Model Programs
  HEALTH PROFESSIONS HIGH SCHOOL- Sacramento Unified School District, Sacramento, CA Build San Francisco - San Francisco, CA
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Type of program New small high school with a career focus
 
Description Opened in fall 2005, the Health Professions High School (HPHS) is part of a new initiative by the Sacramento City Unified School District to establish four new schools that offer smaller learning environments. The HPHS enrolled 150 freshmen in fall 2005 and will enroll an additional freshman class during each of the next three years. The mission of the school is to use the theme of health care to provide students with an education that includes rigorous academics, application of work-based learning, and leadership experiences. The HPHS is receiving substantial support from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
 
Key Characteristics
  • The curriculum for the school is based on three principles: academics, application, and leadership.

    • Academics: Standards-based curricula that meet or exceed “a to g” requirements. The course sequence is an “early-college” model, meaning that students will begin collegiate-level coursework while enrolled in high school. The school planning team has worked closely with the National Consortium on Health Science and Technology Education (NCHSTE) to develop integrated curriculum units.
    • Application: The school has established extensive partnerships with industry and postsecondary institutions to provide students with work-based learning experiences:

      • Five local health care systems: Sutter Health, UCD Health System, Kaiser, Catholic Healthcare West, and Shriners
      • Postsecondary institutions: Los Rios CC district, UC Davis, and CSU Sacramento
      • Industry and government: Davita Corporation, OSHPD, Respiratory Care Board, NCHSTE, and other health care associations and organizations
    • Leadership: The school focuses on developing student voice/leadership by using the 40 Developmental Assets model developed by The Search Institute. Students will also participate in leadership training through Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA).
  • The school emphasizes relevant applications of academics through projects, which are designed collaboratively by faculty.
  • The school provides students with early exposure to the health professions through work-based learning activities that include guest speakers working in the field, site visits to hospitals, mentoring, and job shadowing.

    • Freshman year: global guided study tours of health care systems and postsecondary partners
    • Sophomore year: job shadows in health care industry partner locations
    • Junior year: one-week minimum internships in local health care centers or other industry partner locations
    • Senior year: two-week minimum internships that culminate in a research methodologies course and presentation of senior projects
  • The program consists of multiple career pathways including diagnostics, therapeutics, and biotechnology.