Health & Public Service Academy

Big Sky Health Science Academy

The Health Science Academy at Big Sky High School is a dynamic, hands-on learning program designed for students interested in exploring careers in healthcare and medical sciences. Through a combination of rigorous coursework, practical experiences, and partnerships with local health professionals, students gain valuable knowledge and skills that prepare them for college and future careers in the health field. The Academy fosters curiosity, compassion, and a commitment to helping others—empowering students to make a real difference in their communities and beyond.

Mission/Vision

21st Century Education:

A STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) career academy is a great example of 21st century learning. It is an academic program that merges real-world experience through occupational coursework and job skills with the rigor of college-prep academics. Career academies have been shown to improve student attendance, grades, college enrollment and successful completion of post-secondary degrees.

Mission: Provide Relevancy

The Health Science Academy’s mission is to provide students with an intellectually challenging and relevant education in a small, supportive environment. Every student enrolled will not only complete high school, but will do so with the knowledge and skills to be successful in a post-secondary educational program. The academy’s teachers and administrators work with parents and community partners to develop opportunities through which students can become exceptional and well-rounded scholars and citizens. The curriculum is college-preparatory with a focus on careers in the medical health sciences.

Vision: Develop Young Professionals

The academy is supported by a vision that all students will develop into thoughtful, responsible and confident adults who are prepared to excel in both their post-secondary education and career(s).

Relying on local medical centers, health clinics, educational institutions and businesses as integral partners, the Academy motivates students to continue their education in pursuit of their dreams, and inspires them to work in and contribute to the Missoula community.

Curriculum

The Academy follows a "cohort teaching model" for the freshman and sophomore year. Students take integrated Academy classes with other Academy students; as a result, they spend a significant portion of their day with the same cohort of students. Academy teachers for the freshmen and sophomores include the STEM instructors as well as teachers from the science, English, health enhancement, and math departments. All teachers who instruct freshman and sophomore Academy classes meet weekly as a team to discuss curricular and student issues.

By the time students are juniors and seniors, they take a single required Academy biomedical science class each year, then round out their schedule with district-required classes and electives.

Below are the courses required for Academy students each year. The bold-faced classes are the four required project-based biomedical classes.

FRESHMAN:

Principles of Biomedical Science (Required)
English 1
Integrated 1
World Geography
Health Enhancement 1

SOPHOMORE:

Human Body Systems (Required)
English 2
Integrated 2

JUNIOR

Medical Interventions (Required)

SENIOR

Biomedical Innovations (Required)

Job Shadowing

Built in to the Academy curriculum at the junior and senior grade level are opportunities to job shadow health professionals and others within our community. Job shadows inspire students to formulate future goals and offer students an opportunity to explore a career and its associated post-secondary education pathway. In addition, job shadows also help develop workplace readiness. When a student leaves the Academy at the end of four years, they have robust academic, technical and employability skills.

Health Science Academy students job shadow at both area hospitals and with local doctors, dentists, physical therapists, optometrists, and professors at the University of Montana. Students shadow professions outside the health sciences as well, including lawyers, wildlife biologists, musicians, business owners, and many others. Job shadows occur three times during each student's Academy career, with juniors shadowing twice and seniors shadowing once. The Academy works with over 50 area partners to provide this opportunity for our students.

Job Shadow Information Packet

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