HEALTH SCIENCES CHARTER SCHOOL
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Mission Statement
To provide high school age youth with an academically challenging learning environment that prepares them to communicate effectively, think and reason critically, value diversity, engage in service learning, pursue academic excellence, obtain sustainable and quality careers in the healthcare industry and become productive and valued members of the community.
About This Cause
Health Sciences Charter School was established by a group of progressive Western New York healthcare leaders that foresaw the imminent need for a new generation of healthcare professionals, especially individuals representing communities of color. Opening with a freshman class of 90 in 2010, the school now serves 450 students in grades 9-12 and will begin expanding into a K-12 in 2026. Health Sciences is a proud 90/90/90 school, one of the few in NYS. Over 90% of the students qualify for Free/Reduced Lunch, over 90% are African American, AND over 90% of the students graduate with a Regents Diploma. Located on the East Side of Buffalo, the school has a unique learning environment that combines high expectations with a genuine understanding of the Social Determinants of Health and the needs of urban youth living in one of the poorest cities in the country. Health equity is woven throughout the school’s culture and curriculum, from nutrition and health advocacy to workforce / certification training. As a college and career readiness school, Health Sciences prepares young people to become healthy adults, compassionate, skilled health professionals, and mindful community members that will play a critical role in the overall health of their community. Located only blocks from the senseless act of terror at Tops Markets on 5/14, the school has taken a leadership role in empowering students and families on the East Side to address the ongoing issues of equitable access to food and healthcare. Recently awarded a three-year Stronger Connections $680K grant from the NYSED, Health Sciences utilizes established relationships with a myriad of community partners to support current Work-Based Learning activities, expand health and wellness activities, and introduce new and relevant healthcare certification programming. Integral to the school’s success to date, the Health Sciences Board of Trustees represent the region’s largest healthcare organizations (Catholic Health, Erie County Medical Center Corporation, Highmark Health, Kaleida Health, and Roswell Park Cancer Institute), who will continue to provide healthcare career exposure, shadowing, and internship opportunities for students. The Stronger Connections grant will support the school becoming a NYSDOH and NYSED approved site for Nurse Assistant and eventually LPN certification training. Health Sciences’ unique training model will be offered during the school day, as many of the students are required to be at home to care for younger siblings or work after school. Training will be delivered by an experienced African American RN who is a member of the Iota Eta Eta nursing sorority. This instructor will work collaboratively with the teaching staff, especially the Work-Based Learning, Health, and Health Disparities teachers to ensure the certification programming is supported by all subject matters, infusing introduction to healthcare careers and health equity on an ongoing basis. Weekly Wellness Wednesday events, Buffalo Center for Health Equity activities, and Erie Niagara AHEC Health Ambassador training will complement this coursework and open a world of traditionally unexplored career opportunities for students. Lastly, required clinical hours will be completed at long-term healthcare facilities located in the City of Buffalo, removing any potential transportation barriers, and increasing the likelihood that students will develop a heightened sense of the significance of delivering quality healthcare services within their own community. On a parallel path, Health Sciences’ staff is visited by recent graduates who remain interested in a career in healthcare yet are struggling to navigate the world of higher education and/or work. Based on industry employment needs from the board and the school’s delivery model, Health Sciences is partnering with the Buffalo Center for Health Equity to create HealthWay, LLC, a career training center targeted to serve an 18-35 audience and their families. This entity will work with SEIU Training and Development Funds and other ongoing partners to provide training and essential support services for recent graduates, their families, and the community. HealthWay, LLC will also work with healthcare employers, higher education partners, and community-based organizations to facilitate health and racial equity training, mentorship, career guidance, and access to the Social Determinants of Health systems/structures that lead to sustainable employment high-demand careers.