2025 Strategic Plan

In 2020, ASMSA undertook a new strategic planning process in anticipation of the school’s 30th anniversary. Building on the success of our previous plans developed in 1994, 2004, and 2012, we weave together the past, present, and future to create an intentional and sustainable plan. This document provides a roadmap to align our daily activities to achieve set objectives while being mindful of decision-making that increases operational efficiency. The 2025 Plan is the result of the boundless passion, commitment, and insights of ASMSA’s faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, and friends. Hundreds of advocates gave generously of their time through surveys, focus groups, discussions, and debates that have produced the objectives and strategies that will define ASMSA’s work over the next decade.

In addition to a broader exploration of the school's work, a sub-group created a revised Mission Statement that reflects our commitment to the dual responsibilities of residential education and statewide outreach.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, a campus of the University of Arkansas System, is a public residential high school serving academically and artistically motivated students of all backgrounds from throughout the state. ASMSA’s community of learning exemplifies excellence across disciplines while serving as a statewide center of academic equity and opportunity that ignites the full potential of Arkansas’ students and educators.

By 2025, ASMSA will create greater educational access, promote statewide equity, and expand academic vigor that benefits all Arkansans through our residential, out-of-school enrichment, digital learning, and educator development programs. Using novel curricula, meaningful student development experiences, expanded partnership networks, and stronger relationships with our most dedicated advocates, ASMSA will further affirm our state and national leadership in science, mathematics, arts, humanities, and entrepreneurship education.

A digital version of ASMSA's 2025 Strategic Plan is available at the following link.

Welcome and Introduction

On March 1, 1991, Governor Bill Clinton signed Act 305 establishing a public residential high school for students interested in advanced careers in mathematics, science, and technology. The idea wasn’t new, but it was revolutionary for Arkansas. State leaders in education, public policy, economic development, and industry recognized a changing landscape within the knowledge-based economy. They looked at the successful implementation of the concept of a specialized high school first in North Carolina in 1978 and in other states across the South and Midwest throughout the 1980s.

The school quickly found a sense of purpose and its contribution to education in Arkansas: initially as a community of peers for bright, capable, and even nerdy young people and later as a leader in outreach by promoting best practices through the state’s early efforts in distance education, online learning, and teacher professional development. Over time, ASMSA’s reach continued to grow. The school has impacted nearly 3,000 Arkansans who were the direct beneficiaries of the residential experience and hundreds of teachers who have been aided byASMSA’s expanded mission. Along the way, a variety of organizations and publications have recognized ASMSA for its national leadership in classroom innovation, lab-based learning, and educator development.

As ASMSA enters its fourth decade of educational excellence, we are excited to renew our commitment to achieving fully the vision for the school, first set in the early 1990s and refi ned further at the outset of the new century as it became a campus of the University of Arkansas System. We will continue our commitment to addressing local needs, maintaining national prominence, and aspiring to a global vision for what education can be. At the core of ASMSA’s 2025 Strategic Plan is the belief that both our academic and residential experiences will continue to evolve, innovate, and flourish under the care of our faculty, staff, and students. Further, we aim to expand both our reach and enrollment to ensure any student who would benefit from ASMSA’s dynamic opportunities will have access to our world-class programs. Finally, we recognize that growth can only be accomplished through expanded partnerships, vocal advocates, and committed stakeholders who continue to ensure the institution’s funding and facilities are equal in measure to our aspirations.

The members of ASMSA’s community of learning understand the special investment the people of Arkansas make in the state’s future by supporting and sustaining our school. We take exceptional pride and care in our role as stewards of ASMSA’s past, present, and future. Together, we will ensure that ASMSA continues to lead the state and nation in what is possible when students and educators are provided the opportunity to imagine, experiment, and learn to their fullest potential.

Sincerely,
Corey Alderdice
ASMSA Director

A Fourth Decade of Excellence

The Arkansas School for Mathematics and Sciences (ASMS) was established by Act 305 of 1991 and created a residential school for exceptional high school students. The initial purpose of the school was to educate students who demonstrated a gift for STEM disciplines and to develop curriculum that would improve instruction in mathematics and science for all students in Arkansas. The school was originally governed by the Arkansas Department of Education with the advice and counsel of a nine-member governing Board of Directors.

Effective January 1, 2004, the Arkansas School for Mathematics and Sciences was consolidated and incorporated into the University of Arkansas System. Based on Act 1305 of 2003, oversight authority was transferred to the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas, and the name was changed to the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts (ASMSA). At that time, the Board of Directors was abolished as a separate institution and converted to the current Board of Visitors who serve in an advisory role.

As one of only 17 public residential STEM schools in the United States, ASMSA specializes in the education of students with interest in advanced careers in math and science as well as passion for and creativity within studio, language, and digital arts. All classes are taught at the college level, and nearly half of faculty hold doctoral or other terminal degrees. ASMSA offers more than 60 university level courses through our Concurrent Core program in partnership with the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. On average, an ASMSA graduate acquires nearly 50 college credit hours by the time they finish high school.

