The vision of The International High School for Health Sciences is to help new non-English speaking students acquire English language skills and develop the determination, compassion, and discipline for successful college study in medicine, nursing, health counseling, research or in the administration of health care services.

At IHS for Health Sciences, students will be prepared for college and health careers. Teachers use collaborative, project-based units to integrate English language development with content knowledge. Partnerships forged with local clinics, hospitals and health care facilities will offer students workplace settings to apply the lessons learned in the classroom. Students learn health care skills, develop strong work habits, and grow in English language fluency in a non-school environment. By graduation, each student builds a portfolio of workplace experiences.

• New learners of English need to understand, speak, read, and write English proficiently so that they can become active members of this English speaking society.
• Students learn best working together in diverse groups.
• School members’ native languages, cultures, and families are a resource for the student, the school, and society.
• High expectations will help our students and teachers to achieve.
• Each student has different needs and talents and achieves at different rates. Therefore, we must give our students many different opportunities to demonstrate what they know and can do.
• Language learning is enhanced by experiences both in and out of the school building.
• Family involvement is an important part of a child’s education.
• Our school is built around a set of core values: Collaboration, Communication, Service and Dignity.

The students of The International High School for Health Sciences are all recent immigrants who are new to the United States and new learners of English. When students begin at our school, they score at intermediate beginner or below on the NYSITELL exam and have been in the United States less than four years. IHS-HS students come from almost 30 different countries and speak over 20 different languages.

• Small classes
• Teams of teachers working together to teach and support students.
• A safe, supportive environment where adults know students well
• Advisors who are responsible for a small group of students
• A rigorous curriculum that supports language development in all classes while preparing students for portfolios and required Regents exams in Math & ELA
• Meaningful participation of faculty, students, caregivers, and community members in the life of the school
• Internships in 11th grade for academic credit
• Technology integrated across the curriculum
• After-school clubs and activities