Health Institute at Hardy - Mastery Schools

Health Institute at Hardy

About

The Health Institute at Hardy (HIH), led by Mastery Schools and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), is supported by the Healthcare Career-Connected Learning Initiative funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. 

This innovative program, operating out of Hardy Williams High School (Hardy), equips students with the information, experience, confidence, skills, credentials, and relationships they need to excel, making in-demand, well-paying careers in healthcare accessible after graduation.  

Students gain access to robust academic programming, specialized healthcare classes, work-based learning, internships, and the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials and certifications along with a traditional high school diploma. Career pathways associated with the program include clinical care, hospital operations, and healthcare administration. 

HIH will officially launch for grades 7-9 in August 2025 and grow an additional grade yearly until 2028, serving approximately 620 students in grades 7-12 at scale.   

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Student Experience

HIH’s dynamic curriculum and hands-on approach to career-connected learning help students discover their passions. At the same time, rigorous academic instruction in core subjects such as English, math, and science ensures that every student receives a well-rounded education. Students are exposed to various career opportunities and are empowered to develop the knowledge and skills essential for success, regardless of whether they choose to pursue careers in healthcare after graduation.  

The typical journey for HIH students will look like this:  

  • 7th – 8th grade: HIH programming begins in grades 7 and 8, offering students an exciting introduction to healthcare careers through hands-on learning across multiple subjects. Students will engage with guest speakers from the healthcare industry, take field trips to healthcare facilities, and participate in interactive activities that bring healthcare concepts to life. Our goal is to spark curiosity and build foundational knowledge about the wide range of careers in healthcare. By the end of middle school, students will have a strong understanding of the education and skills required for different healthcare roles, setting them on a path toward future career exploration and success. 
  • 9th grade: In the summer prior to 9th grade, students will be invited to attend a Summer Bridge program to build academic and personal skills and build awareness of health care pathways. Students will then participate in an Introduction to Healthcare Careers course at the start of the school year to explore the various pathways available to them. Students will also take a freshman seminar to build a strong foundation in executive functioning and organizational and study skills, helping them get off to a strong start in high school.  
  • 10th – 11th grade: Students will select a HIH pathway to pursue by the end of 10th grade. In 10th grade, students will take a course that will continue to build their foundational knowledge and understanding of health care. In 11th grade, students will engage in specialized elective coursework in their chosen pathway. Eleventh graders will also have the opportunity to participate in an internship at CHOP.

Career Pathways

Students will graduate from HIH equipped with advanced knowledge and a competitive edge for their postsecondary pursuits. Participants will be well-prepared to advance to college or enter high-quality entry-level positions that offer family-sustaining wages and significant opportunities for upward mobility and long-term career development after graduation. 

HIH career pathways include: 

Students in this pathway will learn to work with patients and assist clinical care teams with critical tasks, including patient exams, administering medication, and performing lab tests. 

  • Certification: Certified Medical Assistant 
  • Career opportunities: Clinic Aide, Medical Assistant, Phlebotomist 
  • Starting range: ~$18-20/hr 

Students in this pathway will learn how to ensure medical tools and equipment are properly sterilized and ready for use in various settings, including hospitals, surgery centers, and laboratories. 

  • Certification: Certified Sterile Lab Processing Technician 
  • Career opportunities: Sterile Processing Technician and, with additional experience, other technician roles  
  • Starting rate: ~$28/hr 

Students in this pathway will learn how to manage health information systems and gain skills in data security to ensure that technology improves patient care.

  • Certification: CompTIA IT Fundamentals  
  • Career opportunities: Desktop Support and, with additional experience, other IT-related roles 
  • Starting range: ~$20-22/hr 

State-of-the-Art Learning Spaces

In preparation for the launch of HIH, representatives from Mastery and CHOP collaborated to upgrade Hardy’s facilities to enable real-world healthcare learning opportunities at the school. The newly upgraded classroom spaces include a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Lab, a Sterile Processing Lab, and a Technology Lab. The CMA Lab, modeled after CHOP’s Karabots Pediatric Care Center, is a fully equipped, hands-on healthcare training environment designed to mirror professional clinical settings. It includes two phlebotomy chairs, a triage center for simulating patient intake and assessment, CHOP-approved medical mannequins for clinical skill-building, and more. The Sterile Processing Lab, developed with guidance from CHOP to meet hospital-level infection control standards, features equipment for instrument cleaning and sterilization, as well as autoclaves and surgical packaging stations. The Technology Lab features upgraded technological infrastructure, including smartboards and digital learning tools, to support student success.

Current Program Partners

  • Program co-leads: Mastery Schools, CHOP 
  • Funder: Bloomberg Philanthropies 
  • Curriculum partner: Philadelphia Academies, Inc. 
  • Dual enrollment partners: JEVS Human Services, Drexel University 

In the News

The Health Institute at Hardy is officially live

The Health Institute at Hardy is officially live

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Systems give high schoolers a taste of healthcare careers

Systems give high schoolers a taste of healthcare careers

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Frequently Asked Questions

HIH will officially launch for grades 7-9 in August 2025 and grow an additional grade yearly until 2028, serving approximately 620 students in grades 7-12 at scale.  

