COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Board of Education held a work session Thursday morning to discuss lottery school updates and the potential addition of a "health science high school."

According to the meeting agenda, lottery schools are specialized schools that admit students through a random drawing. CPS lottery schools feature specialized instruction areas such as STEM, STEAM, multi-grade learning, health care, art and agriculture.

Ridgeway Elementary was the first CPS lottery school, introduced in 2012. CPS has since added Benton, Locust, Jefferson and Two Mile Prairie.

In Thursday's Lottery School Update, the board discussed the health science high school that would collaborate with MU Health. Starting in ninth grade, students would work with MU Health, take classes in clinic settings, and focus on learning about health care experiences. Learning opportunities would also include an introduction to health care pathways, simulation labs, and hands-on learning, including internships in their junior and senior years.

The school could open as soon as the 2027-2028 school year.

CPS board member Dr. Helen Porter told ABC 17 News that there are classes at the Career Center, especially for Certified Nursing Assistants, but they are always full. we kind of recognized that we had an opportunity here to get more students in those classes. "[Students] were obviously wanting them," said Porter. "There's a waitlist to get in. And so what a great opportunity for us to a help our students find that very profitable career."

Porter also said that MU Health can benefit from the partnership by recruiting students, giving them an employment opportunity.

"This isn't necessarily for kids who want to be doctors or nurses," Porter said. "Of course, we value those careers, but these are for very technical, skilled, and certified members who want to be phlebotomist or, pharmacy techs, or CNAs. And so it's that level of employment that health care is really struggling to fill right now. And I think all hospitals are."

The health science high school is in phase two of planning, using surveys and focus groups with eighth-grade students and parents. When surveys with parents, students and staff are complete, applications to the lottery school will be open.

The school's location has not yet been announced.

West Middle School was announced as the next CPS lottery school to become a fine arts academy starting the 2027-2028 school year.

"They are really set up well to be a strong fine arts middle school," Porter told ABC 17 News. "They'll still have all of the regular curriculum, just like we have at Jefferson [Middle School]. But that opportunity for students and families to really embark in a fine arts journey or career is going to be there."

CPS hopes to have applications for West Middle School available by the end of October.