Sierra High recently earned the prestigious Career Choices Silver Medal.

The Manteca Unified school joined an elite group of schools nationwide recognized for their outstanding life- and career-planning programs.

The award was presented by curriculum publisher Academic Innovations, which honors schools that excel in preparing students for success in college, careers, and life.

SHS continued to set the standard with its program, using the Career Choices series curriculum and My10yearPlan.com® to help students create skills-based plans for their futures.

“It’s always a joy to spotlight educators who are making a difference, but the biggest winners are the students and the communities they’ll go on to lead,” said Mindy Bingham, author of the Career Choices curriculum and CEO of Academic Innovations.

She added: “Thanks to the efforts of teachers and administrators at SH, students are developing long-term 10-year career and education plans that prepare them for adult life with confidence and clarity.”

The Career Choices Medal is awarded to top-performing schools that demonstrate strong outcomes in college and career readiness, post-secondary planning, and workforce preparation. According to Academic Innovations, it also reflects a school’s commitment to equity and access for all students.

Sierra’s results speak for themselves. In addition to repeated recognition for its innovative program, they exceed state averages in nearly every category including graduation rate and college readiness – demonstrating how the program impacts students deeply on both an academic and personal level.

“We bring in community members – from insurance agents and police officers to district staff and elementary educators,” said teacher Jeff Greene when discussing community involvement. “They get to sit and have a 20-minute mock interview, and every freshman goes through that experience at the end of the semester.”

As Sierra High celebrates its seventh medal in 11 years, it serves as a model of what’s possible when educators prioritize student-centered planning and lifelong success.

“The Career Choices program is growing at Sierra High and is helping our freshmen understand the importance of planning while building their self-advocacy skills,” said Greene.