DEMOPOLIS, Ala. — Tuesday, October 14, 2025 — Governor Kay Ivey joined U.S. Representative Terri Sewell (D-AL-7), state officials, educators, healthcare leaders, and national partners to break ground on the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences (ASHS) — a first-of-its-kind residential high school that will prepare students for careers in healthcare while strengthening Alabama’s rural workforce.
The groundbreaking took place at the 10-acre campus site at 908 S. Cedar Avenue, adjacent to Whitfield Regional Hospital, in the heart of Demopolis. ASHS will be the fourth state-supported specialty high school in Alabama — joining the Alabama School of Fine Arts, the Alabama School of Math and Science, and the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering — and the first to focus exclusively on healthcare education.
“This school represents more than bricks and mortar,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “It is fresh potential for our young people and a milestone in addressing healthcare needs here in Alabama.”
ASHS will open in August 2026 with its first class of ninth-grade students on a temporary campus at the University of West Alabama in Livingston, before moving to its permanent facility in Demopolis the following year. Students from across Alabama will live and learn together in a residential setting designed to encourage academic excellence, leadership, and community service.
“This groundbreaking is about more than a new school,” said Congresswoman Terri Sewell. “It’s about investing in our young people, strengthening our healthcare workforce, and ensuring that rural communities have the care and opportunities they deserve.”
National Investment and Local Partnerships
The project has drawn significant national attention and support. Bloomberg Philanthropies committed $26.4 million to ASHS as part of its $250 million initiative to establish healthcare-focused career and technical education (CTE) high schools in ten U.S. communities.
“We are proud to support the bold vision of the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences,” said Howard Wolfson, Bloomberg’s education lead. “By giving students access to high-quality instruction and clear career pathways, ASHS will help ensure the next generation of healthcare professionals is equipped to meet the needs of communities across Alabama and beyond.”
Governor Ivey also announced that Dr. Selwyn Vickers, a Demopolis native and President & CEO of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, will serve as Special Advisor to the school and its supporting foundation.
ASHS President Dr. James “Jimmy” Martin said the school’s mission is to “connect learning to real careers and strengthen the health of every community in our state.” Students will earn college credit, industry certifications, and hands-on experience in nursing, biomedical science, health informatics, and allied health fields.
A School for the Future of Alabama
Construction is led by Brasfield & Gorrie with design by Caldwell Architects. The Demopolis campus will include dormitories, classrooms, labs, and community spaces to support collaborative learning and student well-being.
ASHS is tuition-free and open to rising ninth-graders from across the state. Applications for the inaugural class are now available at alhealthcarehs.org, and financial assistance will be offered for meal and activity fees.
“This is about creating opportunity,” Rep. Sewell said. “By investing in our students today, we’re ensuring a healthier, stronger Alabama tomorrow.”