EXP is the opportunity engine
We empower young people to step confidently into tomorrow’s workforce by connecting education and industry through mentorship, real-world experiences, and early career opportunities.
EXP is a Southern California 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Our programs help schools deliver an innovative, career-based curriculum that makes classroom learning relevant and exciting. During the 2024-2025 school year, EXP served more than 6,000 high school students at 13 high schools in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and the City of Barstow.
Our success is driven by our expertise in bringing industry and schools together to solve problems and overcome obstacles so that students from underserved communities receive access to education, experience, and opportunities. More than 550 industry leaders served as EXP volunteers, mentors, and internship hosts, contributing more than 2,500 volunteer hours during School Year 2024-2025.
By helping schools and industry work together, EXP is changing how society prepares students for life and bringing genuine opportunity to every young person we can reach. Read our story here.
Our Mission
EXP empowers young people to step confidently into tomorrow’s workforce by connecting education and industry through mentorship, real-world experiences, and early career opportunities.
Our Vision
Every student having equal access to education, experiences, and career opportunities that will help them reach their full potential.
Our Goals
EXP brings industry and schools together to build tomorrow’s workforce and provide career opportunities to students from underserved communities in Southern California.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
EXP works to reduce racial and gender disparities across the justice continuum, which affect all underrepresented youth and communities. The goal of EXP is to deliver effective programs, resources, and support that help advance our mission of providing educational access and career opportunities.
Our 4E Pathway Model
EXPLORATION
Introduce students to a wide range of careers to ignite their curiosity and broaden their horizons.
Discovery Days — Women In STEM and GPS Your Future®
Workplace Tours
College and Career Fairs
Guest Speaker Series
College Tours
EXPRESSION
Places mentorship at its core, aiming to inspire and guide students on a journey of self-discovery, personal growth, and creative expression.
Industry Coaching with Business Mentors
Project-based Learning Mentors
Advisory Boards
EXPERIENCE
Hands-on, real-world opportunities that allow students to apply their learning in meaningful ways.
Project-Based Learning, e.g., Robotics program
Certifications, e.g., EXP Career-readiness Certificate as a part of the EXP Internship Program
Summer Immersion Program — Career EXPedition: Cal Maritime
Paid Internships / Apprenticeship Opportunities
Financial Literacy
Leadership Training
EXPANSION
Connects students to resources and mentorship beyond high school to ensure successful transitions to post-secondary success and fulfilling careers.
Post-secondary Education Support, e.g. Scholarship Support and FAFSA Workshops
Professional Development for Young Adults, including Senior Success Program and EXP Alumni Network events
2025-2026 Participating Schools
Barstow USD
Barstow High School
Mojave Express Logistics Academy (MXP)
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM)
Central High School
LA Harbor
Phineas Banning High School (Wilmington)
Communications, Arts & Leadership (CAL)
International Trade Academy (ITA)
Maritime, Agriculture, Tourism, Cuisine, and Hospitality (MATCH)
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEAM)
San Pedro High School
Culinary Arts
Long Beach
Sato Academy of Math and Science
Biomedical
Engineering
South Bay
Carson High School
Environmental Science, Engineering, and Technology (ESET)
Global Business, Law, and Government (GBLG)
Musical, Entertainment, and Digital Arts Magnet (M.E.Di.A. Magnet)
Performing Arts and Media Arts (PAMA)
Gardena High School
Global Business Magnet (GBM)
Lawndale High School
Biomed Careers Academy (BCA)
Marine Science Academy (MSA)
Leuzinger High School (Lawndale)
Environmental Careers Academy (ECA)
Orange County
Arnold O. Beckman High School (Tustin)
Visual Imagery
Foothill High School (Tustin)
Visual Imagery
Tustin Connect High School
Behavioral Health
Tustin High School
Visual Imagery
Additional Tustin USD Internship Pathways
Engineering
Business Management
Biomedical
Vista Meridian Global Academy (Santa Ana)
BioMedical
Information Technology
Guest Schools and Partner Organizations
EXP also provides some programming to the following schools and partner organizations: Cabrillo HS, Intellectual Virtues Academy, Los Amigos HS, Rancho Dominguez Preparatory School, Saddleback HS, Valley HS, Wilson HS, CISLA - Communities of Schools in Los Angeles, Fulfillment Fund, and Sharefest.
Our Annual Impact
6,000+ Students Served
School Year 2024-2025
154 Paid Internships in Summer 2025
56 internship hosts in LA & Orange Counties and City of Barstow
4,266 Engaged in Career Exploration
School Year 2024-2025
550+ Volunteers Contributed 2,500+ Hours
School Year 2024-2025
100% Graduation Rate for Summer 2024 EXP Interns
86% LAUSD Average
22% of Industry Partners Hire EXP Alums
Who We Serve
We seek to expand every student’s potential. By bringing schools and industry together, we create new ways of learning, knock down barriers and provide genuine opportunity to every student we can reach.
Partnering with schools and colleges
EXP works both virtually and on-campus with schools throughout Southern California. Our programs gradually expose students to greater opportunities and more challenging experiences that prepare them for college, career and life through enhancing career pathways, small learning communities, Linked Learning initiatives and other career-based educational programs.
Unleashing the power of business to do good
We don’t just help students reach their full potential. We help businesses and industry unlock their potential, too. Their potential to do more for their communities. Their potential to shape and develop their future employees. Their potential to reignite their employees by giving them real opportunities to change a young person’s life.
Each year, more than 400 industry volunteers from across the spectrum of career professions advise our participating schools, mentor students, provide summer internship experiences for our students, as well as offer vital corporate sponsorship and individual donation funding to help EXP sustain its high quality work-based learning programs for all of our students. We invite you to join them!
Helping schools and industry work together
We bring business into the classroom and education into the boardroom. By connecting these twin drivers of our society and helping them work together, we create brighter futures for our youth and stronger communities for all of us. Our programs include:
Power Breakfasts: Industry leaders connect with community college and high school faculty to discuss key business trends and share ideas for connecting employer needs to effective training programs.
Advisory Meetings: Customizable advisory meetings that align with Ed Code requirements and bring together pathway faculty and industry leaders for a day of collaboration and discussion.