The elementary schools that are featured in this new program include Beatty Park, East Columbus, Eastgate, Ohio Avenue, and Trevitt, in addition to East High School and Champion Middle School. Starting with the 2015-2016 school year, students in Pre-K, Kindergarten, and grades 5, 6, 9 and 10 will begin the tract with other grades phasing in through 2018.

On Wednesday, August 26,  local leaders gathered at Champion Middle School to officially launch the Health Sciences Academies — a new education platform that will turn the focus of seven east side schools toward healthy lifestyles and health career readiness. The event included a special welcome from City Year Columbus and was attended by faculty, staff, parents, students, and community members. The 6th graders were also given a White Coat Ceremony to mark their transition into the Health Sciences Academy at Champion Middle School.

Guest speakers included Mayor Michael Coleman; Representative Joyce Beatty ; Dan Good, Superintendent of Columbus City School; Marilyn Brown, Commissioner of Franklin County Board of Commissioners; Elizabeth Seely, Executive Director/CEO OSU Hospital East; Tom Leach, Regional Director of HUD ; Dr. Darrell M. Gray II, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine ; Tasha Booker, Executive Director of City Year ; and Trudy Bartley, Executive Director of Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT).

The Health Sciences Academies are made possible through a partnership between PACT, Columbus City Schools, and The Ohio State University Wenxer Medical Center. The elementary schools that are featured in this new program include Beatty Park, East Columbus, Eastgate, Ohio Avenue, and Trevitt, in addition to East High School and Champion Middle School. Starting with the 2015-2016 school year, students in Pre-K, Kindergarten, and grades 5, 6, 9 and 10 will begin the tract with other grades phasing in through 2018. The program includes real-world learning experiences through partnerships with area medical facilities including University Hospital East and CarePoint East.