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Mar 26, 2026
PGCPS Expands Student Wellness with Four New School-Based Health Centers
New School-Based Health Centers Expand Student Wellness
In partnership with Children’s National Hospital, PGCPS is making strides in student wellness with the launch of four new School-Based Health Centers.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held on March 23 at Fairmont Heights High School, marked the opening of a center that will serve as a hub for comprehensive student care. Additional health centers opened at Walker Mill Middle School, Northwestern High School, and Oxon Hill High School. This initiative brings high-quality, accessible health care directly to where students spend most of their day—at school.
“Attendance drives achievement. When students are healthy, they are present and able to fully engage in learning,” said Dr. Shawn Joseph, PGCPS Interim Superintendent. “Families should not have to choose between a medical appointment and a day of instruction, and with four new School-Based Health Centers, we can now serve up to 9,200 students and expand access to care, stability, and opportunity.”
These centers are designed to meet a wide range of student health needs. Services will include primary and preventive care, treatment for acute illnesses, chronic condition management, and access to behavioral and oral health support. By embedding these resources within schools, PGCPS is working to remove common barriers to care such as transportation, scheduling challenges, and limited access to providers.
“By bringing health services into our schools, we are not only caring for students, we are supporting families and strengthening entire communities,” said Dr. Traci Jones, Supervisor for the Office of School Health.
These new centers represent a holistic approach to education—one that recognizes that student success is deeply connected to physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
With this expansion, PGCPS continues to strengthen its commitment to supporting the whole child, ensuring every student has the resources they need to be successful both inside and outside the classroom.
