What is ASMSA?
The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts is a public residential high school for academically advanced juniors and seniors in the state of Arkansas.

Why should I attend ASMSA?
The environment here is unlike anything else in the state. Students are taught by one of the best faculties in the nation - every professor has at least a master’s degree in the field in which they teach and many have their Ph.D.’s. But the learning doesn’t stop when the class day is over. ASMSA students use the lab facilities or the computer labs after class to work on projects. Teachers offer private tutoring to those who need help. And students often form study groups in the dorm to assist each other. The unique living/learning environment offered at The Arkansas School cultivates learning all the time, even if it’s just swapping ideas and theories over pizza in the residence hall.

How do I get in to ASMSA?
Students must first be residents of the State of Arkansas. Next, they must have at least a 3.25 unweighted grade point average (GPA). Students should complete the application in full, which must include scores from either the ACT or the SAT. An interview and on-campus visit are also strongly recommended.

What score do I need on the ACT or SAT in order to get accepted?
There is no minimum ACT or SAT score. There are numerous other factors we consider when admitting prospective students. However, we are looking for the best students in the state, so a low score will certainly affect your chances of being selected.

What is the average ACT score and GPA for incoming students?
Over the last three years, the average ACT score is around a 24.5 and the average GPA has been better than a 3.8. However, these are only averages, meaning there are many with numbers lower and higher than these. We have accepted some students with ACT scores below 20 and a few students with GPAs below 3.5.

How challenging is ASMSA?
Attending ASMSA is like every major challenge in life - you get out of it what you put into it. Students who attend ASMSA with the idea of maximizing their potential and work towards those goals have doors open for them that they never dreamed would be available. But it isn’t easy. We expect college-level work from our students. This means most students have to produce at a higher level. The average ASMSA student does 2-3 hours of homework each night. But with intelligence, diligence and good time management skills, students flourish at ASMSA. And the result is in the scholarship and grant offers our students earn. The 112 students who made up the ASMSA Class of 2006 earned more than $10.2 million in scholarship and grant offers.

Are there other courses at ASMSA besides math and science classes?
Although ASMSA is nationally known for its math, science and computer science programs, we also offer several other classes outside that scope. Students from ASMSA are well-rounded and ready for practically any college major...even those that are not science or math-oriented. There are also numerous clubs, organizations, and activities that you can join so your focus is not always on academics.

Do students ever have fun, or do they just study all the time?
Of course they have fun! ASMSA is located in the heart of historic Hot Springs National Park, so there are tons of things to do right outside our doorstep. The Residential Life department always has something going on, and there is always someone to hang out with because you live at school with your friends. The biggest difference is ASMSA students know that there’s a time for fun and a time to work. Spend any length of time with ASMSA students and you’ll quickly learn they’re not all about studying. Time management is a priceless skill for ASMSA students, but once it is learned there is plenty of time for fun.

How often do I get to go home? Can I go home for the holidays?
We're not a prison, so of course students can go home. Students can go home practically every weekend, although many students decide to stay with their friends at ASMSA. There are only two weekends - the first two, in fact - are the only ones where all students are required to stay. Once a month the school closes for a three day weekend, and all students are required to go home. Periodically, the school has an extended weekend where school ends Friday and students do not have to report back to campus until Monday afternoon. Students also get time off for holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and Spring Break.

How safe is ASMSA?
In today’s world, it is impossible to declare anything completely safe, but we take as many precautions as possible to insure the welfare of our students. Hot Springs is a safe town. The police and local businesses know our students and look out for them. We have security guards on campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and ASMSA students are well-schooled on what is and is not acceptable. ASMSA also has full-time Residential Mentors whose job is to supervise the students and help them both academically and emotionally.

Frequently Asked Questions about Residential Life can be found here.