2017-2018 Blackboard Award Honoree: Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health & Science Charter School

Outstanding School

Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health & Science Charter School
Principal: Richard Burke
Grades 6-12
800 Home Street, The Bronx
healthscienceschool.org

Describe your school’s core educational philosophy.

Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health & Science Charter School provides our scholars with a nurturing and challenging educational experience to develop their abilities and address the health and economic disparities in our community. Upon graduation, our scholars will be prepared for the highest levels of college achievement, for gainful employment as certified health care professionals, and to serve others as they pursue rewarding lives and respected careers for themselves.

Tell us about a few of the school’s achievements or distinguishing programs.

The 2015-2017 school years were an exciting time for the Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health and Science Charter School (DRIHSCS). 2017 saw our first graduating class with 100 percent of our scholars graduating. One graduate is entering the Coast Guard, while the rest have received acceptance letters to college.

We’ve developed a full arts and music program to complement our rigorous curriculum, and 50 percent of our high school scholars take AP, honors, or college courses. Amazing things are happening at DRIHSCS, and I am proud to be a part of our growing success. I hope that as you read on, you will get to know the dedicated, passionate faculty, supportive parents and creative scholars who make our school great. Together, we are preparing our future health leaders!

What’s new?

The school has been named a “College Now” school, which enabled our scholars to take college classes for credit at both Hostos Community College and Lehman College. The scholars will also have opportunities to intern at Hostos and its partners and will receive career counseling, resume preparation assistance, and financial aid and scholarship guidance.

Additionally, we were the 13th high school in New York City named as a Gateway Pipeline School to partner with City College and the CUNY School of Medicine. This partnership will help us to prepare our scholars for EMT certification and to enter college.

What do you love about your school?
As the DOE stated, the students love the teachers and the teachers love the students. DRIHSCS is a place of joy and excellence.

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