Beyond the students in the residential experience, ASMSA collaborates with a variety of schools to provide quality digital instruction to fill gaps in human, technical, and instructional resources. ASMSA’s distance, digital, and partnership education efforts, which began through Act 1083 of 1999, have evolved substantially as the STEM Pathways initiative over the past decade while matching innovation with a changing technological landscape as well as statewide need for advanced coursework in science and math. Coding Arkansas’ Future, established in 2015, is ASMSA’s signature effort to assist districts across Arkansas in meeting Governor Asa Hutchinson’s challenge for increased access to computer science coursework. Since the creation of the governor’s initiative, forty percent of all licensed computer science teachers in the state have received some form of professional development from ASMSA.

Year One (2020-21) Progress Report

Read the full Year One Progress report (PDF).

When the campus leadership team held our first planning meeting for the 2025 Strategic Plan in January 2020, we were excited about taking the next steps in charting ASMSA’s future. Little did we know how much the events of the next few months would upend so much of the ASMSA experience as well as the lives of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends.

Instead of setting aside this project against the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, we believed it was important to carry forward with these discussions. In several respects, our campus’ work on the strategic plan in spring 2020 was often a grounding influence by reminding us all about why ASMSA exists, how we contribute to the state, and where we wanted to see the institution grow over its fourth decade of excellence.

A strategic plan should always point to what is essential about an organization. Over the past year where so much about school in general and the residential experience had to be reimagined, returning to these core beliefs and our mission statement helped to provide clarity for our work. The Year One Progress Report represents campuswide dedication to the goals of the 2025 Strategic Plan.

I am proud of both our students and colleagues for the sense of shared commitment and the resiliency they demonstrated every day. How we pulled together collectively to keep each other safe and to preserve as much of the residential experience as possible demonstrates the special pride we hold in this community of learning. Moreover, the novel and innovative approaches to digital learning necessitated by the pandemic opened new avenues of exploration for how ASMSA can contribute to this space in the future. We’re ready to embrace the “new normal” in the year ahead.

ASMSA is positioned to move beyond the pandemic even stronger than before. We had the opportunity to visit this spring with several of the individuals who helped to establish ASMSA in 1991 by moving from an idea to a dream to legislation to a reality. To see the fulfillment of that vision decades later is a constant reminder of the precious opportunity that we steward and the tremendous responsibility we shoulder.

Sincerely,
Corey Alderdice
ASMSA Director

Year Two (2021-22) Progress Report

Read the full Year Two Progress report (PDF).

For the past two years, members of ASMSA’s community of learning have departed campus in late May with the hope that things will be closer to normal come August even as the COVID-19 pandemic lingers. And sure enough each summer, numbers begin to grow again as we prepare for the fall semester and welcome the arrival of new students to campus.

During a period of uncertainty like the one we currently face, a Strategic Plan can serve as an anchor that holds against the buffeting waves that crash and go. With that constant jostling, it’s hard not to feel a bit seasick—at least metaphorically speaking. I was once told that looking at the horizon can help give your brain a point of reference, allowing it to sense the motion of the ship and your body's movement with it. Even though the water feels unsure at the moment, keeping an eye on what is ahead in ASMSA’s fourth decade of educational excellence remains one of the most important ways that we’ve adapted over the past two years while at the same time rising to the challenges of the moment.

At the outset of the new year, we take stock of the progress made as part of the 2025 Strategic Plan. A strong, albeit unusual, economy has created opportunities to place the necessary resources alongside various commitments within the document. A new Faculty Advancement Plan that brings instructors’ compensation among the highest in the state, expanded opportunities within visual and performing arts, as well as the continued redevelopment of the physical campus with the renovation of Selig Hall are only a few of the many pieces of progress that we’ve achieved over the past year.

Navigating the pandemic has been a constant series of lessons in adaptability as well as the resilience of our students, faculty, and staff. It’s been an opportunity to take a fresh look at not only what we do as part of the academic, residential, and outreach programs but also to assess why each of these components is essential to our mission and success. And while the waves may not subside any time soon, we’ll continue to look toward the horizon.

Sincerely,
Corey Alderdice
ASMSA Director

Year Three (2022-23) Progress Report

Read the full Year Three Progress report (PDF).

I recently happened upon an excerpt of Morgan Harper Nichols’ 2019 poem “Let July be July”.

Amid the bustling chaos of our work as educators, it can often be challenging to pause and reflect on our combined personal and institutional journeys. However, the poem captures the significance of taking the time to appreciate ourselves, our accomplishments, and the sometimes imperceptible growth that we experience every day.

Nichols closes the poem with the refrain “Let July be July, / and let August be August, / And let yourself / just be / even in / the uncertainty, / You don’t have to fix everything. / You don’t have to solve everything. / And you can still find peace / and grow / in the wild / of changing things.”

Perhaps it was the timing of reading the poem at the outset of July and reflecting on the feelings that come along with reaching the midpoint of summer as an educator. Maybe it was a spirit of reflection as ASMSA embarks on a celebration of thirty years of accomplishments and a renewed commitment to what’s possible in our fourth decade of excellence. Even still, it resonated as I took time to assess with colleagues where we are in our aspirations as we pass the midpoint of ASMSA’s 2025 Strategic Plan.

