Alabama School of Math and Science

Alabama School of Math & Science

Story By Allyson McMaken Photos Contributed By ASMS

ASMS offers tuition-free premier science, technology, engineering and mathematics (S.T.E.M.) education to Alabama 10th, 11th and 12th graders on its residential campus.

ASMS was founded by the legislature in 1989 as Alabama’s first, fully public and residential high school for sophomores, juniors and seniors seeking advanced studies in math, science, computer science and the humanities. ASMS removes barriers to educational opportunity by providing a tuition-free, premier S.T.E.M. education to high school students from all 67 counties in Alabama with all levels of socioeconomic status.

ASMS is set apart by its academic rigor, residential learning environment, leadership opportunities and research focus for students. Students can pursue college-level coursework, conduct original research with expert faculty members and forge their own academic path through unique electives. ASMS is a school for students who are ready for an accelerated learning environment that challenges them to maximize their potential beyond what might be available at their home school.

Students graduate from ASMS excelling on every level, inside and outside the classroom. On average, ASMS students increase their ACT score five to seven points from when they enter to when they graduate. The average ACT score for graduates is a 30 — one of the highest in the state. Students often graduate with full-tuition scholarships to in-state institutions or are admitted to out-of-state institutions such as Harvard, MIT, Georgia Tech, Columbia and more. For 30 years, ASMS has had a transformative effect on student success, supporting students to be the very best version of themselves.

Each year, ASMS opens its admissions application for current ninth and 10th graders to apply for the following school year. In addition, the school offers summer programs for rising seventh through ninth graders with a drive to develop knowledge in S.T.E.M. and leadership skills to gravitate to the top of their field one day.

More information about the school and its offerings is available at asms.net or by calling 251-441-2100.

“T ake every opportunity that comes to you.” ~ Jinny Li 2022

Story By Michelle Key Photo Contributed By ASMS

Auburn resident Jinny Li, who is graduating from the Alabama School of Math and Science, is ready to begin her life as a full-time college student at Boston College where she is planning to major in finance.

Li enrolled at ASMS as a sophomore three years ago. She said that living away from her family was hard at first but that overall, it has helped her prepare for college.

“It was very difficult sophomore year,” Li said. “I struggled being independent as there was no one telling me when to eat, do homework, and I was basically an underage college student. Now I am much better at time management, and I know I’ll be much better prepared in college.”

ASMS has a student population that is much smaller than Li’s former schools in the Auburn City school system.

“The student population is much smaller than my school in Auburn, and I think that provides a closer environment to everyone,” Li said. “I like how much of a friendly environment it is. It has provided me with great opportunities that I never would have imagined doing at my school in Auburn. With a smaller student population, I could learn better as there was also a smaller class size.”

While at ASMS, Li helped other students in the Mobile and Baldwin County area by running a tutoring group. She also served as the general editor of the yearbook. In her spare time, Li said that she enjoys knitting, crocheting, origami and other similar hobbies.

“I [just] enjoy making things,” she said.

Li is an only child and said that she remembers her parents had a tough time with her moving from Auburn to Mobile at the beginning of her sophomore year. That move was 230 miles from home. In August of this year, she will make the move to Boston College which is nearly 1,200 miles from her family. It will be yet another big adjustment for her and her family.

Li has some advice for other students that may be considering enrollment at ASMS.

“Be ready to be independent. Your parents are not going to be around to tell you what to do.”

While Li said that she does not know what she wants to do with the rest of her life after college, she did have one final piece of advice or wisdom for others.

“Take every opportunity that comes to you.”