GRASS VALLEY, Calif., — Ghidotti Early College High School has earned the prestigious Career Choices Gold Medal, advancing from last year’s silver recognition and joining an elite group of schools nationwide recognized for their outstanding life and career planning programs.
The award, presented by curriculum publisher Academic Innovations, honors schools that excel in preparing students for success in college, careers, and life. Ghidotti continues to stand out for its integrated approach, using the Career Choices curriculum and My10yearPlan.com to help students connect academic choices with long-term goals.
At Ghidotti, career planning is woven directly into the school’s curriculum rather than taught as a standalone class. Students begin the process in ninth grade through the school’s Phoenix seminar series and continue building on those plans throughout their high school experience.
“Our goal is to make the work part of the rhythm of the school,” said school counselor Karla Aaron. “Career planning is embedded in the curriculum so that every student completes the full experience and develops a clear direction for their future.”
In recent years, the school has expanded the program by having students create personal academic and career portfolio websites. These digital portfolios allow students to reflect on coursework, document career research, and connect their high school experiences to their long-term plans.
“Students now build websites that include reflections, work samples, and pieces from their career planning work,” said teacher Cristina McFadden, who leads the freshman Phoenix course. “It gives them a way to show how their ideas about college and careers have developed over time.”
The websites also provide a valuable resource for teachers writing letters of recommendation, offering insight into each student’s academic interests, career exploration, and long-term goals.
Because Ghidotti Early College High School operates as an early college program, students take both high school and college courses. Educators say the Career Choices process helps students connect those college experiences directly to their career goals.
“We’re seeing students explain how the interests they identified early on shaped the college courses they chose to take,” McFadden said. “It helps them see how everything fits together.”
The Career Choices Medal recognizes schools that demonstrate strong outcomes in college and career readiness, postsecondary planning, and workforce preparation. According to Academic Innovations, it also reflects a school’s commitment to ensuring every student has access to meaningful career exploration and planning.
“It’s always inspiring to recognize schools that are helping students think intentionally about their futures,” said Mindy Bingham, author of the Career Choices curriculum and CEO of Academic Innovations. “The team at Ghidotti has built a program that empowers students to connect their education with real opportunities and long-term goals.”
As Ghidotti celebrates its latest Career Choices Medal recognition, the school continues to serve as a model for how career exploration, college coursework, and long-term planning can work together to support student success.