The poem underscores the importance of recognizing the progress we have made, reminding us to take a step back from the relentless pursuit of goals and appreciate how far we have come. By acknowledging our accomplishments, we cultivate a sense of gratitude and satisfaction that fuels further growth and development. Nichols also issues a word of caution to resist the temptation of constant striving and instead embrace the present season of our lives. In doing so, we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our achievements.

I am incredibly grateful for the work that our faculty, staff, and students have committed to throughout the pandemic and as we emerged this past year toward a state of normalcy that had been lost for some time. When our community of learning began work on this plan in early 2020, we didn’t fully appreciate how much it would anchor our actions and reinforce our values during a period of such significant disruption.

While Nichols’ poem advocates for taking time to reflect, it does not diminish the importance of action. However, by allowing ourselves moments of stillness, we can recharge our energies, gain clarity, and align our actions with our innermost desires, leading to more meaningful and purpose-driven work. That’s why we take time in the space between two academic years to reflect on this Strategic Plan. So let this be a note—most of all—of gratitude for the exceptional colleagues and students we have both the privilege and honor of working with each day and the mission of service we offer to the people of Arkansas to ignite its full potential.

Sincerely,
Corey Alderdice
ASMSA Director

Year Four (2023-24) Progress Report

Read the full Year Four Progress report (PDF).

The past twelve months have been a period of celebration, marking the 30th anniversary of ASMSA and the arrival of the Charter Class in August 1993. This anniversary provided a chance to foster a renewed sense of unity and purpose. Engaging alumni, current students, faculty, and local community members in anniversary events created a vibrant, ongoing celebration. Events such as the Founder’s Day Luncheon, Alumni Homecoming, and the 30th Anniversary Gala honored the past while looking ahead to what remains in store for ASMSA.

This previous academic year was a remarkable milestone for our community of learning, offering a unique opportunity to reflect on ASMSA’s rich history while envisioning an inspiring future that is framed by the 2025 Strategic Plan. This celebration was not just a commemoration of past achievements but also a forward-looking event that underscores the school’s commitment to continued growth and innovation. At the same time, the previous year saw the maturation of many aspects of the strategic plan as new priorities and investments that started in 2020 began to produce significant results and benefits to the campus.

ASMSA's history is a testament to our dedication to excellence in education. Over three decades, it has nurtured countless students, empowering them with knowledge, critical thinking skills, and a passion for lifelong learning. Our more than 3,000 alumni who have gone on to achieve great things in various fields serve as living proof of the school's enduring impact. Their achievements are a strong foundation built over the years. While various aspects of ASMSA will adapt over time, I am proud that what never changes is that our students and alumni continue to affirm what is possible when young Arkansans are given the opportunity to learn to their full abilities.

As ASMSA commemorated its past, we also embraced the future with enthusiasm and optimism even as the landscape for public education in Arkansas changed rapidly as a result of the LEARNS Act. This past year was a perfect time to announce new programs and partnerships aimed at enhancing ASMSA’s work and influence. The maturing Visual Arts and Design Program of Distinction, new Talent Identification Program, and Student Success Framework are but a few of the continually evolving aspects of the ASMSA experience. This forward-thinking approach ensures that our faculty, staff, and students remain at the forefront of educational innovation.

As we enter the final year of the 2025 Strategic Plan, there remains much to accomplish. ASMSA will continue to honor our legacy of excellence and dedication that has shaped our journey while simultaneously charting a course for a future filled with possibilities and opportunities. This balance of reflection and anticipation ensures that ASMSA will remain a beacon of learning and growth for the next thirty years to come. I cannot wait to see what remains ahead.

Sincerely,
Corey Alderdice
ASMSA Executive Director

Year Five (2024-25) Progress Report

Read the full Year Five Progress report (PDF).

As ASMSA marks the fifth and final year of the 2025 Strategic Plan, we find ourselves at a moment of both reflection and renewed relevance. In a year defined by bold legislative action, the passage of the ACCESS Act has placed new emphasis on statewide acceleration efforts and the intersection of both K-12 and higher education—areas where ASMSA has led for more than three decades.

The ACCESS Act signals a powerful shift in Arkansas’ approach for aspirational students. By removing structural barriers and expanding opportunities for college-level coursework in high school, the General Assembly and Governor Sanders have made it clear that advanced learning must no longer be reserved for the fortunate few. Rather, it should be a statewide priority—embedded in every district, supported by policy, and accessible to students regardless of their zip code and family income. This is not a new idea for ASMSA. It is a mission we have lived every day since 1993.

When combined with the sweeping changes introduced through the LEARNS Act in 2023, it’s evident that Arkansas is reimagining the possibilities for public education. From school choice to early college, from talent pipelines to teacher pay, the conversation has grown louder and more urgent about how we prepare our young people for success in an evolving world. And in each of these conversations, ASMSA continues to have a critical role—not only in fulfilling this new vision but also in helping shape it.

Our work over the past year reflects that urgency. We have continued to develop pathways in accelerated coursework, expanded our outreach through the Online Academy and planning for Online Course Choice program’s launch in 2026, as well as piloted new models of early engagement through the Talent Identification Program (ASMSA-TIP). At the same time, the school has deepened its efforts to support underrepresented students through programs like HELIX Prep Academy, affirming that equity and excellence are not mutually exclusive—they are mutually essential.

