The newly created Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences will open its doors this summer after reaching its initial enrollment goals and completing staff hires, school officials announced Monday. The residential specialty high school is set to welcome its first student cohort on Aug. 13.
Temporary campus, permanent plans
ASHS will operate temporarily out of the University of West Alabama campus in Livingston while construction of a permanent campus in Demopolis continues. School leaders said the Demopolis facility is scheduled for completion in 2027.
Officials reported that students from across Alabama have been admitted and that the school recently held an in-person orientation in Demopolis to introduce families to academic expectations, residential life and campus culture. Additional virtual sessions for students have followed to help with the shift to a residential high school environment.
Leadership and operations
The school’s board of trustees has appointed longtime educator Laura Bailey as head of school. Bailey previously served as dean of curriculum and instruction and will take the lead in day-to-day operations as ASHS opens. Board chairman Mike Warren praised Bailey’s role in creating the program.
“Laura Bailey has been instrumental in building ASHS from the ground up,” said Mike Warren, chairman of the ASHS board of trustees.
The school's president, Jimmy Martin, has stepped back from daily responsibilities following a family loss but remains involved in the project, according to officials.
What students and families should know
School administrators emphasized strong interest from families statewide and said early activities focused on acclimating students to a residential schedule and the academic rigors of a specialty high school. Orientation programming on June 10 brought students and parents together for a daylong introduction; further virtual preparation sessions have been held since.
- Opening day: Aug. 13, 2026
- Temporary location: University of West Alabama, Livingston
- Permanent campus: Demopolis (expected 2027)
- Head of school: Laura Bailey
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| First class enrollment | Met target (students from across Alabama) |
| Staffing | All positions filled |
| Orientation | June 10 (in-person); follow-up virtual sessions |
The school will be Alabama’s fourth public residential specialty high school and marks the state’s first such school with a healthcare focus. Local education and healthcare leaders have framed ASHS as part of a longer-term strategy to prepare high school students for careers in health fields, though officials say the initial months will concentrate on establishing residential routines and curriculum delivery.
Families with questions about start-of-school logistics, residential life or transportation should contact ASHS administrative offices for the latest guidance as August approaches.
Reporting from the Black Belt region, this coverage will follow the school through its first semester and the progress of construction on the permanent Demopolis campus.
