Gov Kay Ivey — Gov. Kay Ivey championed the bill to establish the school. (Governor’s Office – Hal Yeager)

A new high school focused on a specialization in healthcare sciences was approved by Alabama lawmakers this week.

The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences (ASHS) will be a tuition-free public high school, created in hopes to battle the shortage of healthcare workers in the state. It will be located in Demopolis but the school would be available for students around the state.

Keep reading to find out more about the school + how state lawmakers are reacting to the news.

Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences

The school is expected to open in 2026. It will be the fourth public high school in the state that draws students from across Alabama including:

Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham
Alabama School of Math and Science in Mobile
Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Huntsville

The City of Demopolis has already committed to donating a 10-acre lot near Whitfield Regional Hospital. That medical center already has partnerships with UAB, University of Alabama + other colleges to help train students on site. The ASHS Foundation believes the new high school can play as an extension of those partnerships.

“Fostering a robust healthcare workforce in rural areas will create more accessible care, increase the number of long-term jobs, and set the stage for continued rural healthcare development across the state of Alabama.”
~ ASHS Foundation

Woman In White Tank Top And Blue Denim Jeans Holding Woman In Blue Long Sleeve Shirt — Photo by Rusty Watson on Unsplash

How it passed the legislature

“This is going to be another jewel for the state of Alabama to brag on.”
~ Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton

The Alabama House of Representatives unanimously passed the bill last month. Thursday, the state senate passed the bill with a 28-3 vote and it went to Gov. Kay Ivey, who spoke highly of the bill and the future of the school.

“Students from all over Alabama will soon benefit from an education at this specialty high school and then go on to bolster our healthcare workforce. The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences is yet another way our state is leading the nation in innovative education solutions.”
~ Gov. Kay Ivey

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