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The 2015 Wellness Promotion Policy Annual Report
The School District of Palm Beach County, Florida
career
Choice & Career Options - Academies
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Biomedical and Medical Sciences Academies

The Biomedical and Medical Sciences Academies promote Healthy Lifestyles and Wellness in schools at the elementary, middle and high school levels. The academies offer an innovative, sequential, and integrated learning environment designed to provide students with an academic foundation in medical health sciences including medical research and the study of diseases and disorders such as childhood obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. The curriculum includes structure and function of the human body, occupational hazards, educational requirements, and information concerning the practices for promoting good health, and prevention of disease. It provides all students with a practical skill-based curriculum which teaches the medical skills and training necessary to become certified as a healthcare provider prior to high school graduation. Students may continue to post-secondary health science education, and/or transition into the healthcare workforce. With the demand and shortage in health care, students will have endless opportunities and high paying jobs in the medical field as they continue to pursue a professional degree.

The first Biomedical and Veterinary Technology Academy at Acreage Pines Elementary was opened in August of 2013 to spark an interest in young minds and prepare them to transition into middle school programs.

In addition, a second Biomedical and Veterinary Technology Academy was opened at Grassy Waters Elementary due to the increased interest in medical sciences which falls under STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

Due to the high demand and critical shortage areas in healthcare, the Biomedical and Medical Sciences Academies in Palm Beach County depend highly on the community and the healthcare workforce to be able to grow our own future healthcare providers. Good Samaritan Medical Center adopted Acreage Pines Elementary’s exploratory program for students in grades K-5 with a high interest in medical and veterinary sciences. St. Mary’s Medical Center partnered with Grassy Waters Elementary and adopted their program servicing students grades K-5. These outstanding partnerships and affiliations are making a big difference and a positive impact in our students’ education and in our communities.

Special topics include health and wellness, basic anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, prevention of disease, medical illustration, animal therapy, and robotic applications in healthcare and veterinary sciences. Good Samaritan Medical Center and St. Mary’s Medical Center have provided guest speakers, field trips to the hospital, medical equipment, supplies, and curriculum support for essential skills labs.


The Biomedical and Medical Sciences Academies in middle school follow an honors curriculum preparing students to be highly competitive in the medical field. Students take high school credit honor courses including Medical Skills & Services and Algebra 1. Students become certified in First Aid and CPR, in addition to completing a supervised medical internship. Biomedical and Medical Academy students in high school also follow an honors curriculum and may select their program of study leading to industry certifications and complete programs in the following pathways:

  • default_titleAllied Health Assisting – Certified Administrative Medical Assistant
  • default_titleElectrocardiograph Aide – Certified EKG Technician
  • default_titleEmergency Medical Responder – Emergency Medical Responder and/or Technician (EMT)
  • default_titleHealth and Wellness – Certified Personal Trainer
  • default_titleHealth Unit Coordinator – Certified Health Unit Coordinator and Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist
  • default_titleHome Health Aide – Certified Patient Care Technician and Certified Health Safety Assistant
  • default_titleMedical Lab Assistant – Certified Phlebotomy Technician and/or Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
  • default_titleNursing Assistant – Certified Nursing Assistant and Certified Patient Care Technician
  • default_titlePharmacy Technician – Certified Pharmacy Technician & Registered Pharmacy Technician
  • default_titlePractical Nursing – Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified Patient Care Technician, and Licensed Practical Nurse
  • Show More

Students graduate from the Medical Academies Career and College Ready and as a certified and/or licensed health care provider. Students may achieve multiple certifications allowing them to get an immediate job in the medical field.

Culinary Arts Career Academies

The Culinary Arts middle school and high school academies provide the opportunity for students to train for a variety of careers within the Hospitality and Tourism Cluster. Utilizing both academic and technical studies, students develop higher level knowledge and skill building proficiency by emphasizing safety and sanitation, workplace safety, nutrition, food production, and cost control.

Many of the middle school pre-academies and high school culinary arts academies believe in the “Garden to Table” concept, growing vegetables and herbs in school site gardens, allowing students to develop healthy menu collaboration, nutritional awareness in food preparation and personal wellness plans.

Students also have the opportunity to earn several industry certifications, such as ServSafe Food Manager’s Exam and the National Prostart Certificate of Achievement.

