Academics
ASMS offers students academic opportunities they will not find anywhere else in the State of Alabama. All coursework is taught at the college level and prepares our graduates for higher education and beyond.
Is ASMS for me?
ASMS is a school for motivated students who are ready to challenge themselves academically at a higher level and in new ways. Students can pursue college-level coursework, conduct original research with expert faculty members, and forge their own academic path.
Our Coursework
Courses are taught at an advanced level or are based on a university equivalent. The school boasts an exceptional STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) curriculum in conjunction with offerings in world languages, humanities, and the arts. Students who graduate from ASMS have a solid preparation in academics regardless of discipline. You do not have to be a genius to succeed at ASMS. Students will find success when they work hard and embrace all that ASMS has to offer. In addition to being knowledgeable about their subject matter, our students are prepared to be critical thinkers, creative concepters, collaborative colleagues, and mindful citizens. ASMS gives them foundational knowledge to excel their careers and provides them with the skills needed to gravitate to the top of their fields.
School Profile
See a quick overview of last year's student body and our academic offerings.
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Course Catalog
View a list of courses offered at ASMS including syllabi. ASMS students can shape their academic path based on their interests.
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Departments & Courses Taught
With 10 Academic Departments, ASMS students can choose from 200+ advanced courses.
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Faculty
ASMS faculty are content experts with Ph.D. and master's degrees in their fields who previously taught at colleges and universities across the U.S.
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Faculty Resume
ASMS faculty are well respected in their fields for their awards, honors, publications, research, and much more!
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Research
ASMS offers a Research Fellows Program where students conduct original research projects with the guidance of a research mentor. Research projects set our students apart in college admissions.
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Class Sizes
The small class sizes at ASMS encourage in-depth learning, thoughtful discussions, and close interactions with our distinguished faculty members. Some classes have as few as 7 students, while others may reach an enrollment size of slightly over 20.
Three-Term Calendar
The academic year is divided into three terms, each lasting 11 weeks. A three term system allows our students to pursue additional courses of study compared to a traditional high school. Students enroll in a minimum of five academic courses per term. Although classes convene every day of the week, individual courses only meet four days per week for 55 minutes each day, allowing for lab sessions to run longer on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Course Offerings and Concentrations
ASMS boasts a college-level curriculum in STEM and the humanities with 400+ unique courses to choose from in the catalog. Our wide range of electives allow ASMS students to shape their own academic path and go more in depth based on their interests and academic goals. This includes concentrations in any of our 10 academic departments or interdisciplinary concentrations in medical sciences and engineering.
Lab Components
All science classes meet an additional two hours per week for labs. Students earn 0.5 credit for each course completed. In Advanced Placement (AP) courses, students enroll for all three terms.
Concentrations
ASMS students can specialize in academic “concentrations” such as Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Medical Sciences, and more. A concentration is similar to a university major.
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College Credit and Savings
ASMS students can earn up to 2 years worth of college credit simply by taking courses already offered as part of the graduation curriculum at our school. This can result in major college savings.
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Standardized Test Prep
ASMS Academic Affairs offers test preparation workshops and resources for students each school year. ASMS students typically raise their ACT scores by 5-7 points or more before they graduate.
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Academic and College Counseling
ASMS students are assigned an Academic and College Counselor to guide them through course selection and support them in the college admission and application process.
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Special Projects Week
Each year students take a break from their regularly scheduled course load to participate in Special Projects Week. During this time, students and teachers delve into a specific area of concentration.
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Study Abroad
ASMS offers active cultural study abroad programs in Münster, Germany and Seville, Spain. Both programs offer a direct immersion exchange with prestigious international institutions and host families.
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ASMS Makerspace
A Makerspace is a collaborative workspace for creating, learning, exploring, and sharing. Such a learning environment can provide students with critical 21st century skills in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Honor Societies
ASMS has several different honor society organizations. Click to view them all!
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Internships
Students often benefit from the opportunity to work in and experience their fields of interest first-hand.
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Library
With its sleek and modern architecture, the Ann Smith Bedsole Library stands as a testament to the school’s growth and commitment to providing the best education possible.
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Graduation
Graduation Day is one of the momentous days of the year at ASMS. Students must successfully complete 27.5 Carnegie units to satisfy graduation requirements.
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Faculty Member Standards
The ideal ASMS instructor teaches with the knowledge and charisma of a college professor while adapting to meet the needs of his or her teenage students.
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FAQ's
Here you will find answers to common questions related to ASMS academics.
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