The challenges facing Arkansas education are significant. But so are the opportunities. What sets ASMSA apart is our ability to serve as both a beacon and a bridge—illuminating what is possible while building pathways for more students to access it.

As this strategic plan concludes, our sense of purpose is stronger than ever. We remain committed to ensuring that ASMSA is not just a school for high-achieving students, but a statewide partner in delivering the promise of advanced education to all Arkansans.

With determination and gratitude,
Corey Alderdice
Executive Director

Over the past five years, our community of learners, educators, families, and partners has come together in remarkable ways, driven by a shared vision of growth, innovation, and excellence at ASMSA. The milestones we've reached are not simply the result of individual effort but reflect our collective commitment to transforming the lives of students and continually enhancing the school. Each achievement listed below is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and collaboration across all levels of our community, demonstrating clearly how far we’ve come—and how enthusiastically we’re poised to embrace the opportunities ahead.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

As ASMSA reaches the conclusion of its 2025 Strategic Plan, we also close a remarkable chapter in the school’s history—one defined by challenge and change, progress and perseverance, growth and guidance. For me, this milestone is personal. Shortly after assuming the role of director in 2012, I was entrusted with stewarding the implementation of a newly minted strategic plan that would shape the institution's third decade. As I prepare to step away from ASMSA after more than thirteen years of service at the end of this year, I do so with immense gratitude for all who have worked to sustain and elevate this extraordinary institution.

Strategic planning is more than a bureaucratic exercise—it is a declaration of purpose, a statement of values, and a vision for the future. The 2025 Plan, first drafted in early 2020, became all of that and more. Developed during the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the plan offered not just direction, but a sense of grounding at a time when daily life—and the residential experience we hold so dear—was upended. It reminded us of who we are, who we serve, and what we daily aspire to become through continuous improvement.

What followed were five years marked by innovation and resilience. From expanding access to research and the arts to renovating campus facilities and extending our reach through digital learning, the ASMSA community answered the call again and again. Amid a shifting educational and political landscape—including the arrival of a new Governor, the passage of the LEARNS and ACCESS Acts, and an expanded school choice environment—we held fast to our mission while adapting to new realities. We celebrated our 30th anniversary, welcomed our 3,000th graduate, and affirmed our role as a leader in the statewide conversation about accelerated learning.

These accomplishments were not the work of any one person. They are the result of dedicated faculty and staff, supportive families, engaged alumni, invested partners, and—above all—curious, capable students who remind us every day why this school matters. The 2025 Strategic Plan is, at its heart, a record of what is possible when a community of learning shares a vision and commits fully to its pursuit.

As we look ahead, I remain confident in ASMSA’s continued leadership in public education. While the next strategic plan will be shaped by new voices and fresh ideas, it will no doubt carry forward the same spirit that has defined this place from the beginning: one of excellence, innovation, and a deep belief in the power of education to ignite Arkansas’ potential.

With gratitude,
Corey Alderdice
Executive Director

The Past Five Years

When ASMSA stakeholders first gathered to begin shaping the 2025 Strategic Plan in late 2019, we couldn’t have imagined just how profoundly the world—and education—would change in the months that soon followed. What began as an exercise in future planning quickly became a compass during a time of disorientation. As the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted every aspect of daily life, our campus community responded not by retreating but by reaffirming our shared purpose while drafting this plan. The values at the heart of ASMSA—excellence, equity, innovation, and resilience—anchored us through uncertainty, serving as both guidepost and rallying cry during some of the most trying days of our institution’s history.

Over the past five years, ASMSA has grown stronger through both intentional progress and the lessons learned in adversity. Our faculty and staff reimagined how learning and residential life could thrive, even amid a global crisis. Students demonstrated courage and creativity in adapting to a new normal, while families, alumni, and community partners offered vital support. From the successful completion of Selig Hall, which expanded our residential capacity, to the sustained expansion of digital and outreach programs statewide, we leaned into the work—because our students deserve nothing less.

As pandemic restrictions lifted, a new educational and political landscape began to emerge across Arkansas. The arrival of a new Governor and the passage of sweeping legislation such as the LEARNS Act in 2023 and the ACCESS Act in 2025 reshaped the state’s approach to public education, emphasizing accelerated learning, school choice, and flexible instructional models. These shifts presented both challenges and opportunities for ASMSA. In a moment when school choice has expanded dramatically, ASMSA continues to be a proof point of what’s possible when students from every corner of the state are given access to an environment built for their full potential.

We celebrated major milestones that reminded us of our enduring purpose: thirty years since the Charter Class first arrived on campus and our 3,000th graduate crossing the stage—each one a testament to the legislative vision that established this school in 1991. As we honored the past, we also laid the groundwork for the future. New programs like the Visual Arts and Design Program of Distinction, the Talent Identification Program (ASMSA-TIP), and the HELIX Prep Academy reflect a renewed focus on equity and early access to advanced learning experiences for exceptional students who have traditionally been underserved.

Amid all this change, ASMSA has remained steadfast in its commitment to serving Arkansas as both a leader and a laboratory for what public education can be. We have embraced the evolving expectations of families and the emerging needs of students while continuing to provide a rich, rigorous experience grounded in relationships, mentorship, and curiosity. The past five years have affirmed that ASMSA is more than a school—it is a dynamic community of learning that adapts, innovates, and leads. As we look to the horizon, we do so with clarity of purpose and optimism for what’s to come. Our greatest work still lies ahead, but these past five years have prepared us well.

Innovation and Excellence

The community of learning at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts (ASMSA) embarked on an ambitious journey in 2020 at the outset of the pandemic era to frame and execute the "Sparking Innovation, Igniting Growth" 2025 Strategic Plan. Now, as the institution reaches this significant milestone, a thorough reflection upon the extensive accomplishments across the five core domains—Teaching and Learning, Student Development, Enrollment Growth, Advocacy and Partnerships, and Facilities Expansion—reveals an impactful narrative of growth, innovation, and sustained commitment to excellence.

Within Teaching and Learning, ASMSA demonstrated remarkable agility and innovation during the challenges presented by COVID-19 and beyond. The creation of dedicated roles, including the Coordinator for Scholar Development and the Associate Deans, expanded student opportunities for advanced research and competitive achievements. Strategic collaborations with leading institutions such as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) positioned ASMSA students prominently in national science competitions, while structured partnerships offered meaningful, career-aligned internships and projects. The Visual Arts and Design (P.O.D.) as well as the forthcoming Music Program of Distinction (P.O.D.) successfully integrated the arts more profoundly into ASMSA’s culture, enhancing the institution’s comprehensive educational profile and affirming its commitment to creative expression alongside STEM excellence.

This strategic plan also prioritized fostering inclusive learning environments. ASMSA implemented targeted measures such as the HELIX Prep Academy, which provided a supportive, rigorous academic framework tailored for students from diverse, often underserved backgrounds. Additionally, faculty support was significantly bolstered through the Faculty Advancement Plan, raising professional standards and compensation, thus ensuring ASMSA remained attractive to top-tier educators dedicated to fostering a dynamic learning community. The Faculty Advancement Plan places ASMSA faculty, on average, at the top of compensation in the state relative to years of teaching and educational credentials.

Equally impressive were the strides taken in Student Development. ASMSA expanded and refined its Student Development Curriculum, emphasizing leadership, wellness, social-emotional learning, and digital citizenship. Insights derived from the Stanford-based Challenge Success surveys empowered the institution to proactively address students' holistic needs. Robust mental health resources, highlighted by the establishment of a permanent Licensed Social Worker position and dedicated mental health hubs, emphasized the importance of student wellness, significantly decreasing stigma and increasing access and utilization of mental health services.

Residential life improvements further solidified ASMSA’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded students. Residential Experience Coordinators were elevated to twelve-month professional roles, bridging student life and family engagement more effectively. Facility upgrades, a community kitchen, campus mental health hub, Student Union, shared student spaces for study and meetings, as well as nutritious food programs provided students with a healthy living-learning environment designed to foster academic and personal growth.

ASMSA’s strategic Enrollment Growth initiatives marked an era of deliberate expansion and inclusivity. With the completion of the renovated Selig Hall, residential capacity increased to 260 students, directly responding to heightened statewide demand. Targeted recruitment strategies, especially in the visual and performing arts, reshaped ASMSA's public perception from primarily a STEM-centric institution to a balanced educational entity deeply committed to the arts. Additionally, the development and piloting of hybrid and online learning programs, including the launch of the Online Academy, provided innovative educational models to serve diverse student needs effectively. ASMSA also successfully transitioned the Sophomore Early Entrance program from a pilot to an established part of its academic structure, underscoring the institution’s adaptability and responsiveness to the evolving educational landscape.

The emphasis on equity in enrollment ensured that students from economically diverse backgrounds had equitable access to ASMSA’s rigorous academic offerings. Enrollment strategies achieved and exceeded critical benchmarks, notably maintaining a significant proportion of students from low-income families and enhancing racial and geographic diversity. This proactive approach towards inclusivity strengthened ASMSA's foundational principle of providing high-quality education irrespective of socioeconomic background or geography. At the same time, ASMSA remained committed to high standards of excellence within the admissions process and the core academic experience that ensured strong expectations for all students.

In the Advocacy and Partnerships domain, ASMSA strategically amplified its influence and community impact. Renewed alumni engagement, enhanced by dedicated roles and meaningful engagement platforms, significantly contributed to both student mentorship opportunities and the broader institutional advancement goals. Crucially, an updated Economic and Social Impact Study provided compelling evidence of ASMSA’s substantial economic contribution, doubling the return on public investment and reinforcing its integral role in local and statewide community and economic development.

Engaging actively with the Parents Advisory Council deepened family involvement, fostering a vibrant, collaborative atmosphere that supported robust student outcomes. Local partnerships flourished through initiatives such as the Science and Arts Café, positioning ASMSA as a central hub for cultural and educational enrichment in Hot Springs and beyond. Annual fundraising was consistent over the five-year period. Continued interest and investment in endowed funds helped to promote long-term support and sustainability for a variety of initiatives.

