Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering
{{Short description|High school in Huntsville, Alabama, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering
| image =
| logo =
| motto = ASCTE's mission is to ensure all students achieve high levels of learning to be successful in implementing cyber protections into the engineering lifecycle
| motto_translation =
| streetaddress = 229 Wynn Drive
| city = Huntsville, Alabama
| zipcode = 35805
| country = United States
| ceeb = 010061
| president = Matt Massey
| coordinates = {{coord|34|43|32|N|86|39|21|W|type:edu_region:US-AL|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = Alabama
| type = Public magnet high school
| established = {{Start date and age|2018|p=1}}
| district = Madison County Schools{{cite web |title=Public School Districts - District Detail for Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?ID2=0100212 |website=nces.ed.gov |language=EN}}
| grades = 9-12
| enrollment = 367
| teaching_staff =
| ratio = 23:1
| accreditation = Cognia Accreditation
Niche #1 in Best Public High Schools in Huntsville Area
| yearbook =
| website = {{URL|https://www.ascte.org/}}
| colors =
| team_name = Sentinels
| module = {{Infobox mapframe
|stroke-color = #C60C30
|stroke-width = 3
|marker = school
|marker-color = #1F2F57
|zoom = 13 }}
}}
The Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE) is an American high school located in Huntsville, Alabama.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Kellie |date=2022-08-19 |title=ASCTE students return to new, modern campus in Cummings Research Park |url=https://www.waff.com/2022/08/19/ascte-students-return-new-modern-campus-cummings-research-park/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Waff.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=About ASCTE |url=https://www.ascte.org/about |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering |language=en}} Founded in 2018, it is the first tuition-free{{Cite web |title=Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering (ASCTE) |url=https://cm.hsvchamber.org/list/member/alabama-school-of-cyber-technology-engineering-ascte-39967 |access-date=2024-07-06 |language=en-US}} residential high school focused on the integration of cyber technology and engineering across all academic disciplines. The school puts a focus on the teaching various topics relating to cyber, technology, and engineering, integrating such topics into core classes.{{Cite web |title=Academics / 4 Year Plan for Freshmen |url=https://www.ascte.org/Page/2288 |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering |language=en}} The school is a magnet school which serves the entire state of Alabama. It requires an application.{{Cite web |title=Application Requirements |url=https://www.ascte.org/domain/1106 |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering |language=en}} It receives fund through the state education department, and through sponsorships of major companies, in exchange for students to intern at those companies their senior year.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-16 |title=CACI Establishes Partnership in Support of Future Generations of STEM Innovators in Huntsville |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220816005749/en/CACI-Establishes-Partnership-in-Support-of-Future-Generations-of-STEM-Innovators-in-Huntsville |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Business Wire |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2020 |title=Raytheon Technologies invests in new transformational STEM high school |url=https://www.rtx.com/News/News-Center/2020/08/18/raytheon-technologies-invests-in-new-transformational-stem-high-school |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Raytheon Technologies}}
Academics
ASCTE offers core classes, as well as additional topic-specific classes related to cyber, technology, and engineering. These classes include Mathematics, Science, English, History, Cyber, and Engineering. The school operates on trimesters, and each class (except for senior level classes) takes two terms to complete. This allows students who start as freshman to do four years of classes in three years. Should a student start as a sophomore, they will be placed in freshman level classes, with the exception of English Language classes. At the start of their senior year, the student will have finished 4 courses of English Language and 3 courses of every other subject. {{Cite web |title=Academics / 3 Year Plan for Sophmores|url=https://www.ascte.org/Page/2289 |access-date=January 17, 2025 |website=Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering |language=en}}
Students who start as freshman will spend their senior year doing an internship at one of ASCTE's several sponsors. Notable sponsors include Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Leidos, and Raytheon. This is preceded by a capstone project, which is chosen by the student. For their first semester they will take the last courses needed for graduation in addition to completing their capstone project. They will complete a shorter internship in their last semester.
Student life
ASCTE students can choose to either live on campus in a dormitory, or to migrate themselves to and from the school.{{Cite web |title=Residential Life/Boarding |url=https://www.ascte.org/domain/16 |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering |language=en}} Residential students do not have to pay for boarding unless they live near the ASCTE building. Food is also provided for a meal fee of $1,400 per year for commuter students, and $2,000 per year for residential students.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-20 |title=2023-2024 Student Handbook by Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/ascte/docs/updated_2022-23_ascte_student_handbook_ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering |language=en |via=Issuu}} Activities are regularly hosted, although most events are exclusive to residential students. The activity fee is $150 per year for commuter students and $300 per year for residential students. {{Cite web |title=Cost of Attendance |url=https://www.ascte.org/Page/2379|access-date=2024-04-23 |website=Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering |language=en }}
History
Although founded in 2018, ASCTE never had a dedicated campus until 2022.{{Cite web |title=Our Campus / Campus Update |url=https://www.ascte.org/Page/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ascte.org%2Fsite%2Fdefault.aspx%3FPageID%3D1114 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=www.ascte.org |language=en}} ASCTE's new campus consists of spaces for classrooms, speakers, metalworking, and housing. The large windowed space at the front of ASCTE's campus overlooking U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s replica of the Saturn V is dubbed the "Schola" by teachers and students alike.{{Cite web |title=Investing in the Future: ASCTE Cuts Ribbon on New Campus |url=https://huntsvillebusinessjournal.com/lead/2022/09/26/investing-in-the-future-ascte-cuts-ribbon-on-new-campus/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=huntsvillebusinessjournal.com|date=September 26, 2022 }} Plans are in progress to construct a student activities center in the field adjacent to the housing and academic buildings. The student activities center will include a gymnasium, a wide range of office spaces, and student lounges. ASCTE President Matt Massey describes the upcoming student activities center as "a hub where talent will flourish, passions will be nurtured, and friendships will be forged."{{Cite web |last=Shipley |first=Austen |date=2024-01-10 |title=Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering to break ground on student activities center |url=https://yellowhammernews.com/alabama-school-of-cyber-technology-and-engineering-to-break-ground-on-student-activities-center/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Yellowhammer News |language=en-US}}