12 Gold Pathways Pave the Way for SBCUSD Students

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) hosted principals, students, business and industry leaders and representatives from the Linked Learning Alliance at its April 7 Board of Education meeting in celebration of the District’s 12 Gold-certified Career-Technical Education (CTE) pathways. 

While 12 of SBCUSD’s pathways earned the highest level of distinction, 21 additional pathways achieved silver recognition.

“Anyone who knows me knows I am proud to be from San Bernardino and proud to be Superintendent of San Bernardino City Unified School District,” said Superintendent Mauricio Arellano. “The fact that we have 12 Linked Learning Gold-certified career-technical education pathways is something to be proud of, but what makes us really SHINE is that SBCUSD is the only school district in all of San Bernardino County with even one Gold-certified pathway.”

SBCUSD’s first Gold-certified CTE pathways were the CORE Academy: Energy, Environment and Utilities Pathway at Arroyo Valley High School (AVHS) and the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Biomedical Honors Pathway at Pacific High School, both originally certified Gold in 2019. The most recent addition to SBCUSD’s list of Gold-certified high school pathways is the Machining Academy at Indian Springs High School (ISHS), certified just this year.

ISHS’s Machining Academy provides students with the foundational knowledge and skills to work in the manufacturing industry, including hands-on experience with CNC (computer numerical control) programming and machining and creating 3D printing prototypes. Students who complete all three years of the pathway have the potential to graduate high school with their NIMS (National Institute of Metalworking Skills) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) certification.

For some students at Curtis Middle School, the newly Gold-certified Machining Academy gives them the unique opportunity to start their career pathway in Curtis’s Gold-certified STEM Pathway and continue into a Gold-certified pathway at neighboring Indian Springs High School. Curtis was only the second middle school in the state to earn Gold certification, giving SBCUSD middle school students a jump start on career-technical education.

SBCUSD is also expecting to be able to boast about another Gold-certified pathway when the official announcement is made later this school year.

SBCUSD also stands out among other California school districts by having the very first continuation high school to earn Linked Learning Gold certification. San Andreas High School (SAHS) has not just one but two Gold-certified pathways—both certified in 2023—within the broader Business of Science and Technology Academy.

As part of the Business and Technology Pathway, SAHS students gain hands-on experience in technology-based hydroponics techniques, creating a business plan for their hydroponics business and selling their produce to local restaurants—a true greenhouse-to-table business enterprise. Students have the potential to graduate from San Andreas with valuable credentials like a Food Handler Certification, OSHA 10 Card and Forklift Certification. SAHS students in the Health Sciences Pathway train alongside staff from AMR, giving them hands-on exposure to careers in health care and the ability to earn credentials like American Heart Association Basic Life Support, First Aid Certification and OSHA for Healthcare.

Executive Director for the Teamsters Local 1932 Training Center Becky Lepins was one of several industry partners at the April 7 Board of Education meeting celebrating the achievements of the District’s Gold-certified pathways and the benefits to the entire community. 

“We are proud to be partners in so many diverse pathways such as Behavioral Health, Human Services, Transportation, Logistics, Business, Education and Health Science,” Lepins said. “Achieving Gold Certification is no small feat and as an industry partner, we recognize the work that goes into this achievement. It means these programs have met rigorous standards and offer students not only academic learning but also valuable, hands-on experiences that truly prepare them for today’s workforce and to meet the needs of employers.”

The full list of Gold-certified pathways includes:

• AniVation Tech Academy (AVHS)
• Behavioral Health & Human Services Pathway (Cajon High School)
• Business & Logistics: Marketing, Sales, and Service Pathway (AVHS)
• CORE Academy: Energy, Environment and Utilities Pathway (AVHS)
• Digital Media Arts Academy (AVHS)
• Machining Academy (ISHS)
• Business & Technology Pathway (SAHS)
• STEM Pathway (Curtis)
• Early Childhood Education Pathway (San Gorgonio High School)
• Educators for Tomorrow Academy (AVHS)
• Health Science Pathway (SAHS)
• PLTW Biomedical Honors Pathway (Pacific)

I want to take a moment to recognize how fully San Bernardino City Unified has embraced the vision of Linked Learning,” said Linked Learning Alliance President Anne Stanton during her remarks at the Board of Education meeting. “We know from the research that the purposeful integration of rigorous academics; and CTE-rich, work-based learning experiences and robust student support matters to student outcomes—and you have not only connected these elements meaningfully, but you’ve also institutionalized Linked Learning practices across the District.”

According to the Linked Learning website, Gold certification represents the highest-quality standard for CTE pathways. Each pathway must demonstrate student-centered learning with “strong career and postsecondary integration, combined with student supports that ensure equitable opportunities for all students.” Learn more about Gold certification at https://www.linkedlearning.org/certification/gold-certification.

