The California Department of Education has awarded IVA High the 2026 Exemplary Dual Enrollment Award, recognizing us as one of just six charter schools in the entire state of California to receive this honor!

This award reflects the hard work of our students, the dedication of our counselors and teachers, and years of building something genuinely different here in Long Beach.

From 15% Dual Enrollment Participation to Nearly Half: A Remarkable Shift

Through our dual enrollment partnership with Long Beach City College (LBCC), IVA High has built a program with a proven record of student success. Senior participation in dual enrollment has tripled since 2024, and our students complete their college courses at a rate well above the local average. Our 91% course completion rate speaks to something real: a support structure that sets students up to succeed, not just to sign up.

Three years ago, dual enrollment at IVA High was just getting started. Today, nearly all of our graduating seniors will walk across the stage having already earned college credit. 

College & Career Path Access for Every Student

This Exemplary Dual Enrollment Award is a strong reminder that, at IVA High, college access here is not reserved for the students who already have a clear path forward. It belongs to everyone.

Our College and Career Pathways program offers three distinct options: a College Pathway focused on transferable Cal-GETC coursework, a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathway with hands-on courses like Introduction to Photography, Fashion Design, and an Exploratory Pathway for students who want to pursue multiple interests while getting general college courses credits completed.

Students in the AXS College & Career Pathways Program also become official LBCC students, which opens the door to LBCC’s full range of resources, including tutoring, mental health counseling, library access, and an LA Metro Go-Pass. IVA High eliminates barriers for students to attend college and prioritizes equity and access for all students. We host LBCC professors on campus during the school day, making college-level instruction accessible within a familiar and supportive environment.

Results That Keep Growing

IVA High’s academic outcomes reflect a program built for the long term. IVA High’s College and Career Indicator has nearly doubled in just one year, and it will continue climbing as we expand CTE pathways and create more opportunities for every student. Aligned with California’s Governor’s Vision 2030, soon IVA High students will graduate with at least 12 college units. This approach translates learning into action that students carry with them well beyond graduation.

This recognition doesn’t stand alone. In 2025, IVA High also received the competitive Golden State Pathways Program grant and the K-12 Student Workability grant. We became the only charter school selected as one of nine schools countywide to join LACOE’s LA-CAN network. And for the seventh consecutive year, Long Beach voted IVA High their Best and Favorite Charter School!

What’s Next

If you want to see what a dual enrollment program built around student empowerment actually looks like, we invite you to learn more about the five ways IVA High prepares students for college or schedule a tour of our campus. Our community built this together, and we are just getting started!

About IVA High

IVA High is a fully accredited, tuition-free public high school in Long Beach, California with a mission to empower students to think well: creatively, critically, and with a capacity for self-growth. Our learner-centered approach puts students in charge of their education, while dual enrollment and paid internships transform learning into action. Students come for college prep, STEAM and exploratory pathways for their future; they stay for smaller, safer learning in a vibrant, caring community. Get to know us on social media @ivahigh and on the web at www.ivahigh.org 10 Years of Curious Minds, Empowered Community – Join Us!