John C. Fremont High School
Arts and Entrepreneurship, Metropolitan Continuation High School
Biotechnology, Orthopedic Hospital Medical Magnet
Design, Media & Arts, RFK Community Schools - School for the Visual Arts and Humanities
Film & Television Magnet, Roybal Learning Center
Academy of Music and Digital Production, Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School
Science Technology Engineering Math and Medicine Magnet, Venice Senior High School
University Pathways Public Service Academy
Oakland Unified School District
Oakland Unified School District has built one of the most expansive Linked Learning ecosystems in California—with 45 pathways, a wall-to-wall commitment across its high schools, and a deep belief that rigorous academics and real-world relevance belong together. Pathways here are shaped by the community they serve: Students study engineering or law; they apply those lenses to issues that affect Oakland directly, collaborating with UC Berkeley, local health organizations, and civic partners to produce work that creates genuine change. By blending academic rigor with industry partnerships and student support, OUSD prepares students for college, career, and community.
Gold Certified High School Pathways
Architecture Academy, Fremont High School
Law & Social Justice, Oakland High School
Green Energy, Skyline High School
Silver Certified High School Pathways
Design for Social Change: An Engineering Pathway, Aspire Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy
Pasadena Unified School District
Pasadena Unified School District uses Linked Learning as its primary school reform strategy to pursue its vision of transforming education to empower students to succeed. Its pathways—collaboratively developed by teachers, district leaders, industry partners, and community members—prepare students for college and careers through career-themed academies offering students hands-on experiences and opportunities to earn college credits.
Silver Certified High School Pathways
Arts, Entertainment, and Media (AEM), John Muir High School
Engineering and Environmental Science Academy, John Muir High School
Port of Los Angeles High School
Port of Los Angeles High School is an independent public charter school serving students in the San Pedro community. Located in the heart of the nation’s busiest port complex, the school connects classroom learning to the industries and opportunities shaping its surrounding community. Through career-focused pathways, students combine rigorous academics with hands-on learning and opportunities to develop skills relevant to future careers.
Silver Certified High School Pathways
Video Production, Port of Los Angeles High School
Porterville Unified School District
Porterville Unified School District has been at the forefront of Linked Learning in California, making career-connected education a cornerstone of its high school experience. The district began its Linked Learning journey in 2008 and has since expanded its career-themed pathways across its high schools. Through project-based learning, rigorous academics, career technical education, internships, and partnerships with local employers, students connect what they learn in the classroom to real-world opportunities. With pathways spanning engineering, performing arts, health sciences, business, agriculture, and more, Porterville is working to ensure every student graduates prepared for college and career.
Gold Certified High School Pathways
Academy of Engineering (AOE), Harmony Magnet Academy
Academy of Performing Arts (APA), Harmony Magnet Academy
San Benito High School District
San Benito High School District connects classroom learning to students’ college and career aspirations through career technical education, Linked Learning academies, and dual enrollment opportunities. At Hollister High School, students can participate in four-year, school-within-a-school academies that bring together cross-disciplinary projects, hands-on learning, and work-based experiences. Partnerships with local employers and colleges help students develop technical and professional skills while earning college credit and industry-recognized certifications. The district’s focus is on ensuring every student graduates with the preparation and options to pursue their goals after high school.
Silver Certified High School Pathways
Academy of Health Science, Hollister High School
San Bernardino City Unified School District
San Bernardino City Unified has built one of the deepest Linked Learning ecosystems in California—second only to LAUSD for its number of Gold Certified pathways. That reach reflects a core conviction: A career means more than a job. It means a family-sustaining wage, pathways to advancement, and real options after graduation. Across SBCUSD's high schools, students earn industry certifications, access dual enrollment, and get paid internships alongside local employers. The district's commitment extends to its continuation schools—San Andreas High School made history as the first continuation school in the nation to earn Linked Learning Gold Certification, proving high-quality, meaningful education belongs to every student, not just those in traditional settings.
Gold Certified Middle School Pathways
Design Pathway, Magnolia Heights Middle School
STEM Pathway, Curtis Middle School
Gold Certified High School Pathways
AniVation Tech Academy, Arroyo Valley High School
Business & Logistics Pathway, Arroyo Valley High School
CORE Academy, Arroyo Valley High School
Digital Media Arts Academy, Arroyo Valley High School
Educators for Tomorrow, Arroyo Valley High School
Behavioral Health & Human Services, Cajon High School
IB Film Theory & Production Pathway, Cajon High School
Machining Pathway, Indian Springs High School
Adobe, Pacific High School
Business, Pacific High School
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Biomedical Academy, Pacific High School
Business and Technology, San Andreas High School
Health Science Pathway, San Andreas High School
Project Lead the Way (PTLW) Engineering, San Bernardino High School
Automotive Technology Pathway, San Gorgonio High School
Early Childhood Education, San Gorgonio High School
Family and Human Services, Sierra High School
Silver Certified Pathways
Building Trades & Construction, Cajon High School
Sports Medicine, Cajon High School
Theatre Arts, Cajon High School
Digital Media Academy, Middle College High School
Art and Visual Communications, Pacific High School
eBusiness, San Bernardino High School
Public Safety, San Bernardino High School
Visual Media and Digital Art, San Bernardino High School
San Marcos Unified School District
San Marcos Unified School District connects academic learning to real-world opportunities through a broad range of career technical education pathways. Across its high schools, students explore fields including health care, engineering and robotics, business and entrepreneurship, digital media, criminal justice, and education. Through hands-on projects, industry partnerships, internships, and opportunities to earn professional certifications, students build skills and experience that prepare them for life beyond high school. The district's approach gives students multiple ways to connect their interests to future college and career opportunities.
Silver Certified High School Pathways
Filmmaking Academy, San Marcos High School
Visalia Unified School District
Visalia Unified has been investing in career and technical education for over 60 years—and its Linked Learning Academies represent the district's most ambitious expression of that commitment. Spread across four comprehensive high schools, the academies pair college-prep academics with healthcare training, precision machining, engineering, and more. Students job shadow with local employers, earn industry credentials, and in some cases begin earning college credit before senior year.
Gold Certified High School Pathways
Academy of Health Sciences, Mt. Whitney High School
Silver Certified High School Pathways
Academy of Law & Justice, Redwood High School