Founded in 2006, Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences (HAHS) is a high school located in the Belmont community of Charlotte, North Carolina. Over the years, this institution has undergone various transformations, ultimately establishing itself as the flagship healthcare magnet program within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system.
In a resounding announcement made in January 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies unveiled an ambitious $250 million initiative. This groundbreaking endeavor seeks to establish new high schools across the country, enabling students to graduate directly into high-demand healthcare positions that offer sustainable incomes for their families. Notably, the initiative fosters collaboration between public education systems and hospitals in ten community-based locations, including the vibrant city of Charlotte, NC.
The partnership between Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Carolinas College of Health Sciences, Atrium Health, and Bloomberg Philanthropies will be long-lasting and committed to the success of the students.
Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences is currently accepting applications for their 9th grade class for the 2024-2025 year! HAHS serves the entirety of Mecklenburg County, so bus transportation through express stops is available for students. Learn more about express stops here.
What does this new initiative mean for the students in CMS and at Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences?
In partnership with Atrium Health and Carolinas College, this initiative with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools aims to offer students robust academic programming, specialized college-level science and healthcare classes, work-based learning at the partner health system and the opportunity to earn industry-valued credentials and certifications.
Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences is set to emerge as the preeminent destination for Health Sciences education in Mecklenburg County. As part of the visionary Bloomberg Philanthropies healthcare initiative, your child has the extraordinary opportunity to become a student at HAHS, embarking on a transformative educational journey towards a rewarding career in the healthcare industry.
“For too long, our education system has failed to prepare students for good jobs in high-growth industries,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg L.P. and 108th mayor of New York City. “By combining classroom learning with hands-on experience, these specialized healthcare high schools will prepare students for careers with opportunities for growth and advancement. America needs more healthcare workers, and we need a stronger, larger middle-class — and this is a way to help accomplish both goals.”
https://www.bloomberg.org/press/bloomberg-philanthropies-launches-first-of-its-kind-innovative-healthcare-focused-high-schools-in-10-urban-and-rural-communities-across-the-country/
Healthcare Pathways & continued education after graduation
HAHS is designed to provide students with dual degrees: all students will receive sufficient coursework to earn their high school diploma, Nurse Aide certification, AND their Associate of Science in General Studies at Carolina’s College of Health Sciences.
This innovative partnership is designed to start at the 9th grade year and go beyond high school graduation. Healthcare pathways guarantee admission into highly competitive certificate and associate level programs, such as the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Technology and Associate of Applied Science in Neurodiagnostic Technology, provided students meet academic requirements throughout the program. Students will also be given the opportunity to sit for the Nurse Aide State Certification exam. Students who pass have the ability to transition into one of the programs mentioned above. They can also enter the workforce as a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) and continue their education at Carolinas College at a later time. These embedded academic opportunities, established in collaboration with Atrium Health’s Career Development Center, will enable students to return to Carolinas College at a future time. The teams at Carolina’s College of Health Sciences and Atrium Health’s Career Development Center work collaboratively to provide resources to help design a personalized plan for financial aid, teammate tuition assistance, and additional support services for HAHS students. This aims to minimize the financial burden and ensure a clear path to a successful academic journey leading to a rewarding career in healthcare.
Work-based learning opportunities
While attending Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences, students will have the opportunity to participate in work-based learning experiences, such as those listed below:
- Healthcare Lecture Series
- Career Fairs
- HEROES (Health Careers – Reaching Out to Excellent Students) Program
- Novant Bridges to Healthcare Paid Internship
- Propelling Adolescents Towards Careers in Healthcare (PATCH) Program
- Medical Facility Tours
- Mayor’s Youth Employment Program Paid Internship
- Meck Pathways Program Paid Internship
Certifications and credentials
Students will enter HAHS to gain healthcare career-related knowledge, and they will do just that upon graduating from the program. There are many certifications and credentials that students can gain while in the program that will not only accelerate their educational careers but also prepare them for real-life situations.
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Stop the Bleed
- First Aid
- CPR/AED – Adult, Infant, Child
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- OSHA 10-Hour General Industry – Healthcare (provided by CareerSafe)
Associate Degree/Certificate Options
- Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
- Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Technology
- Associate of Applied Science in Neurodiagnostic Technology
- Healthcare Simulation Certificate
Career possibilities after graduation
Immediately upon graduation, students can enter healthcare jobs within Atrium Health or choose to advance their healthcare career through post-secondary education at Carolinas College of Health Sciences. As part of this initiative, Atrium Health has committed to providing job opportunities for students who successfully complete the graduation requirements of their respective programs through Atrium’s Rise to Success program, which offers students part-time employment and full-time benefits for up to three years while they pursue degrees at Carolinas College.
The Future of Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences
In August 2028, a full magnet high school will open, and Hawthorne Academy’s Health Sciences program will be relocated to what is temporarily titled New Second Ward Medical High School. Currently, the design team is exploring design concepts to capture the best outcome for this unique medical magnet program. Community members have been invited to provide their input on the new school.
There are so many things for students to experience at Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences! Click on the icons below to check us out on social media or through the school’s website.
Ready to apply to HAHS? Follow the steps below!
Before you can request a reassignment to HAHS, your child must be registered as a CMS student for the 2024-2025 school year. If you have not already done this process, use the button below to see the documents needed to start this process. Visit your neighborhood home school to get started! Your child will be automatically registered for your neighborhood home school based on your address. The data manager at that school will provide you with a student ID and PIN to complete a reassignment request for Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences.
If your child is already registered as a CMS student for the 2024-2025 school year and has a student ID and PIN, use the button below to request a transfer to HAHS! Requests will be handled by Student Placement, and final results will come via mail. For updates on a submitted request, contact Student Placement at 980-343-5335 (press 1 for English, then 7).