Reviewed by: Caleb Turrentine
How to apply for Alabama’s 4 specialty public high schools for 2026-2027
Reading time: 2 minutes
Students from all 67 counties can now apply to Alabama’s four specialty public high schools for the 2027-2028 school year. The state funds the tuition-free schools, which have residential components, so families can apply no matter where they live.
Each school runs its own admissions process and offers its own curriculum. Grade levels run from 7th to 12th depending on the school.
Where are Alabama’s specialty public high schools?
- Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA): Birmingham
- Alabama School of Mathematics and Science (ASMS): Mobile
- Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE): Huntsville
- Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences (ASHS): Demopolis
When do 2027-2028 applications open?
What students say about the residential experience
Elsie Beaver, a senior at ASMS from Lee County, said the school’s residential setup helped her grow beyond the classroom:
“Coming to ASMS is the best decision I could have made for my academic career. I liked that there were weekly laboratory classes and a lot of opportunity to participate in research and leadership.”
New consortium connects the schools
In June, Gov. Kay Ivey signed Senate Joint Resolution 84, which directs the four schools to form a consortium focused on collaboration, partnerships and information sharing. Administrators from the schools met together for the first time in August.
Families can learn more on each school’s website:
