A groundbreaking partnership between Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Cleveland Clinic will bring comprehensive health education to 25 schools across the city starting in the 2026-27 academic year. The five-year program, funded by a $12 million commitment from the Clinic and matching grants from local foundations, aims to improve health literacy among students while creating pathways to healthcare careers for Cleveland youth.
The curriculum covers topics ranging from basic nutrition and physical wellness to mental health awareness and chronic disease prevention, with age-appropriate content designed for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Cleveland Clinic physicians, nurses, and health educators will work alongside CMSD teachers to deliver the programming, which includes hands-on activities, school garden projects, and fitness initiatives tailored to each school’s specific needs and resources.
Superintendent Warren Morgan emphasized that the program addresses both immediate health needs and long-term economic opportunity, noting that Cleveland’s healthcare sector remains one of the region’s largest employers yet many city residents lack clear pathways into these careers. High school components include job shadowing opportunities, after-school health science clubs, and a summer internship program that will place 100 students annually in paid positions at Cleveland Clinic facilities.
The initiative builds on successful pilot programs conducted at three CMSD schools over the past two years, which showed measurable improvements in student health metrics and increased interest in healthcare professions. Community health advocates have praised the partnership as a model for how major institutions can invest in urban education while addressing public health disparities that have historically affected Cleveland’s neighborhoods.