Alabama State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey joined members of the Alabama State Board of Education on Friday for a tour of Baldwin Preparatory Academy, a cutting-edge campus designed to blend traditional academics with full-time career and technical training.
The visit offered state education leaders a firsthand look at how Baldwin County is rethinking high school instruction to better align with workforce and economic development needs across Alabama.
According to reporting by Alabama Daily News, Baldwin Prep, the approximately $100 million facility, opened in 2024 as a standalone high school serving students from across Baldwin County, replacing two aging career technical centers and consolidating programs into a single, purpose-built facility.
During the tour, board members engaged with students and instructors across multiple career pathways. Culinary students prepared breakfast for visitors, while automotive students demonstrated hands-on work in the school’s service bays.
Education officials also discussed how the model allows students to explore potential career fields earlier, helping them make more informed decisions about post-graduation plans.
Unlike traditional career tech models that require students to travel between campuses, Baldwin Prep delivers core academic subjects — including English, math, science, and social studies — on the same campus where students receive technical instruction.
School leaders say that integrated approach keeps students focused on learning while strengthening the connection between classroom concepts and real-world applications.
The campus itself reflects that philosophy. Many academic classes are taught in flexible, open learning spaces designed to encourage collaboration, while technical programs operate in lab environments built to mirror professional settings.
Industry partners were involved in shaping both the facility and program offerings to ensure students graduate with skills aligned to current workforce demands.
Baldwin Preparatory Academy currently offers a dozen career pathways, including health sciences, welding, construction, HVAC, aviation, mechatronics, cybersecurity, culinary arts, automotive technology, graphic design, cosmetology and a teacher cadet program. School administrators say those offerings will continue to evolve as industry needs change.
Interest in the school has remained strong, with applications exceeding available seats. Just under 500 ninth graders applied to attend the academy for the 2026-2027 school year, but only 250 seats are available.
Admission is determined by lottery, and students must meet academic, attendance and discipline requirements. While Baldwin Prep does not have athletic teams, students may continue participating in sports at their zoned high schools.
State leaders have increasingly pointed to career and technical education as a cornerstone of Alabama’s long-term workforce strategy, and the Baldwin Prep campus provided board members a working example of how that approach can be implemented at the high school level.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].