Facilities Expansion emerged as a critical facilitator for ASMSA's comprehensive growth, with substantial achievements made under this strategic pillar. Building on the completion of the Creativity and Innovation Complex in 2019, forward progress continued with the completion of the transformative Selig Hall (2022) renovation project notably expanding residential capacity and introducing dedicated spaces for mental health, shared activities, and community engagement. Renovations and replacements to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in the Academic Building (2021-2024) through a variety of funding streams as well as completion of the new Campus Administration Building (2025) and approval of the Maintenance Building (completion in 2026) completed the first phase of the physical transformation of campus. These improvements significantly enhanced the on-campus experience, promoting emotional, social, and academic well-being.

Strategically, ASMSA progressed significantly towards a comprehensive revision of its 2008 Campus Master Plan through development of the 2033 Facilities Plan. Efforts centered on transitioning from the former hospital complex to purpose-built academic, administrative, and residential facilities underscored a forward-looking commitment to providing students and staff with state-of-the-art educational environments. Early-stage planning for new visual and performing arts facilities underscored the institution’s commitment to its legislated arts mission, with the exploration of substantial community and philanthropic partnerships laying the groundwork for this visionary project.

Despite considerable successes, the strategic planning process identified continuing areas of focus, particularly advocating for significant and specific direct investment by the state in ASMSA facilities beyond the funding the school has intentionally set aside as part of the annual budget the past decade. ASMSA leadership actively engaged state legislators to secure sustainable funding structures that mirror investments in comparable public institutions. While direct legislative success remains forthcoming, groundwork and advocacy efforts have effectively set the stage for future legislative considerations, aligning closely with ASMSA’s long-term vision.

Key Highlights

Teaching and Learning

Expansion of Student Research: Established dedicated positions such as Coordinator for Scholar Development, facilitating enhanced research opportunities and partnerships, including collaborations with institutions like UAMS.
Arts Program Growth: Successfully developed and introduced both the Visual Arts and Design as well as Music Programs of Distinction (P.O.D.s), expanding arts education and competition success.
Equitable Learning Environments: Improved hiring practices and instructional strategies aimed at removing systemic barriers and supporting diverse student populations, notably through the HELIX Prep Academy initiative.
Faculty Advancement: Implemented a structured Faculty Advancement Plan, significantly increasing professional development opportunities, recognition, and compensation. Faculty salaries now average around $70,000 per instructor, which is at the top of overall compensation for K-12 educators in the state.
Outreach and Digital Learning: Expanded outreach programs through STEM Pathways, achieving record enrollment, and piloted Advanced Placement initiatives like AP Statistics Plus, positioning ASMSA as a leader in statewide educator and student enrichment. Out-of-school enrichment programs bring the total number of students, educators, and families supported each year to more than 6,000 Arkansans.

Student Development

Student Development Curriculum: Formalized a robust curriculum focusing on wellness, leadership, social-emotional learning, and healthy relationships, utilizing insights from the Challenge Success Survey for continuous improvement on student wellbeing.
Inclusion and Belonging Initiatives: Fostered a campus culture emphasizing belonging and mutual respect, informed by feedback and regular engagement with student groups to address concerns and enhance student support.
Physical Wellbeing Emphasis: Enhanced facilities for mental health and food-based programming for student wellness that highlight new facets of the residential experience beyond the standard living-learning community.
Mental Health Support: Permanently integrated mental health resources by providing broad mental health services and proactive student wellness programming accessible year-round.
Student Life Professionalization: Improved staffing models in Student Life, creating Residential Experience Coordinator positions to elevate professionalism, compensation, stability, and family-student communication.

Enrollment Growth

Expanded Enrollment Capacity: Reached full enrollment capacity of 260+ students following the completion of Selig Hall renovations, creating new residential spaces and additional opportunities for students.
Arts-Targeted Recruitment: Prioritized recruiting arts-focused students through new curricular pathways, expanded faculty expertise, and specialized admissions strategies.
Innovative Enrollment Models: Explored and initiated hybrid and online learning opportunities, particularly leveraging the Online Academy and legislated Online Course Choice program to extend ASMSA’s reach beyond traditional residential models.
Sophomore Early Entrance: Successfully exited the pilot phase of the Early Entrance program, demonstrating sustained interest and high retention rates, indicating effectiveness in supporting accelerated learning pathways.
Equity in Admissions: Consistently achieved and exceeded target demographics, with low-income student enrollment reaching 40% and significant increases from underrepresented populations that bring their numbers closer to parity with state demographics.

Advocacy and Partnerships

Alumni Engagement: Expanded alumni outreach and engagement programs, hired dedicated alumni staff, created the "Alumni Pathways" speaker series, and facilitated consistent Homecoming and Alumni Weekend events.
Legislative and Community Advocacy: Conducted an impactful Economic and Social Impact Study to reinforce ASMSA’s value proposition, facilitating discussions with state legislators and strengthening local partnerships.
Parent Involvement: Enhanced parent association roles, providing regular forums and ongoing surveys for family input, increasing direct communication, and fostering community advocacy for ASMSA.
Community Integration: Post-pandemic, the availability of the Oaklawn Foundation Community Center within the Creativity and Innovation Complex has positioned ASMSA to be a partner and hub for community programs, concerts, workshops, and other events that raise awareness and engagement with the school.
Fundraising and Development: Reinvigorated fundraising activities post-pandemic, including the establishment of new endowed funds and raising over $125,000 in direct funds annually, targeting long-term sustainability and growth. Giving, grants, and investment income exceeded $1 million over the past five years.

