Union County Public Schools offers students the opportunity to explore and engage in the high-demanding and fast-growing healthcare industry. The Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways at Monroe High School offer many ways for students to learn about health sciences in the healthcare industry. Health sciences encompass a wide range of fields, from nursing and emergency services to pharmacy and nutrition.

Other schools within the Health Sciences Academy (HSA), include Walter Bickett Elementary, East Elementary and Health Sciences Academy at Monroe Middle. Our unique partnership with Atrium Health, which began in 2017, allows us to provide an aligned K-12 curriculum that engages our students at each grade level.

Atrium Health Partnership 

Atrium Health provides healthcare specialists who are dedicated to each level of the Academy, including elementary, middle and high. Their presence in our building helps ensure connectivity, collaboration and relevance to the industry and job market. 

Health Sciences Academy’s Mission

To prepare students to become active contributors to their community and shape students for a successful future by providing them with experiences in health sciences careers and pathways, beginning in kindergarten and continuing through high school.

Why Health Sciences Academy?

• There is a need for diversity in the workforce due to the industry’s growth.
• Opportunity: students can pursue degrees at South Piedmont Community College, Wingate University, other post-secondary institutions, earn certifications while in high school and begin their careers.
• There are many career options that include emergency medical technician (EMT), pharmacist, physical therapist, nursing, imaging and medical assisting.

How are Health Sciences Academy classes offered?

• Through CTE, Monroe High School offers several pathways, which students pursue depending on their individualized areas of interest. Other pathways may also be available upon request, based on student interest and industry needs.
  • The pathways currently include nursing, pre-med, exercise science, medical sonography, pharmacy, EMT and medical assisting.

How teachers make Health Sciences Academy relevant to students

• Students work on a wide range of hands-on labs and project-based learning.
• Students participate in medical and educational experiences to gain exposure and further their understanding.
• Students will be exposed to various careers and opportunities through healthcare professional guest speakers and interviews, shadowing opportunities, surgery and procedure observations and patient care simulations.

How will students benefit from the Health Sciences Academy?

• Personalized experiences and pathways based on their career interest.
• Opportunity to explore career options available in the healthcare industry.
• Technical skills training for success in a health sciences-related career.
• Connectivity of school-based instruction with work-based learning.
• Leadership and personal development training needed to succeed in a health sciences-related career, including teamwork, problem-solving and communications.
• Students will have a competitive advantage in the local and global economy.

Key partners

Union County Public Schools is thankful for the support of partnerships including Atrium Health, South Piedmont Community College and Wingate University.

• Opportunity to earn CNA Certification
• Opportunity to earn EMT Basic Certification
• Students may earn up to 30 college credits towards a degree in Health Sciences prior to graduation from Monroe High School
• Project Lead the Way Curricula
• Patient Care Simulations
• Medical Emergency Simulations
• Clinical Experience
• Ride along with EMS
• Shadowing with the school Athletic Trainer
• Visit Medical School(s)
• Project-Based Learning
• Hospital Tours
• Surgery and Procedure Observation

The Health Sciences Academy at Monroe High School has gone through extensive changes since its inception in order to provide the best opportunities for our students who wish to enter the medical field. Each pathway is customized to the individual student's post-graduate plan. At Monroe High School, Health Science Academy students will meet individually with a counselor or Health Science Coordinator to map out their personalized plan determined by the individual student's career pathway, post-graduate degree/training plan, and college preference. 

Below is a list of the current pathways offered at Monroe High School and the general course of study for those pathways. Please note that pathways may be added or changed based on student interest: