Appendix D: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply to both AOS and AET?
Yes. Students can apply to both AOS and AET in the same admissions cycle. The application process through LCPS GO allows you to indicate interest in both programs. The same STEM Thinking Skills Assessment and Writing Assessment scores are used for both, so you're not taking separate tests.
If you're admitted to both, you'll need to choose one --- you can't attend both simultaneously. If you're admitted to one and waitlisted for the other, you can accept the offer you received while remaining on the waitlist.
The strategic question is whether to rank a preference. In some years, LCPS has asked applicants to indicate a first-choice program. If you have a strong preference, rank honestly. If you'd be equally happy at either, the admissions process will place you based on your scores and available spots.
What if I haven't taken Algebra I yet?
Algebra I completion is a prerequisite for AOS and AET. Specifically, students need to have completed Algebra I (or be currently enrolled and on track to complete it) by the time they enter the Academies in 9th grade.
If your student hasn't taken Algebra I by the fall of 8th grade, they can still apply --- but they'll need to complete Algebra I before enrollment. Some students take Algebra I during 8th grade, and some complete it over the summer before 9th grade. AET has historically required students who haven't completed Algebra I to attend a summer Algebra Boot Camp before starting the program.
The key point: if your student is in pre-Algebra or a math sequence that won't reach Algebra I by the end of 8th grade, talk to your math teacher and school counselor now about acceleration options. This is a hard prerequisite, not a soft recommendation.
Do I need a calculator for the test?
No. Calculators are not allowed on the STEM Thinking Skills Assessment. The test is designed so that no question requires complex computation --- you won't be multiplying four-digit numbers or computing square roots by hand.
What you do need is fluency with mental math: basic arithmetic, fractions, percentages, estimation, and simple algebraic manipulation. If your student has been relying on a calculator for routine math since middle school, start practicing without one well before test day. Mental math is a skill that comes back quickly with practice, but it does need to be practiced.
How competitive is AOS vs. AET?
AOS is significantly more competitive than AET. The AOS acceptance rate has been approximately 4-5% in recent years --- out of roughly 1,400-1,800 applicants, around 100-150 are admitted. This makes AOS one of the most selective public school programs in Virginia, comparable to TJHSST.
AET is competitive but has a higher acceptance rate than AOS. The incoming AET cohort is larger each year (given its three separate tracks), and the overall applicant pool is different. LCPS doesn't consistently publish exact AET acceptance rates, but it is generally considered more accessible than AOS while still being a selective program.
MATA's competitiveness varies significantly by pathway. Some pathways (particularly health sciences, before HAMSci absorbed much of that demand) have had enormous waitlists. Other pathways have been easier to get into. MATA now uses a lottery system, so competitiveness is about the number of applicants relative to available spots in each pathway.
Can I transfer between programs after admission?
Students may only be enrolled in ONE ACL program at a time. Transferring between programs is not a simple internal process --- it requires full withdrawal from the current program and a new application submitted during the Winter admissions cycle. There is no internal transfer mechanism.
This means if your student starts in AOS and wants to switch to AET (or vice versa), they would need to withdraw from their current program entirely and go through the full admissions process again during the next Winter cycle. There is no guarantee of admission to the new program.
The practical advice: choose the program that genuinely fits your student's interests now, rather than choosing the "most prestigious" option with a plan to transfer later. AOS is built for students who want to do research. AET is built for students who want to build, design, and solve applied problems. These are different experiences, and choosing based on fit rather than perceived status leads to much better outcomes.
What if I live outside Loudoun County?
ACL is a Loudoun County Public Schools program, and enrollment is limited to students who attend LCPS schools. If your family lives outside Loudoun County, your student is not eligible to apply.
There is no tuition-paying option for out-of-county students, and there is no transfer or waiver process. This is a firm eligibility requirement.
If you're considering moving to Loudoun County partly for access to ACL, be aware that the student needs to be enrolled in an LCPS school to apply. The application requires current LCPS enrollment and a valid LCPS student ID through LCPS GO.
Families in Fairfax County should look at TJHSST, which serves multiple counties. Families in other Northern Virginia jurisdictions should explore their own district's magnet and specialized programs.
Does ACL affect which home high school my student attends?
No. Your student attends whichever LCPS high school they're zoned for based on your home address. ACL doesn't change your school zone. On B days, your student goes to their regular home high school and participates in that school's courses, activities, and sports.
LCPS provides bus transportation between home high schools and the ACL campus on A days, so families don't need to arrange separate transportation.
What does the ACL transcript look like to colleges?
