Northside Health Careers High School

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Northside Health Careers High School (HCHS) is a magnet school in Northside Independent School District for students that are interested in pursuing a career in the health profession. HCHS attracts students from school districts all across Bexar County and some from as far as Hondo, Texas.

1 History
2 Admissions
3 Academics
4 Athletics
5 Accolades
6 School Spirit
7 Notes
8 Links

[edit] History

HCHS opened in 1984 as one of the first magnet schools in south Texas under principal John Boyers, who remained principal until 2002. The land on which the school sits was donated to Northside Independent School District by the San Antonio Medical Foundation. HCHS is in the heart of the San Antonio medical area.

[edit] Admissions

HCHS is unique from other Bexar County magnet schools in that it operates as an independent campus rather than as part of a "parent" school (See Business Careers High School or Communications Arts High School). Admission to HCHS requires the submission of an application and essay, as well as a C average. Eligible applicants are entered into a lottery system with selected students notified by mail. Prior to admitting the class of 2000, the admissions process did not operate as a lottery, and admitted students were selected based on the merits of their application. Each year, over 800 students apply to fill only 250 spots^[1]. As a public school, no tuition is charged to either in-district or out of district students.

[edit] Academics

HCHS educates about 900 students from the 9th grade (freshman) through 12th grade (senior). The curriculum of HCHS complies with the requirements of the Texas Education Agency, but additional courses that relate to the health field are also offered ^[2]. Health-related electives include:

Medical/Surgical Technology: students learn information and techniques related to surgery.
Diagnostic Services I: the majority of this course involves the study of hematology as well as the ability to learn phlebotomy using a fake arm instead of a real person.
Diagnostic Services II: this course involves the study of clinical chemistry as well as more in-depth studies of topics covered in Diagnostic Services I. Students in this course are also allowed to practice phlebotomy on fellow students.
Patient Care: a course for students interested in nursing, physical, occupational, and respiratory therapy
Medical Office Administration: introduces students to the clerical side of the health profession
Clinical Rotation: students have the opportunity to visit nearby hospitals and observe professionals in the medical field.
Dental Science I: a course covering basic dentistry and dental-related subjects
Dental Science II: covers more dentistry and dental-related subjects, as well as some radiology.
Health Occupations Co-op: students who have a job in a health-related field can leave campus early to work.
Scientific Research and Design: students are directed in a research project throughout the semester and then present their research at the conclusion of the semester.
Clinical Rotation 12 SPD Certification: students take a course directed at certification in sterilization, processing and distribution, taking half a year in class and half a year doing hospital rotations

As of 2006, HCHS has grouped together Medical/surgical Technology, Diagnostics Services I, Patient Care, and Dental Science classes into a single class in which the students "rotate" from one to another each grading period.

[edit] Athletics

HCHS does not have a football, basketball, baseball, or volleyball team. HCHS does compete against other schools in golf, tennis, aquatics, and cross country, which HCHS considers "lifetime" sports.

[edit] Accolades

HCHS is a nationally recognized school, having been named a National Blue Ribbon School for the 1990-1991 academic year^[3]. In addition, educators at HCHS have also been recognized at the state and national level for excellence in education ^[4] ^[5]. In addition, since 1997, long time volunteer and resident statistician Dr. Joe Ward has run the Biostatistics Research Club. Dr. Ward's commitment to the Northside Independent School District and HCHS has recently been recognized with the naming of Dr. Joe Ward Elementary School in his honor ^[6].

In 2004, Latin teacher Mr. Clyde Lehmann was named as a recipient of the $25,000 prize from the Milken Award Foundation.

[edit] School Spirit

The school mascot is the phoenix, which is sometimes affectionately referred to as the "flaming chicken" and the school colors are blue, maroon and white.