Basic Information
LASA, or Liberal Arts and Science Academy, is a 9-12 9 month high school. LASA is located in the east of Austin, at 1012 Arthur Stiles Rd specifically, and it’s open from 8:15am to 3:55pm.
Notable Facts/ Accomplishments
LASA is not short on accomplishments, notable ones including an 100% acceptance rate to four year universities (2022), over 32 million dollars awarded in merit-based scholarships, their award winning, prestigious newspaper The Liberator, and being ranked fourty first place out of the 17,587 Best High Schools in the Nation ranking by the U.S News and World Report. In 2022 LASA also had an impressive 100% of kids get an approaching or higher grade on every STARR test.
Programs – Academics
Being such an academia focused school LASA is filled to the brim with academic programs, both mandatory and otherwise. Starting with the only (LASA-specific) mandatory program, LASA houses a signature courses program. The Signature Courses include Electronic Magazine and Science and Technology, the freshmen year classes, as well as Planet Earth and Great Ideas for sophomores. Each of these programs counts as a credit to the advanced academic measure, which are required under the AISD Distinguished Academic Program graduation plan.
LASA also houses a Fire Academy, a course where you can obtain an EMS certification training program. The Academy offers the Emergency Response, concentration in the Law, Public Safety, and Corrections pathways. You can learn about the Fire Academy here. Similar to the Fire Academy, LASA also has Film and Computer Science programs, both a sequence of courses you must take. You can learn about the Film Program here and the Computer Science program here.
Additionally, LASA offers a CTE, or Career and Technical Education, program. The program is large and sets out to get students experience and opportunities in the workforce, and also often generates college credit. Currently, LASAs CTE program offers STEM, Health Science, Informational Technology, Graphic Design, Arts, A/V Technology and Communications, Digital Film-Making, Fashion Design, Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security, and Computer Science. You can learn about CTE here.
Programs – Athletics & Fine Arts
LASA provides a variety of athletic programs, specifically showing off their UIL sports. In the fall they offer Cheer, Cross Country, Dance/ Drill Team, Football, Tennis (TEAM), Volleyball, and Boys and Girls Water Polo. In the winter they provide Boys and Girls Basketball, Golf, Boys and Girls Soccer, Swim/ Dive, and Wrestling. Lastly, in the Spring, they offer Baseball, Golf, Softball, Tennis (INDIV), and Track and Field. You can find information on all of these sports here and you can contact the Athletic Coordinator, Gary Howard, at [email protected].
Fine Arts wise, LASA houses Band, Piano, Choir, Acting, Technical Theater, Dance, Drill Team, AP Music Theory, Guitar, Orchestra, Arts I, Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Sculpting, Printmaking, AP Art History, AP Drawing, as well as both AP 2D and 3D Design, most of which you can learn about here.
Applications
LASA applications opened up on the 6th of November and are due by February 4th. Parents of the applying students must submit the Enroll Austin Application by February 4th, where you must submit the students full report card from the year prior, the students current report card (for the end of the Fall Semester 2024–2025), and a report card from both a Science/ Math teacher and a History/ ELAR teacher. The student must also fill out the “LASA Supplemental Materials Form” where you provide your basic information and proof of life, answer multiple questions, and create and submit a “Creative Work/ Project” which you can learn about within the form. Lastly, you must fill out an Admissions Test on Campus on either January 11th or 25th. Information on all of this can be found here.