ACL courses appear on your student's official LCPS transcript alongside their home school courses. The transcript shows the course names, grades, and credits for all coursework, regardless of which campus it was completed at.
Most competitive colleges are familiar with the Academies of Loudoun, particularly AOS. The ACL school profile --- which gets sent to colleges along with the transcript --- explains the program's structure, rigor, and admissions selectivity. College admissions officers understand that ACL courses are not standard LCPS courses and evaluate them accordingly.
For students applying to highly selective universities, the ACL coursework (especially AOS independent research or AET advanced projects) provides strong evidence of academic rigor and intellectual engagement.
Can my student quit ACL and return to their home school full time?
Yes. Enrollment at ACL is voluntary, and students can withdraw and return to their home high school full time. If the program isn't the right fit --- whether due to academic difficulty, scheduling conflicts, or a change in interests --- withdrawal is an option.
The process involves coordination between the ACL office and the home school guidance counselor to ensure the student's credits transfer properly and their home school schedule is adjusted. It's best to have this conversation early if you're considering it, rather than waiting until the situation becomes a crisis.
Withdrawal is not common, but it's not stigmatized either. Some students discover that their interests lie elsewhere, or that the alternating schedule doesn't work for their family situation. That's a perfectly valid reason to make a change.
When do admissions decisions come out?
For the Fall Track (AOS and AET 9th-grade admissions), decisions typically arrive in early to mid-March. An Initial Wave of offers goes out in February/March, followed by a Rolling Waitlist that remains active through the first week of August. As admitted students decline or withdraw, spots are offered to waitlisted students on a rolling basis throughout the spring and summer.
For the Winter Track (Advanced AET and MATA), decisions follow a similar structure during the spring, with an initial wave of offers followed by rolling waitlist movement.
Offers are communicated through LCPS GO, so make sure your contact information is current and check your email regularly during decision season --- including spam folders.
Is there any financial cost to attending ACL?
ACL is a public school program within LCPS, so there is no tuition. Transportation between the home school and ACL campus is provided by LCPS at no cost to families.
Students may have some incidental costs --- lab supplies, project materials, competition fees, etc. --- similar to what they'd encounter at any high school. Some CTE pathways at MATA may have costs associated with industry certification exams, though LCPS and partner organizations often provide financial support for these.
There is no application fee for the admissions process.
What happens if my student is admitted but wants to defer enrollment?
ACL does not offer deferred enrollment. If your student is admitted and chooses not to attend, they forfeit their spot. They would need to reapply in a future admissions cycle if they later want to attend.
For students who aren't sure they want to start in 9th grade, the Advanced AET pathway in 10th grade is a legitimate alternative --- but it requires a separate application and uses different admissions criteria (PSAT/SAT/ACT scores rather than the STEM Thinking Skills Assessment).
How much homework should my student expect?
This varies by program, track, and year --- but the honest answer is "more than at a typical home high school, and from two schools at once."
AOS students, particularly in the research years (Years 3-4), report significant out-of-class work. The independent research component alone can require substantial time outside of scheduled class periods. In Years 1-2, the integrated math and science courses assign regular homework that is more demanding than standard LCPS courses.
AET students in the engineering track often have project-based work that extends beyond class hours --- design iterations, prototyping, and collaborative builds. The IT/CS track includes programming assignments that can be time-intensive. The math and science homework load is similar to AOS.
MATA homework varies widely by pathway. Some pathways are heavily hands-on and most work happens during class time. Others have more traditional homework expectations.
Across all programs, students should expect to spend time on ACL homework even on days they're at their home school --- and vice versa. Effective time management is not optional; it's essential.
Can 8th graders apply to any MATA pathway?
No. 8th graders applying to MATA are only eligible for one pathway: Introduction to Health and Medical Sciences. All other 25 MATA pathways are restricted to 10th and 11th graders. This is a critical distinction that many families miss --- if your student is in 8th grade, Introduction to Health and Medical Sciences is their only MATA option.
Is my student eligible for Advanced AET if they've taken AP Calculus BC?
No. Students who are currently enrolled in or have already completed AP Calculus BC are ineligible for Advanced AET. This is a firm disqualifier. The Advanced AET math curriculum assumes students have not yet completed the most advanced calculus course, and students who have already taken BC Calculus have progressed beyond the program's math sequence.
Is the STEM Thinking Skills Assessment on paper?
No. The STEM Thinking Skills Assessment is administered on a Secure Online Platform using LCPS laptops. It is not a paper-and-pencil test. There are no bubble sheets or test booklets --- students complete the assessment digitally on school-provided devices.