What is this?
California tracks how well high schools prepare students for life after graduation through something called the College/Career Indicator, or CCI. The state has approved a specific list of accomplishments that show a student is ready for college, a career, or both.
The good news: a student only needs to complete ONE of the pathways below to be counted as "Prepared." There are many different paths, because students have many different interests and goals.
Students are sorted into three levels: Prepared, Approaching Prepared, and Not Prepared. This page focuses on what it takes to reach the "Prepared" level. Students must also graduate from high school to be counted.
New for 2026: The State Board of Education approved updates in May 2026 that add three new measures (Cambridge International, Work-Based Learning, and the State Seal of Civic Engagement) and expand how students can qualify through IB and Leadership / Military Science. Tap any row to see its criteria.
High School Diploma
Plus one of the following 12 options
Criteria — one of:
- Complete two AP courses with a grade of C− or better
or
- Receive a score of 3 or higher on two AP exams
or
- Receive a score of 3 or higher on one AP exam and complete one AP course with a grade of C− or better (different courses)
Criteria — one of:
- Complete two Cambridge International A level or AS level courses with a grade of C− or better
or
- Receive a score of grade E or higher on two Cambridge International A level or AS level exams
or
- Complete one Cambridge International A level or AS level course with a grade of C− or better and receive a score of grade E or higher on one A level or AS level exam (course and exam topics cannot match)
Criteria
- Complete two semesters, three quarters, or three trimesters of College Credit Courses within high school with a grade of C− or better in academic/CTE subjects where college credits are awarded
Criteria
- Complete a CTE Pathway with a grade of C− or better in the capstone course
Plus One of the Following
- Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments (SBAC) score of Level 3 or higher in one subject area [English Language Arts (ELA) or Mathematics] and a score of Level 2 in the other area
- Complete one semester, two quarters, or two trimesters of College Credit Courses within high school with a grade of C− or better in academic/CTE subjects where college credits are awarded
- State Seal of Civic Engagement ★
- High-quality WBL: Internship, Student-Led Enterprise, or Simulated WBL ★
Criteria — one of:
- Receive a score of 4 or higher on two International Baccalaureate (IB) exams
or
- Complete two IB courses with a grade of C− or better ★
or
- Complete one IB course with a grade of C− or better and receive a score of 4 or higher on one IB exam (different subjects) ★
Criteria
- Complete two years of Leadership/Military Science
Plus One of the Following
- Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments (SBAC) score of Level 3 or higher in one subject area [English Language Arts (ELA) or Mathematics] and a score of Level 2 in the other area
- Score 31 or higher on ASVAB AFQT ★
- State Seal of Civic Engagement ★
- High-quality WBL: Internship, Student-Led Enterprise, or Simulated WBL ★
Criteria
- Complete a Registered Pre-Apprenticeship
Criteria
- Score Level 3 or higher on both ELA and Mathematics
Criteria
- Receive the State Seal of Biliteracy
Plus One of the Following
- SBAC Level 3 or higher in English Language Arts (ELA)
- State Seal of Civic Engagement ★
- High-quality WBL: Internship, Student-Led Enterprise, or Simulated WBL ★
Criteria
- Earn the State Seal of Civic Engagement — demonstrating excellence in civics education and participation, understanding of US and California Constitutions
Plus One of the Following
- Complete a CTE Pathway
- Complete one semester, two quarters, or two trimesters of College Credit Courses within high school with a grade of C− or better in academic/CTE subjects where college credits are awarded
- Complete two years of Leadership/Military Science
- Meet all requirements for admission to a University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) school
- Complete one Advanced Placement (AP) course with a grade of C− or better or receive a score of 3 or higher on one AP exam
- State Seal of Biliteracy
- Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments (SBAC) score of Level 3 or higher in one subject area [English Language Arts (ELA) or Mathematics] and a score of Level 2 in the other area
- Receive a score of 4 or higher on one International Baccalaureate (IB) exam
- Complete one IB course with a grade of C− or better ★
- Complete one Cambridge International course with a grade of C− or better, or complete one Cambridge International exam with a grade of E or better ★
- High-quality WBL: Internship, Student-Led Enterprise, or Simulated WBL ★
Criteria
- Meet all requirements for admission to a UC or CSU
Plus One of the Following
- Complete two semesters, three quarters, or three trimesters of College Credit Courses within high school with a grade of C− or better in academic/CTE subjects where college credits are awarded
- Complete two AP courses with a grade of C− or better, or receive a score of 3 or higher on two AP exams, or receive a score of 3 or higher on one AP exam and complete one AP course with a grade of C− or better (different courses)
- Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments (SBAC) score of Level 3 or higher in one subject area [English Language Arts (ELA) or Mathematics] and a score of Level 2 in the other area
- Receive a score of 4 or higher on one IB exam or complete an IB course with a grade of C− or better ★
- Complete one Cambridge International course with a grade of C− or better, or complete one Cambridge International exam with a grade of E or better ★
- State Seal of Civic Engagement ★
High-quality WBL — one of:
- Internship: 50+ hrs, LEA-sponsored, meets expectations on Employer Performance Evaluation, part of LEA course
or
- Student-led Enterprise: 50+ hours
or
- Simulated WBL: 50+ hours
Plus One of the Following
- Complete a CTE Pathway
- Complete one semester, two quarters, or two trimesters of College Credit Courses within high school with a grade of C− or better in academic/CTE subjects where college credits are awarded
- Complete two years of Leadership/Military Science
- Meet all requirements for admission to a University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) school
- Complete one Advanced Placement (AP) course with a grade of C− or better or receive a score of 3 or higher on one AP exam
- State Seal of Biliteracy
- Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments (SBAC) score of Level 3 or higher in one subject area [English Language Arts (ELA) or Mathematics] and a score of Level 2 in the other area
- Receive a score of 4 or higher on one International Baccalaureate (IB) exam
- Complete one IB course with a grade of C− or better ★
- Complete one Cambridge International course with a grade of C− or better, or complete one Cambridge International exam with a grade of E or better ★
- State Seal of Civic Engagement ★
Existing CCI measure
New / Expanded 2026 measure
★ = New or expanded criterion within an existing measure
Alternative Pathways
State and Federal Job Program
DASS Schools Only
- Complete one semester / two quarters or trimesters of a CTE course with C− or better
AND
- Complete one of: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Job Corps, YouthBuild, or California Conservation Corps
Transition Classroom / Work-Based Learning
Students with an IEP who earn an alternative pathway diploma only
- Complete 100 hours of work experience
AND
- The equivalent of four semesters of a course of college and career exploration / prep
Ready to Practice?
Two ways to test what you've learned about the 2026 CCI:
A Few Things to Know
- What if a student meets more than one pathway?
- Great! Students are placed at their highest achievement level, so meeting more than one only helps.
- Does a student have to pick a pathway early?
- No. Schools are expected to give every student a rigorous, broad education so that at graduation they can choose college, a career, or both.
- Why does my student's test score from 11th grade matter?
- The 11th-grade Smarter Balanced tests in English and Math are part of several pathways — the best score from the last three years is used.
- Can a college course a student takes on their own count?
- No. To count for the CCI, the college course must be offered or overseen by the high school or district.
- What changed in May 2026?
- The State Board of Education added three new measures (Cambridge International, Work-Based Learning, and the State Seal of Civic Engagement), opened up the IB pathway to course-completion (not just exam scores), and added an ASVAB AFQT option to the Leadership / Military Science pathway. New criteria were also added to the "plus one" lists for CTE Pathway and UC/CSU.