Governor Polis and Aurora Public Schools Break Ground on New Health Sciences High School in Aurora

AURORA - Today, Governor Polis joined Aurora Public Schools, Community College of Aurora and UCHealth to break ground on a new health sciences high school made possible from 2024 Bond Investments approved by Aurora voters. Next year, Aurora high schoolers will have the opportunity to gain hands-on learning in health sciences and explore future opportunities in health care.

"Now high school students can take advantage of a new partnership between Aurora Public Schools, the Community College of Aurora and UCHealth, to begin health care career training early. This is a great way to keep high schoolers engaged and prepare them for success. Healthcare is an innovative industry in Colorado, and soon more students will be able to get a great start towards successful careers in healthcare. This new high school is good for Colorado students, our state's healthcare workforce, and all Coloradans seeking care," said Governor Polis.

"Our partnership with UCHealth and the Community College of Aurora is a powerful example of what Destination APS is all about: bringing education, higher education and industry together to open doors for our students. The new Health Sciences High School will give students the opportunity to explore their passions, earn credentials and college credit, and build a direct pathway into high-demand healthcare careers. Most importantly, we are creating opportunities right here in Aurora that can change the trajectory of our students' lives and strengthen our community for generations to come," said Aurora Public Schools Superintendent Michael Giles, Jr.

"Colorado's future healthcare workforce starts by giving students early, meaningful opportunities to see themselves in these careers. By working alongside UCHealth clinicians, students can put classroom lessons into practice and envision a clearer pathway for themselves after high school," said President and CEO of UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital Tom Gronow

"When students can see a future for themselves, and we build the pathways to help them get there, we change what is possible for families and communities. This school represents that promise. By bringing together K-12 education, community college instruction, and healthcare partners, we can connect classroom learning to meaningful careers while preparing the professionals our region needs. On behalf of CCA, we are proud to help build a future where students can pursue opportunity, achieve economic mobility, and care for the very community that helped them succeed," said Community College of Aurora President Dr. Mordecai Brownlee

The Health Sciences High School in Aurora will help 9th through 14th grade students gain industry credentials through Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH), allowing Students to graduate with both a high school diploma and an industry-recognized associate degree, in addition to gaining relevant workplace skills.

In addition, Health Sciences High School will offer a specialized curriculum that prepares students for careers in healthcare and allied health. Unlike many selective health science high schools, Health Sciences High School will have no GPA cutoff requirements and no entrance exam. Open to every student who can choose on the five Career and Technical Education pathways for education:

• Nursing
• Behavioral Health
• Medical Imaging
• Surgical Tech
• Respiratory Therapy

Colorado is building a strong healthcare workforce by investing in technical education opportunities to fill workforce gaps. In 2023, Governor Polis signed HB23-1246, to create Career Advance Colorado which helps to cover tuitions, fees, and course materials for short-term programs in fields with workforce shortages like healthcare. Career Advance Colorado builds on the success of the Care Forward Colorado initiative, which covers costs for entry-level healthcare programs at community and technical colleges.

The U.S. is projected to have a shortage of nearly three million healthcare workers over the next five years and 41,000 additional veterinarians by 2030. To date, Colorado hospitals and health systems employ roughly 91,000 individuals.

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