Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering
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| Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
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229 Wynn Drive 35805 United States | |
| Coordinates | 34°43′32″N 86°39′21″W / 34.72556°N 86.65583°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public magnet high school |
| 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. |
| Established | 2018 |
| School district | Madison County Schools[1] |
| CEEB code | 010061 |
| President | Matt Massey |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 367 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 23:1 |
| Team name | Sentinels |
| Accreditation | Cognia Accreditation Niche #1 in Best Public High Schools in Huntsville Area |
| Website | www |
The Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE) is an American high school located in Huntsville, Alabama.[2][3] Founded in 2018, it is the first tuition-free[4] residential high school focused on the integration of cyber technology and engineering across all academic disciplines.[3] The school puts a focus on the teaching various topics relating to cyber, technology, and engineering, integrating such topics into core classes.[5] The school is a magnet school which serves the entire state of Alabama. It requires an application, currently including both written and visual (video) statements of interest.[6] It receives funding through the Alabama Department of Education for overhead costs, and through sponsorships of major companies, in exchange for students to intern at those companies their senior year.[7][8]
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.[5] 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.[9]
Students who start as freshman will spend their entire senior year doing an internship at one of ASCTE's several sponsors. Notable sponsors include Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Leidos, and RTX. This is preceded by a capstone project, which is chosen by the student.[7][8] For students who start in their sophomore year, their first semester they will take the last courses needed for graduation in addition to completing their capstone project. They will then complete a shorter internship in their last semester.[9]
Student life
ASCTE students can choose to either live on campus in a dormitory, or to matriculate to and from the school.[10] Residential students do not have to pay for boarding unless they live within a 25 mile radius of the ASCTE campus. Food is also provided for a meal fee of $1,400 per year for commuter students (breakfast and lunch) , and $2,000 per year for residential students (breakfast, lunch, dinner on weekdays; brunch and dinner on weekends) .[11] 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.[12]
History

Although founded in 2018, ASCTE never had a dedicated campus until 2022.[13] 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.[14] The student activities center includes a gymnasium, a wide range of office spaces, and student lounges. ASCTE President Matt Massey described the upcoming student activities center as "a hub where talent will flourish, passions will be nurtured, and friendships will be forged."[15] In early January of 2026, the student activities center--known colloquially as the "Sentinel Center"--had its first home basketball game. On April 17, 2026, ASCTE held its official ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new girls' dorm and national research facility. The ceremony was attended by Hank Isenberg, Tommy Battle, Arthur Orr, and several other notable individuals. The building was dubbed "The Isenberg Institute" after Hank Isenberg's 3 million-dollar philanthropic donation. [16]
