CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
As part of our commitment to supporting Career Pathway Programs at Mission High School, we recently provided funding for students in the Fire Science and EMS Academy to complete the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Certification Program.
Established in 2019 through a collaboration of the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD), City College of San Francisco (CCSF), Mission High School, and San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), the Fire Sciences Certification (FSC) Pathway Program provides students from underrepresented communities with the skills they need to access to public service careers. The goal is to develop an applicant pool that mirrors San Francisco's diverse demographics while providing growth opportunities for at-risk students.
Participants gain critical skills in self-discipline, teamwork, and life-saving techniques, benefiting the broader community. Through comprehensive training and certification, students are prepared for various public service careers, including wildland and structural firefighting, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) roles, dispatching, paramedics, emergency department nursing and medical positions, as well as opportunities in disaster services with organizations such as the Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To date, 145 students have completed the program, with enrollment growing significantly each year from 12 students in 2020 to 60 in 2024.
All students in the program are dual-enrolled at Mission High School and City College. During the school year, they attend classes on Mission High's campus. However, to become a certified EMT one must successfully complete the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification program. This requires taking an additional course during the summer after graduating high school.
In Summer 2024, in partnership with the Miranda Lux Foundation, the Mission High Foundation is pleased to provide a $1,000 award for successfully completing the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification. With this incentive we anticipate a 40% increase of NREMT certification completion.
In Spring 2024, 30 students traveled to Joshua Tree, CA to learn Wilderness Response skills with Outward Bound. Under the leadership of Mission High's fire sciences instructor Elena Hillard, the school collaborated with Outward Bound to introduce the course. As a result, plans are now underway to create Outward Bound's first-ever Wilderness Responder Certification Program for high school students scheduled to debut at Mission High School in 2025.
