The School District of University City is taking a bold step toward equity in education and health by announcing a new partnership to establish a School-Based Health Center at University City High School.
In collaboration with Washington University, Family Care Health Centers and the School-Based Health Alliance of Missouri, the district will open a center designed to provide comprehensive physical and mental health services to students—right where they learn.
This initiative reflects the vision outlined in the 2015 Ferguson Commission Report, which called for schools to serve as centers of health. Superintendent Sharonica L. Hardin-Bartley, PhD, PHR, who contributed to the Commission’s Youth at the Center work group, has long championed expanding access to wellness services for young people.
“For nearly a decade, it has been our vision to bring accessible, high-quality health care directly to our students,” Hardin-Bartley said. “We are excited to offer on-site healthcare resources that support both academic and life success. We are deeply grateful to the James S. McDonnell Foundation for helping make this center a reality.”
The new School-Based Health Center will provide sustainable, reliable, and easily accessible services for students, reducing common barriers such as cost, transportation, and scheduling conflicts.
Services will be available to all children with parental permission, regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay. Care will often be provided at no or low cost, ensuring equity across the student body. By meeting health needs on campus, the center will help students stay in school, return to class quickly after treatment, and remain engaged in learning.
With trusted providers on-site, families won’t have to miss work for minor health concerns—and students will receive prompt, youth-centered care.
School-based health centers are widely supported by educators and administrators because they allow schools to focus on their core mission—educating students who are healthy and ready to learn.
By embedding health services directly into schools, University City is helping to close those gaps in healthcare shaped by systemic inequities—ensuring that students not only succeed academically but thrive holistically.
As the project moves forward, the district has pledged to keep families and community members informed about timelines, services, and opportunities for engagement.