Named one of the nation’s most competitive schools by Newsweek, the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science is currently accepting applications for the 2019-2020 school year.

Located in Mobile, ASMS is the state’s only fully public and residential high school for students in grades 10th through 12th who are seeking advanced studies in math, science and the humanities.

Currently, 270 students from 50 Alabama counties study at ASMS, including four from Limestone County. Those students are former Athens High School students Laura Van Winkle, Sarah Van Winkle and Javia Warner and former Elkmont High School student James Walts.

Sarah transferred to ASMS from AHS at the beginning of her sophomore year. Now a senior, she has experienced firsthand the benefits of attending a specialized school like ASMS. This summer, she got the chance to work as a research assistant in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. It was a summer-long, full-time, paid research job with Dr. Joseph D. Ng, UAH director of biotechnology, science and engineering.

While there, Sarah participated in biochemistry research, which helped solidify her decision to major in chemistry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she eventually plans to pursue a career as a pediatric endocrinologist.

“I think the academic opportunities in chemistry and mathematics here at (ASMS) far outweighed those at my old town,” Sarah said. “The mentorship that I’ve gotten here from instructors, who are well-read in their respective fields, really helped me decide my future at ASMS and college.”

Javia, also a former AHS student, is now in her second year at ASMS. She said she transferred to the Mobile-based school because she wanted to be challenged academically and socially.

Over the summer, she interned in the chemistry department at UAH after being accepted into a summer high school program sponsored by the Alabama Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participants.

The six-week internship expanded Javia’s grasp of chemistry and convinced her to pursue her dream to become a pediatrician.

“My favorite experience was getting to know all of the people from surrounding areas,” Javia said. “Also, being able to work in a real chemistry lab every day was really cool. I definitely would encourage other students to apply for this program. You gain real-life lab experience. You also get to work with amazing professors and meet a lot of awesome new people.”

Since the school was founded in 1989, more than 2,000 students have graduated from the program. In the last 18 years, ASMS gradates have earned $225 million in merit-based scholarships. According to Amber Day, director of recruitment and outreach for ASMS, students can expect to increase their ACT scores by an average of five to seven points during their time at the school.

“Every resident from Limestone County should be exceedingly proud of these young people,” ASMS Interim President Dr. John Hoyle said. “They’re joining a growing movement of ASMS leaders who are making an impact on our state and world.”

Day added, “The hands-on experiences they get at ASMS and out in the field as interns — where they are doing high-level research — gives our students an edge when applying for scholarships and college.”

Noting the diverse backgrounds and interests of the ASMS student body, Day said the school prepares students for college residentially, socially and academically.

Students who are currently in ninth or 10th grades and who are interested in attending ASMS can apply online at www.asms.net. Acceptance into the tuition-free school is based on a combination of academics, ACT scores, maturity, essays and teacher recommendations. The application deadline is Feb. 14, 2019.

Students and parents who want to learn more about the school are invited to tour it and to participate in classroom demonstrations on ASMS Days in Mobile on Nov. 10 or Dec. 1.

For more information about ASMS Days, email admissions@asms.net.