Facilities Expansion

Campus Master Plan: Initiated and completed a roadmap for the 2033 Facilities Plan, laying groundwork for significant expansions, including potential arts facilities, recreation areas, and additional student housing.
Arts Facility Development: Advanced discussions and preliminary planning for a dedicated Visual and Performing Arts Center, involving partnerships and potential capital campaign efforts with community arts advocates.
Hospital Complex Transition: Completed vacating the former hospital complex, with construction and transfer processes initiated for administrative and maintenance facilities in close partnership with the City of Hot Springs.
Enhanced Residential Spaces: Completed substantial renovations of Selig Hall, increasing residential capacity, student wellness facilities, and community spaces such as a new Student Union, Mental Health Hub, and Auditorium.
Future Facilities Funding Advocacy: Actively engaged with state legislative bodies and ADE to advocate for both one-time and ongoing capital funding in alignment with other public residential institutions, to secure sustainable funding streams for facilities needs.

What's Next for ASMSA?

As ASMSA reflects on the substantial accomplishments achieved through the 2025 Strategic Plan, the horizon ahead promises continued growth, innovation, and sustained excellence in specialized programming that benefits Arkansas students, educators, and families. Central to the institution’s forward-looking vision will be expanding and refining academic and co-curricular experiences, enhancing campus infrastructure, deepening community partnerships, and maintaining inclusive pathways for students from all backgrounds.

The immediate future holds strategic enhancements in Teaching and Learning, with increased emphasis on advanced research partnerships.. The maturation of the Program of Distinction model in the visual and performing arts is expected to continue shaping ASMSA's identity, ensuring students are well-prepared for competitive collegiate programs. Anticipated initiatives like the Music Program of Distinction will further diversify student opportunities, allowing ASMSA to reach beyond its historical STEM roots.

Within Student Development, ASMSA remains committed to holistic growth, focusing extensively on student wellness, mental health, and social-emotional learning. Plans include deeper integration of the Student Development Curriculum, aligning residential and academic experiences more seamlessly. Other initiatives will demonstrate continued commitment to innovative wellness programming, reflecting ASMSA’s dedication to nurturing balanced, well-rounded students.

A critical component of ASMSA’s vision involves leveraging innovative enrollment strategies, particularly through digital education and hybrid models. The launch of the Online Course Choice Program under the LEARNS Act offers an exciting avenue for expansion, allowing ASMSA to extend its reach statewide. Further development of online Advanced Placement and other course offerings positions ASMSA to support a broader, geographically diverse student body. Initiatives such as the Talent Identification Program (ASMSA-TIP) continue to reach an audience of elementary and middle grades students as well as the educators who support their learning.

In the sphere of Advocacy and Partnerships, ASMSA will continue to deepen relationships with alumni, parents, local businesses, and government stakeholders. The recent Economic and Social Impact Study showcases ASMSA’s significant statewide influence, and future efforts will continue to articulate the school’s unique value proposition to secure sustained public investment. Strengthening these partnerships will not only enhance ASMSA’s ability to deliver exceptional educational experiences but also reinforce its role as a catalyst for community and economic development.

ASMSA’s strategic growth is underscored by ongoing efforts in Facilities Expansion. With key milestones already achieved—such as the first phase of the $37.5 million transformation of campus—the school looks forward to the next major projects, including the construction of a new arts facility and enhanced recreational amenities. These developments, critical for accommodating future enrollment growth and enriching campus life, are supported by active advocacy for legislative funding and support from the Arkansas Department of Education.

The 2025 Strategic Plan provided a comprehensive roadmap that significantly enhanced ASMSA’s educational offerings, institutional equity, community advocacy, and physical infrastructure. The concerted efforts across each strategic domain reflect a dedicated community deeply invested in the institution’s continuous growth and excellence. The outcomes achieved through this strategic initiative serve not only as a testament to ASMSA’s unwavering commitment to education but also as a powerful catalyst for future innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable growth. The accomplishments and insights gained throughout this journey solidly position ASMSA to continue its legacy of excellence, effectively addressing future educational challenges and opportunities.

Ultimately, the next chapter for ASMSA will build upon a foundation of transformative educational experiences, strategic institutional growth, and inclusive support systems. By embracing innovation, fostering resilience among students, and advancing its mission through strategic partnerships and facility expansions, ASMSA is poised to meet future challenges and opportunities with creativity, confidence, and sustained excellence.

Cultivate a culture of dynamic teaching and learning that empowers young people to identify their passions for research, inquiry, and creative expression, develop the self-discipline necessary for success, as well as grow in their identity as emerging practitioners and professionals.

