Cabarrus County Schools and The Pearl Innovation District Announce Partnership to Launch Workforce-Aligned, Health Care Innovation Microschool
Cabarrus County Schools (CCS), Atrium Health and The Pearl innovation district have announced a first-of-its-kind partnership to create a health care innovation academy — pioneering microschool designed to prepare high school students for emerging careers in health care and technology. Scheduled to launch in fall 2026 at Jay M. Robinson High School with an initial cohort of 30 freshmen and 30 sophomores, the academy will be part of CCS' Program Choice offerings.
Modeled after the early college concept, the health care innovation academy at Robinson, in partnership with Atrium Health and The Pearl, will operate as a four-year microschool blending traditional academic coursework with hands-on, real-world learning. The program’s initial focus will center on artificial intelligence in health care with plans to expand into prototyping technologies — two rapidly growing fields in the health care industry.
Students will complete core high school courses such as Math I, English I and Civics through a health care lens, while also participating in Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes in data analytics and artificial intelligence. Each component of the curriculum will be co-designed with industry experts at Advocate Health – which Atrium Health is a part — as well as other health science tenants at The Pearl to ensure direct alignment with workforce needs and post-secondary opportunities.
In addition to classroom learning, students will participate in weekly field experiences at The Pearl innovation district, collaborating with professionals from leading health care innovation companies. These experiences will emphasize problem-based learning, allowing students to tackle authentic health care challenges while developing the technical and collaborative skills necessary for future success.
This innovative partnership responds to three converging needs in our area: industry demand for skilled professionals trained at the intersection of health care and technology, commitment from The Pearl and its workforce partners to co-develop cutting-edge coursework and apprenticeship opportunities, and strong student demand within CCS.
“The health care innovation academy at Robinson in partnership with The Pearl represents the next evolution of public education in Cabarrus County,” said Dr. John Kopicki, superintendent of Cabarrus County Schools. “By connecting our students directly with industry experts and real-world problem solving, we’re ensuring they graduate not only ready for college but for the careers shaping our community and our future.”
The Pearl innovation district will also provide support for curriculum development, industry credentialing and an on-site coordinator to oversee pre-apprenticeships and workplace learning. This partnership represents one of many initiatives originating from The Pearl’s STEM Lab — a place-based, community-focused program to ignite curiosity and inspire K–12 students to pursue careers in health and science.
“By connecting young people with health and science careers they might not have known existed, we’re building a future where students are not only prepared for the workforce of tomorrow but are also inspired to lead it,” said Dr. Richard Cox, STEM program coordinator at The Pearl. “The partnership with Cabarrus County Schools and The Pearl serves as a powerful opportunity to expand our STEM educational impact beyond our district walls and maximize high school student engagement. This positions us in a way that no one else is — at the forefront of innovative educational transformation.”
To learn more about the health care innovation academy at Robinson in partnership with The Pearl, visit www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/programchoice or https://www.thepearlclt.com.
Media Contacts:
Cabarrus County Schools
Philip.furr@cabarrus.k12.nc.us
Advocate Health
media@advocatehealth.org