The academic achievement of students in health occupations programs at High Schools That Work (HSTW) sites in 1996 was compared to academic performance levels at HSTW sites in 1994. Health occupations students at HSTW sites improved their average reading scores from 269 in 1993 to 278 in 1996. During the study period, the gap widened between HSTW students in health occupations programs and vocational students nationally. The average reading, mathematics, and science scores of students at the HSTW sites were all higher than those of vocational students in the national sample. Male students in health occupations programs had higher reading, mathematics, and science scores in 1996 than in 1994. The bad news is that smaller percentages of students in health occupations programs met the HSTW performance goals in mathematics and science than did all students participating in the 1996 assessment which is of particular concern given the place of mathematics and science in health care. The following were among the recommendations for further improving health occupations students' performance: (1) set high expectations and get students to meet them; (2) offer intellectually challenging health occupations studies; (3) increase access to classes that teach high-level content; (4) provide a structure of work-based and school based learning; (5) enable academic and vocational teachers to plan together; and (6) involve students and parents in planning programs of study. (MN)