Bloomberg to fund new healthcare high school in Queens
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A new high school in Woodside will prepare students to work in the healthcare industry in New York. Rendering via Northwell Health
By Jacob Kaye
Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his philanthropic organization donated nearly $25 million to the city to build a first-of-its-kind high school aimed at fast tracking students into the medical field.
The school, which will be located in Woodside, will be built in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, Northwell Health and the city’s Department of Education.
Set to open by the start of the fall of 2025, the school, dubbed the Northwell School of Health Sciences, will service around 900 students, preparing them to work in the city’s healthcare system which, like industries around the country in recent years, has seen major staffing shortages.
But Bloomberg, Northwell and city brass view the school as an opportunity not only to fill out gaps within the city’s own healthcare system, but get students onto the path toward a career in a growing field.
“For too long, our education system has failed to prepare students for good jobs in high-growth industries,” Bloomberg said. “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 health care workers, and we need a stronger, larger middle-class –and this is a way to help accomplish both goals,” he added.
The school will be the first of its kind in New York City and was one of over a dozen new schools to be funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, which put in a total of $250 million into the effort, this week.
Here’s how the school will work: Bloomberg, Northwell – which is the largest employer in the state – and New York City Public schools will together develop the high school curriculum, which will likely include academic programming, healthcare classes, work-based learning and classes that will give students the opportunity to earn industry-based credentials and certificates, alongside their high school diploma.
Freshmen and sophomore students will participate in job-shadowing programs and practice healthcare skills inside a lab in the school.
By the time they reach 11th grade, students will have the opportunity to take part in paid clinical internships. They will also receive professional mentoring and have access to other work-based learning.
Upon graduating, students will be qualified to get jobs as nurses, lab technicians, physical therapists, behavioral health therapists and social workers, according to the DOE.
The job pathways were selected by the leadership trio based on the professions’ availability of entry-level salaries that either lead to a living wage or serve as a clear steppingstone to a living wage position. The jobs also feature opportunities for promotion or growth, and are predicted to grow in the coming years both at Northwell and throughout New York State.
“New York City public schools are training our young people today for the jobs of tomorrow,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. “Healthcare workers showed us, especially during the pandemic, that not all heroes wear capes, many wear scrubs.”
“Thank you to Bloomberg Philanthropies, Northwell Health, and the Department of Education for investing $25 million to create a brand new pipeline in Woodside for 900 public school students to enter the workforce, save lives, and become the next generation of healthcare heroes,” he added.
David Banks, the chancellor of the city’s public school system, said in a statement that it was “paramount that we give our young people the bright starts that will lead them to bold futures, and this new school is a consummate example of reimagining the student experience.”
“This venture is a tremendous example of the way that public-private partnerships bridge gaps and build gateways to opportunity for our young people,” Banks added. “New York City Public Schools continues to grow stronger as we stand with industry partners who share a collective groundbreaking vision, and fearless conviction.”
According to Northwell, the Empire State is projected to face a nursing shortage of nearly 40,000 nurses by 2030. Currently, only around 53 percent of licensed nurses are actively working in the field.
Despite the shortage, the healthcare industry in New York is still massive – with 750,000 New Yorkers serving as healthcare workers, the sector represents 20 percent of the city’s economy.
“We are very grateful for this opportunity to work with Bloomberg and our partners in the New York City Department of Education,” said Michael Dowling, the president and CEO of Northwell. “What we plan to build together in Queens is bigger than just one school – it’s a visionary collaboration to improve public health and promote health equity in this city and beyond.”
“This is a new model for education that will create a better future for thousands of students and make a lasting impact on the future of healthcare for countless more,” Dowling added.
The school’s building is already under construction on Northern Boulevard.
In all, the building is expected to house five high schools, adding 3,000 school seats to the borough, which has long had overcrowded schools. The other four schools expected to be housed in the building have yet to be announced.
Bloomberg’s $24.9 million donation to the Northwell School of Health Sciences will cover start-up costs, including personnel needs, lab renovations and classroom changes.