Early Childhood Teacher Education Academies

The Pre-Teacher Academies introduce basic concepts of child growth, development and care, nutrition and wellness to the middle school students. Babysitting, first aid and CPR for infants and children are covered and many students earn certifications in these areas.

The Teacher and Early Childhood Education Teacher Academies at the high school level expand on these concepts, and train for a variety of careers in the Education and Training Career Cluster. Students complete course work and lab hours in neighboring childcare facilities, local elementary schools and the onsite preschools available at eight of the high school programs, earning an Early Childhood Professional Certificate (ECPC), which is a Staff Credential with the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

Many students within this program continue on, becoming child psychologists, social workers, pediatricians, speech pathologists, and often return to the District as teachers. We do indeed “Grow Our Own!”

Middle School Career Academies:

Boca Raton Community Middle

Pre-Medical

Congress Middle

Pre-Medical

Eagles Landings Middle

Pre-Culinary

Howell Watkins Middle

Pre-Medical

Independence Middle

Pre-Medical

Pre-Teacher Education

Jeaga Middle

Pre-Medical

Pre-Culinary

John F. Kennedy Middle

Pre-Culinary

Jupiter Middle

Pre-Medical

Pre-Culinary

L.C. Swain Middle

Pre-Medical

Lake Shore Middle

Pre-Medical

Lake Worth Middle

Pre-Medical

Lantana Community Middle

Pre-Medical

Pre-Teacher Education

Loggers Run Community Middle

Pre-Medical

Pre-Culinary

Odyssey Middle

Pre-Medical

Omni Middle

Pre-Medical

Osceola Creek Middle

Pre-Culinary

Roosevelt Community Middle

Pre-Medical

Somerset Academy

Pre-Medical

South Tech Preparatory Academy

Pre-Medical


Tradewinds Middle


Pre-Culinary


Pre-Teacher Education


Western Pines Middle


Pre-Medical


Woodlands Middle


Pre-Medical

Pre-Culinary


High School Career Academies:

Atlantic Community High

Medical

Teacher Education

Boca Raton Community High

Medical

Culinary

Teacher Education

Boynton Beach Community High

Medical

Culinary

Teacher Education

Forest Hill Community High

Medical

Culinary

Glades Central Community High

Medical

Inlet Grove Community High

Medical

Culinary

John I. Leonard High

Medical

Culinary

Teacher Education

Jupiter Community High

Medical

Culinary

Lake Worth Community High

Medical

Culinary

Teacher Education

Olympic Heights Community High

Culinary

Teacher Education

Pahokee High

Medical

Palm Beach Central High

Culinary

Palm Beach Gardens High

Medical

Culinary

Palm Beach Lakes Community High

Medical

Teacher Education

Park Vista Community High

Medical

Royal Palm Beach Community High

Medical

Teacher Education

Santaluces Community High

Culinary

Teacher Education

Somerset Academy High

Medical

South Tech High

Medical

Culinary

Spanish River Community High

Teacher Education

West Boca Raton Community High

Medical

Culinary

William T. Dwyer High

Cullinary

Teacher Education

William T. Dwyer High

Culinary

Teacher Education

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CBS Channel 12 Class Act Special highlights career academies throughout the School District of Palm Beach County. The following Biomedical and Medical Academies have received special attention:
Acreage Pines Elementary School Biomedical & Veterinary Technology Academy:
https://youtu.be/KFsq1UH6bNg
Lake Worth Middle School Biomedical Sciences Academy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2B2UNOqY-0&feature=youtu.be
Omni Middle School Biomedical Health Informatics Academy:
https://youtu.be/Zl80PXxSD9Y
John I. Leonard High School Medical Sciences Academy:
https://youtu.be/_7YlHj5BATg
Royal Pam Beach High Medical Sciences Academy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbTy6LP36TM&authuser=0
Palm Beach County Medical Society produced a video about the advancements of medical education and the future of medicine in Palm Beach County.
Future of Medicine: Medical Education in Palm Beach County:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33PKR25lvD8&feature=youtu.be
Heroes in Medicine:
Palm Beach County Medical Society honored the 2015 Heroes in Medicine Awards on April 16, 2015 at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. The finalists representing Palm Beach County Schools for the Student Hero Award were Nerea Anaya, Grace Cenat, Rodeania Peart, and Janie Sanchez. They were all honored as Outstanding Healthcare Heroes.

Rodenia Peart, from Inlet Grove High School Medical Sciences Academy won the 2015 Student Hero Award.
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