The bell had just rung when the school secretary was taken hostage outside the cafeteria.

Minutes later, there was a bright flash of light.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

It was a distraction device, a controlled explosion used to confuse the bad guys.

Within seconds, a half-dozen Hialeah SWAT officers, each wearing military-style fatigues and black protective gear, swept in and rescued the screaming hostage.

Two dozen teenagers began clapping.

It was just another morning at the Hialeah Educational Academy, a new charter school that prepares students for careers in police work and fire rescue.

The guest lecturers that day were members of the Hialeah Police Department's SWAT Team. And their talk was followed by a high-octane mock hostage situation.

''That was awesome,'' said Luis Fernandez, 14, still breathless after the controlled explosions. ``I think I want to be on a SWAT team.''

The academy is one of about two dozen public high schools in Florida offering specialized training in law enforcement and fire and emergency response services.

As a charter school, Hialeah Educational Academy is funded by taxpayer dollars but has its own governing board. It is run by the city, in partnership with the police and fire-rescue departments.

This year, the school has 98 students, all of them freshmen. Students from across Miami-Dade County can apply, but preference is given to those from Hialeah. Almost everyone who applies is accepted.

In addition to their public service work, the students -- an even mix of boys and girls -- must also take traditional high school classes.

But even the typical classes aren't so typical. In math, for example, word problems involve crime scenes and arson investigations.

''It's not the basic high school,'' said Rene de la Moneda, 15, who hopes to become a SWAT medic after high school. ``They teach you a lot about ethics, morals. It's really cool.''

On a recent morning, Hialeah Police Sgt. Ronald Duke spoke to the students. He wore his camouflage SWAT team uniform, with his service weapon in a holster around his thigh.

He described the three-week SWAT school he and his colleagues endured to become members of the team.

''They beat you up physically and mentally,'' he explained. ``That training is important. When you get out there on a mission, you can't quit. You have to keep on keeping on.''

LOTS OF QUESTIONS

The teens peppered him with questions.

''Do you use helicopters?'' one boy wanted to know.

''What kinds of weapons do you have?'' another asked.

The presentation was enough to convince Karina Tamburi, 14, to consider a career in law enforcement.

Before coming to the academy, Karina wanted to become a plastic surgeon.

''But the SWAT team looks really cool,'' she said, pointing out that the Hialeah team currently doesn't have any women on it.

In recent weekes, academy students watched a demonstration by the Hialeah Police K-9 team. A detective specializing in domestic violence addressed the students, too.

On any given day, it isn't uncommon to spot police officers and firefighters teaching classes and eating lunch with the students. Police headquarters and a state-certified fire college are both nearby.

Hialeah Police Sgt. Barbara Ricano, who wears her long hair in a ponytail and sometimes carries pink handcuffs, is a favorite among students.

On a recent Thursday morning, she led a group of 27 teens through their morning exercises. Activities included arm circles and plenty of push-ups.

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