Canoga Park High School

West San Fernando Valley
canogaparkhs.org

Canoga Park High School, which is part of Los Angeles Unified School District, has a number of special programs, including an agricultural/environmental/veterinary science magnet and three "schools within a school" academies (click from home page on “Special Programs”): Health Career Academy, Technical Science Academy, and Performing Arts Academy.

Established in 1996 to encourage underrepresented minority students to enter science-related fields, the agricultural magnet program can enroll up to 268 students in its hands-on curriculum that is also academically rigorous. The school has a 1.5-acre farm with livestock, an organic farming area, landscaping plots, and a plant identification area. The program includes access to technology in these fields, monthly parent meetings, career counseling, and presentations from a number of colleges and universities.

The Health Career Academy is an example of a Canoga Park High "school within a school." Students who choose this academy fulfill all the requirements for entrance into UC or CSU and can enroll in certification programs in First Aid and C.P.R., athletic training, and nursing assistant training. The academy also offers block scheduling so that students can complete single semester courses in 10 weeks, leaving time for internships and mentor relationships with local business partners.