There is no application process for participating in HIH. If your student is enrolled at Hardy in grades 7 through 12, they will automatically participate in this program. 

Students do not need to be interested in pursuing a career in healthcare to attend HIH. However, as Hardy is now a healthcare-connected learning school, students should have a curiosity and openness to learning about the healthcare field. Much like attending a specialized school, HIH will involve exposure to healthcare-related content, experiences, and opportunities. The skills, work-based learning experiences, mentorship, and career readiness initiatives offered are valuable across many academic and professional paths, but a genuine interest in exploring healthcare can help students feel more engaged and fulfilled. We still expect Hardy students to successfully transition to college and/or pursue a diverse array of careers after graduation. 

No. Participation in the program is free for all students.  

Hardy fosters an environment that nurtures the whole student. We offer rigorous and engaging educational experiences, mentorship programs, extracurricular activities, and individualized support to help students succeed. Through our HIH program, students can access unique opportunities, such as internships with CHOP and dual-enrollment courses that allow them to earn college credits while still in high school. Whether your child is passionate about healthcare or exploring other career options, Hardy will provide a well-rounded education to prepare them for professional and personal success. 

Mastery Schools is partnering with CHOP to offer students both classroom-based and hands-on learning opportunities in the healthcare pathways they are pursuing. This partnership includes work-based experiences and internships at CHOP facilities, access to innovative technology, mentoring from CHOP staff, and courses aligned with graduation and employment requirements. All Hardy students who fulfill the program requirements listed below will qualify for interviews with CHOP during their senior year. 

Program requirements 

  • Students must complete and receive a passing grade in their 9th-grade Introduction to Health Care Careers course; 
  • Students must complete and receive passing grades in pathway-specific healthcare elective courses in 10th – 12th grade; 
  • Students must complete an internship and/or dual enrollment coursework in Clinical Care, Hospital Operations, or Healthcare Administration career pathways; 
  • Students must complete and pass industry-recognized credential exam(s) in Clinical Care, Hospital Operations or Healthcare Administration career pathways. 
  • Students must earn a passing score on the industry-recognized exam offered prior to graduation during their senior year. 
  • Students must demonstrate professionalism, a strong work ethic, and appropriate behavior throughout their participation in the program, both in school and during work-based learning experiences. 

HIH will launch for students in grades 7-9 starting in August 2025, and we will add a grade level each school year moving forward. Students in grades 10-12 will continue to have a high-quality high school experience at Hardy, and we are committed to making sure every Hardy student is supported in preparing for college, career, or both, regardless of their participation in the HIH program. Current Hardy students slated to graduate over the next three years can still benefit from a wide range of valuable college and career readiness experiences at the school.

These include: 

  • Career exploration and planning through individualized guidance counseling, career fairs, and workshops help students discover their strengths and interests. 
  • Postsecondary exposure, including college fairs, campus visits, and workshops focused on financial aid and application processes help students prepare for academic next steps. 
  • Dual enrollment opportunities, offered through partnerships with the Community College of Philadelphia and JEVS Human Services, allow students to earn college credits while still in high school. 

HIH is supported by a growing network of partners who are helping to shape and implement the school’s healthcare-focused model. These partnerships include organizations that assist with curriculum development, staff training, student credentialing, and dual enrollment opportunities. Current collaborators include Philadelphia Academies, Inc. (PAI), JEVS Human Services, and Drexel University. As the program evolves, we remain committed to engaging with organizations that best meet the needs of our students and support their success in healthcare pathways. 

  • Philadelphia Academies, Inc. (PAI) helps coordinate workshops with parents, teachers, and students to collect valuable feedback, support curriculum design for healthcare career pathway courses offered at Hardy, and train staff to support strong curriculum implementation. 
  • JEVS Human Services and Drexel University offer dual enrollment coursework to 12th-grade students to prepare them for and support their passing of industry-recognized credential exams aligned with program pathways.   

 

We are excited to collaborate with parents, guardians, and students to ensure HIH meets the needs and aspirations of the Hardy community. We have hosted community conversations where families and students have asked questions about the curriculum, provided feedback and helped shape the program’s vision to share insights in direct engagement with our team. If you are interested in providing additional feedback and getting more involved in the planning and implementation of HIH, please email us at [email protected]. 

Incoming 9th-grade students who start high school at Hardy in August 2025 will be required to meet Mastery’s newly adopted graduation credit requirements that raise the bar for students to earn 23.5 credits during their high school experience, including more expansive courses focused on post-secondary readiness. For more information on these graduation credit requirements, please click here. 

Parents, guardians, and students can send questions, suggestions, and feedback to [email protected].