Logo courtesy of River City High School

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – River City High School has once again been recognized as one of the nation’s leading schools in life and career planning, earning the Career Choices Gold Medal for the tenth consecutive year.

The award, presented annually by curriculum publisher Academic Innovations, recognizes top-performing schools that demonstrate excellence in preparing students for success in college, careers and life. River City continues to stand out through its comprehensive implementation of the “Career Choices” series curriculum and My10yearPlan.com, which helps students develop personalized, skills-based plans for their futures.

Led by teacher Marlaina Spivey, River City’s program focuses on helping students understand themselves, explore career pathways and connect their interests and values to real-world opportunities. Through reflective activities and long-term planning exercises, students are encouraged to think deeply about who they are and how their strengths align with their future goals.

One signature project asks students to create a personal “coat of arms” representing their interests, values, goals and vision for the future. The project serves as a visual anchor that teachers and students revisit throughout the course.

“This is you, this is what represents you, these are your goals,” said Spivey. “When we're trying to figure out what students want, we can go back to their coat of arms and say, ‘You drew this — you have a music note because you love music. Where does that fit into your life and your life plan?’”

By connecting self-discovery with practical planning, River City helps students build confidence in their decisions while developing the skills needed to adapt in a rapidly changing world.

River City’s long-standing commitment to career readiness and student-centered planning has helped the school consistently achieve strong outcomes, including graduation rates and test scores that exceed state averages. The program also emphasizes equitable access to opportunities by ensuring every student develops a clear plan for life after high school.

“The educators at River City High School continue to demonstrate what’s possible when academics are connected to students’ futures,” said Mindy Bingham, author of the “Career Choices” curriculum and CEO of Academic Innovations. “For ten years running, their leadership has helped students build meaningful 10-year education and career plans that give them confidence, clarity and direction.”

As River City celebrates a decade of Career Choices Gold Medals, the school remains a national model for how intentional career exploration, reflection and planning can transform the high school experience, empowering students to graduate with purpose and a plan.