Strategy 1.1: Continue to build on ASMSA’s faculty-supported model for student research, inquiry, and creative expression while seeking out expanded partnerships that engage talented young people with leading scholars, professionals, and organizations.

Strategy 1.2: Fully embrace ASMSA’s arts mission by expanding an institutional culture of visual and performing arts through encouraging student talents, abilities, and creativity.

Strategy 1.3: Foster inclusive and diverse learning environments through ASMSA’s hiring practices, instructional strategies, and student support systems that remove systemic barriers to equity within our community of learning.

Strategy 1.4: Focus on faculty growth and continuous improvement by offering expanded professional development, asserting leadership in instructional strategies, identifying contact points to interact with fellow educators, and sharing our best practices with national audiences.

Strategy 1.5: Provide valuable and engaging learning opportunities to students, educators, and districts across the state through a diverse portfolio of outreach, enrichment, digital learning, and educator development programs that involve all members of the ASMSA community.

Maximize the full potential of the on-campus experience by affirming the centrality of residential life in creating a living-learning community that connects students beyond the classroom, assists in developing them as whole people, and prepares these future leaders for successful and fulfilling lives through building sustainable skills and mindsets.

Strategy 2.1: Implement a Student Development Curriculum that focuses on social-emotional learning, leadership development, digital citizenship, healthy relationships, and other topics that recognize students’ needs as maturing young adults and engaged members of a community.

Strategy 2.2: Ensure that diversity, equity, inclusion, and mutual respect for all characterize our campus culture and climate.

Strategy 2.3: Emphasize healthy habits as important components of physical well-being through campus programming and activities that support play, physical development, and balanced nutrition.

Strategy 2.4: Create an atmosphere conducive to healthy conversations about mental and emotional well-being by providing student-centered services and programs that address the natural challenges of both adolescence and the rigors of the ASMSA experience.

Strategy 2.5: Invest in staffing models and resources that reinforce the professionalism of and essential role played by Student Life Staff who employ best practices in fostering an inclusive and engaging residential community.

Strategy 2.6: Continue to involve students as full stakeholders in discussions on institutional policy and campus planning so that decision making is student-centered.

Expand enrollment to serve more students statewide through targeted growth models that reflect our commitment to stewardship of the public investment in ASMSA.

Strategy 3.1: Work with members of the Arkansas General Assembly, University of Arkansas System, and other ASMSA stakeholders to develop and implement a sustainable funding formula that enables the school to increase enrollment.

Strategy 3.2: Strengthen curricular options, methods of engagement, and unique experiences for students in the arts while developing recruitment and admissions procedures directed toward students with specific arts interests.

Strategy 3.3: Explore alternative enrollment models such as commuter options and online programs that recognize students’ and families’ individual needs, thereby increasing access to ASMSA’s quality programs.

Strategy 3.4: Continue the sophomore early entrance pilot program to determine its overall effectiveness and potential for future expansion as a means of supporting students in need of academic acceleration and intellectual peers.

Strategy 3.5: Continue to ensure equity in access for geographically, economically, and racially diverse students who face opportunity gaps and do not share the same level of preparatory experiences and support as some of their peers.

Strengthen internal and external partnerships with local, state, and national stakeholders that create committed and vocal advocates for the essential leadership role that ASMSA plays within Arkansas education as well as economic and community development.

Strategy 4.1: Develop a framework for alumni to share perspective and experience that supports students’ personal and professional development in addition to institutional advancement.

Strategy 4.2: Reinforce to legislators and other leaders the value of the state’s commitment to talented young people so that the decision-makers understand their return on investment in ASMSA.

Strategy 4.3: Utilize the ASMSA Parents Association and Parents Advisory Council to promote direct communication, gain insights on family needs, and represent ASMSA daily in communities across the state.

Strategy 4.4: Expand ASMSA’s position in the Hot Springs community as a hub for educational discussions, cultural enhancement, intellectual debate, and economic development.

Strategy 4.5: Prioritize fundraising efforts to reflect the ASMSA Foundation’s commitment to direct student support, faculty innovation, programmatic development, and facilities needs.

Strategy 4.6: Explore methods to reach varied audiences by using traditional and evolving media to provide a snapshot of daily life and learning on campus, celebrate achievement, and articulate a full narrative of the unique opportunities and experiences available exclusively at ASMSA.

Grow facilities and implement long-range strategies to meet the needs of expanded enrollment, academic experiences, student life, recreation, and community engagement.

Strategy 5.1: Review and update the Campus Master Plan to redevelop a facilities growth pathway in accordance with institutional needs.

Strategy 5.2: Initiate efforts to expand ASMSA’s dedicated arts facilities in collaboration with community partners that lead to the full realization of the school’s legislated arts mission.

Strategy 5.3: Formalize steps that will lead to vacating the former hospital complex by creating a plan to transfer teacher offices, maintenance, and other programs to permanent locations using new or existing facilities.

Strategy 5.4: Expand and create student residences as well as shared and recreational spaces to fully support the emotional, social, physical, and academic needs of students.

Strategy 5.5: Advocate for the creation of a Public Residential Schools Facilities Fund by the Arkansas General Assembly that brings ASMSA into parity with other public high schools.