College & Career

Graduating Ready for Post-Academic Success

San José Public Library believes that every student should be able to choose a meaningful path upon graduating from high school, whether that path is developing valuable trade skills, attending a two or four-year college, or launching a small business.

Learn more about program stats and outcomes, as well as the College and Career Readiness Quality Standards (660 KB, PDF), which serve as a guide to quality improvement for college and career readiness programs in the City of San José.

Program Stats & Outcomes

From existing resources like SJPL Works and Career Online High School to innovative programming like SJ Engage and SJ Aspires, the San José Public Library connects learners to quality programming that supports them in their educational and career endeavors.

SJ Aspires

Highlights & Impact

San José Aspires (SJ Aspires) promotes college and career readiness to students at high schools in San José.

This program guides students as they transition from high school and enroll in college or join the workforce. Through SJ Aspires, students will learn about:

  • California's community colleges
  • California's four-year colleges and universities
  • Applying for financial aid

As students explore their educational opportunities, they take a career inventory, write a resume and cover letter, and pick up life skills. Students who complete SJ Aspires will gain the knowledge they need to pursue their career goals and receive up to $500 to help with educational expenses they face along the way.

Note: Numbers in these charts are from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Data will be updated annually.

Career Online High School

Highlights & Impact

  • San José Public Library's Career Online High School (COHS) offers adults the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma and a career certificate in a career path of their choice.
  • As of August 2023, SJPL's COHS program has had 166 graduates.

Note: Numbers in these charts are from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Data will be updated annually.

Resilience Corps Learning Pathway

Highlights & Impact

  • Participants engaged in professional development and training opportunities that exposed them to Expanded Learning pedagogy, career pathway support, and professional skills.
  • 6,500 students in K-8 were served.

Note: Numbers in these charts are from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Data will be updated annually.

Teen Programs

Highlights & Impact

Teen programs allow middle and high school students to develop and demonstrate 21st century skills, including the following:

  • develop social-emotional growth
  • exercise leadership
  • address real-world problems
  • explore and learn about potential careers, including
    • educational requirements
    • hands-on opportunities to develop skills
    • understand how to find, apply, and/or interview for entry-level work opportunities
  • gain research skills needed to learn and gain financial literacy skills

Note: Numbers in these charts are from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Data will be updated annually.

Teen Volunteers

Highlights & Impact

Teen volunteer programs allow high school students opportunities for the following:

  • professionalism
  • creativity
  • civic learning
  • leadership
  • social-emotional growth

Examples of volunteer opportunities include the following:

Note: Numbers in these charts are from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Data will be updated annually.

Youth Commission

Highlights & Impact

The Youth Commission is recognized as the official youth advisory group to the Mayor and City Council. Youth Commissioners develop policy recommendations concerning youth and support youth who serve their community through civic engagement and participation.

Note: Numbers in these charts are from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Data will be updated annually.

San José Works Youth Jobs Initiative

Highlights & Impact

San José Works (SJ Works) provides youth with employment services, career awareness regarding high wage, high growth jobs, and critical life skill instruction that includes leadership development, financial literacy, job counseling, mentoring, job readiness training, and supportive services. 

Note: Numbers in these charts are from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Data will be updated annually.

Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) Caregiver Support Network

Highlights & Impact

The San José Public Library's FFN program offers free resources and education to non-parental caregivers. The program strengthens our community by enhancing our participants' caregiving skills, so they can nurture the development of the next generation.

In addition to the following stats, this program also offered English for Child Development certificate opportunities to participants.

Note: Numbers in these charts are from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Data will be updated annually.

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