SBCUSD students also have the opportunity to participate in one of the District’s Silver-certified CTE pathways:

• Art and Visual Communications Pathway (Pacific)
• Automotive Technologies (Cajon)
• Automotive Technology Pathway (San G)
• Building and Construction Trades Pathway (Cajon)
• Constructions Occupations Pathway (San G)
• Digital Design Pathway (ISHS)
• Digital Media Arts Academy (Middle College High School)
• e-Business Pathway (San Bernardino High School)
• Family and Human Services Pathway (Sierra High School)
• Global Leadership Academy (AVHS)
• IB Film Theory and Production Pathway (Cajon)
• Marketing & Advertising Pathway (ISHS)
• PTLW Biomedical Science Pathway (San G)
• PLTW Engineering Pathway (SBHS)
• Patient Care (ISHS)
• Public Safety Academy (SBHS)
• Sports Medicine Pathway (Cajon)
• Sports Medicine (ISHS)
• Technical Theatre Pathway (ISHS)
• Theater Arts Pathway (Cajon)
• Visual Media and Digital Arts Pathway (SBHS)

About San Bernardino City Unified School District:

The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) is California’s ninth-largest school district and is dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for college, career and life. With a focus on equity, excellence and empowerment, the District serves a diverse student population in the San Bernardino and Highland communities. For more information about SBCUSD and its Vision 2030: SBCUSD SHINES initiative, visit www.sbcusd.com and follow the District @SBCityUSD on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and LinkedIn.

About Arroyo Valley High School:

Arroyo Valley High School (AVHS) currently educates students in grades 9–12 and offers International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and career-technical education (CTE) programs. AVHS boasts five Linked-Learning Gold-certified CTE pathways. The school mascot is a hawk, and the school colors are back and gold. For more information about AVHS, visit https://arroyovalley.sbcusd.com/.

About Cajon High School:

Cajon High School currently educates students in grades 9–12 and offers International Baccalaureate (IB), Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and career-technical education (CTE) programs. The school mascot is the cowboy, and the school colors are green and yellow. For more information about Cajon, visit https://cajon.sbcusd.com/.

About Indian Springs High School:

Indian Springs High School (ISHS) currently educates students in grades 9–12 and is home to the Michael J. Gallo Innovation Lab and Machining Academy, a Gold-certified career-technical education (CTE) pathway and five Silver-certified CTE pathways. ISHS has been recognized by the American School Counselor Association as a model school. The school mascot is a coyote, and the school colors are burgundy and gold. For more information about ISHS, visit https://indiansprings.sbcusd.com/.

About Pacific High School:

Pacific High School is the second-oldest high school in the San Bernardino City Unified School District and currently educates students in grades 9–12. The school mascot is a pirate, and the school colors are purple, silver and white. The school currently offers Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Enrollment, Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and career-technical education (CTE) programs, including the Gold-certified PLTW Biomedical Honors Pathway. Recent construction and renovation projects, including the brand-new Biomedical Building, have made state-of-the-art facilities available to students. For more information about Pacific High, visit https://pacific.sbcusd.com/.

About San Andreas High School:

San Andreas High School is a California Department of Education (CDE) Model Continuation High School located in Highland, California. Committed to providing high-quality education for students who have faced various challenges in traditional educational settings, San Andreas High School offers a supportive learning environment that empowers students to succeed academically and personally. With its innovative, Gold-certified Linked Learning pathways, the school prepares students for both college and careers, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary for future success. For more information about San Andreas, visit https://sanandreas.sbcusd.com/.

About San Gorgonio High School:

San Gorgonio High School (San G) opened in 1965 and was the first high school constructed by the San Bernardino City Unified School District. It currently educates students in grades 9–12.  San G offers Advanced Placement (AP), Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), and career-technical education (CTE) programs. San G’s CTE pathways include the Gold-certified Early Childhood Education pathway, three Silver-certified pathways, the Project Lead the Way Engineering Pathway and a Culinary Arts Pathway. The school mascot is the Spartan, and the school colors are blue, black, and white. For more information, visit: https://sangorgonio.sbcusd.com/

About Curtis Middle School:

Curtis Middle School educates students in grades 7–8. It is only the second middle school in California and the first and only middle school in the Inland Empire to offer a Linked Learning Gold-certified career-technical education (CTE) pathway. The STEM Pathway introduces students to a wide array of hands-on machines and technology, including 3D printers and computer-based drafting programs. The school mascot is the wildcat, and the school colors are navy and gold.

About Linked Learning Alliance:

The Linked Learning Alliance is a statewide coalition of educators, employers and community organizations committed to improving education outcomes for all students. Linked Learning transforms education by integrating rigorous academics with real-world career-technical training  and strong student support services. It fosters equity and student engagement by linking classroom learning to internships, professional mentorships and post-secondary opportunities,  preparing all students for success in college, career and life.