You are receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in LASA. Either via our interest form or by submitting an Enroll Austin application. This email is the first of several designed to help you make sure you have all of the necessary pieces to submit your LASA application by the deadline at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, February 4, 2024. If you have changed your mind or don’t wish to receive these emails, please fill out this form.
Welcome back from winter break everyone! However you spent it – whether it was celebrating with friends and/or family, going on adventures, doing as little as possible, or business as usual – I hope you had a chance to get some rest in and recharge your batteries.
Since more people have added on over winter break, I figured I would reintroduce myself. My name is Jo Koerth and I am the principal’s secretary at LASA. We don’t have a dedicated admissions department; It’s just me and our Academy Director (Ms. San Czaplinski) doing this on top of our regularly assigned duties. You outnumber us in the hundreds, so we definitely appreciate your patience when responses may be delayed. Especially Ms. Czaplinski, whose plate is heaping full!
The best way to get an answer to any question you can’t answer for yourself by checking the website (lasahighschool.org/apply - and particularly the Admission FAQ and Application Checklist) is to email LASAadmissions@austinisd.org. I check it daily and do my best to answer all questions in a timely manner.
Now, some of you may see the number in the subject line of this email and go “hold up, what happened to number 1?”
Well, you see, I sent that out right before leaving on winter break. Before you were on my email list. Don’t worry though! All previous emails can be found on our website under Admission Updates. Right now, it’s just the one but that will change!
Welcome to my email list! I am so glad you’re here! I write very long emails intended to help families navigate the complex (and sometimes confusing) application process. Each information email strives to have additional information on a topic that is important to applications (these are the topics listed in the subject line), the most commonly asked questions I’ve received since the last email was sent, a list of upcoming dates, and important links where you can find more information.
CogAT Admission Test
This Saturday is the first opportunity to take the CogAT admission test here at LASA. We will be sending out an email with more information and more detailed instructions later today. This will have information on where to drop off your student, what they should bring, and more.
But I wanted to touch on a couple of things since I know y’all are starting to get anxious about it.
There are two testing sessions this Saturday (and two testing sessions on Saturday, January 25, 2025). The sessions are divided by last name. One half of the alphabet is assigned the morning session, the other half the afternoon session.
This Saturday (Jan 11)
Last names A-L are assigned the 9-11 AM testing window.
Last names M-Z are assigned the 12:30-2:30 PM testing window.
Next Saturday (Jan 25), they are flipped so A-L test in the afternoon, and M-Z test in the morning.
If you absolutely cannot attend either session assigned to your last name, it’s okay to attend the other session on the day that works best for you. You don’t have to tell us. We just ask that everyone really tries to attend their assigned session.
Students with accommodations have to attend the morning session regardless of last name.
Accommodations must be requested in advance by filling out the form to request accommodations. You will have to attach the official paperwork from the school by the Monday the week of the test. We can only offer accommodations that students are already receiving.
Ms. Czaplinski will reach out to the parents of students with accommodations prior to their chosen testing Saturday with more instructions. Thank you for your patience!
Students do not have to sign up for the test in advance, and they do not have to have completed any part of the application before taking the test. They can just show up.
However, and I cannot believe I have to specify this, only students eligible to apply to LASA should take the CogAT on campus.
What do I mean by this? Well, students have to currently live in the Austin Independent School District. If they live in another school district, they are not eligible to apply to LASA. We can’t even look at their application if they submit one! So if you are living outside AISD, please do not waste your time or ours by taking the test. The exception, of course, are students whose parent/legal guardian works for AISD full time.
Also, only current 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th graders may take the test. Students in 7th grade who are intending to apply next year cannot take the test at LASA as practice. (Yes, this has happened.)
If you have specific questions about the structure of the test, google is your best friend. I know some of you want to know every detail and I respect that! But I’ve never proctored the test and don’t have access to the testing booklets, so I cannot give you the inside scoop here.
To help in your googling: We give the CogAT test by Riverside Insights. All students take Form 7 but the test level depends on their grade level.
Current 8th graders: Test Level 13/14
Current 9th & 10th graders: Test Level 15/16
Current 11th graders: Test Level 17/18
It’s important that current 9th, 10th, and 11th graders let us know as they enter the building that they’re current high school students. This way we can ensure they are given the correct level of the test.
It’s impossible for a student to finish the test early as it is broken up into timed sections. The proctor will guide all testers through the sections at the same time.
Students cannot make notes in the test booklet. But they will be provided with scratch paper for the sections where scratch paper is allowed.
Students will receive their score report from the CogAT along with the decision letter in March.
Unfortunately, we can’t open up the school for waiting parents during testing. It’s a matter of resources, not that we don’t want to meet you!
Our parent organization (PFLASA - Parents and Friends of LASA) is hosting the “Find Your Fit” parent panels during each testing session in a portable on campus. You can sign up to attend here: https://www.signupgenius.com/
In that same portable, we will have an Enroll Austin representative who can help parents submit their Enroll Austin application and/or troubleshoot issues. No need to sign up for this one!
For parents who don’t want to drive back and forth home, but also don’t feel the need to attend the parent panel, here are some ideas for places to hang out close by:
Dan's Hamburgers @ 844 Airport Blvd - open 6 AM to 5 PM
Medici Roasting @ 1023 Springdale Rd, Suite 1A - open 7 AM to 7 PM.
Zhi Tea @ 1023 Springdale Rd, #7A - open 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Palomino Coffee @ 4136 E 12th St - open 7 AM to 4 PM
Batch @ 3220 Manor Rd - open 8 AM to 10 PM
If you're up for a slightly longer drive, the Mueller area is just 15ish minutes away and filled with coffee shops, ice cream shops, restaurants, and various stores!
Finally, a note on parking. Please respect our neighbors and avoid blocking driveways, mailboxes, or fire hydrants. As much as possible, please park on the school side of the street or in one of the parking lots on campus.
Ranking Schools in Enroll Austin
Part of submitting the Enroll Austin application is deciding which schools and programs to apply to, and which school/program students want to attend most. Parents will be asked to rank schools from 1 to 7 in the order their student most wants to attend them.
This matters immensely! If students are assigned to their first choice, they will not be offered a seat at a lower ranked school. So it’s really important that schools are ranked in the right order.
What’s the right order? Well, the first school should be the dream school. The one a student wants to attend most of all. There’s no strategy or gaming the system. Just thinking about which school is the best fit for the student and their family.
Last year, I heard several families say that their student most wanted to attend X school, but didn’t think they’d get in so they ranked it lower. It broke my heart, y’all! It’s pretty much the only way to guarantee not getting into your dream school! Even if they qualified for that school, if they get into a higher ranked school where they thought their chances were higher, they now won’t be offered a seat at the dream school.
So, please please please rank the dream school as number one. Even if you don’t think you can get in. It won’t hurt your chances at any other schools or programs you’re applying for this year.
So how are students supposed to know by February 4th which school they most want to attend?
Well, at LASA, we offer many opportunities for families to get an insight into what studying at LASA might be like. Please take advantage of as many of them as you are able.
The first option is the Find your Fit parent panel this Saturday and Saturday, January 25. While students are testing, parents can hear from current LASA parents who have students in more than one high school about pros and cons of the different schools. (Sign up is required.)
Second, we have the LASA Showcase on Thursday, January 16 (starting at 6 PM). This is basically an open house where families can see the campus, meet teachers and current students, find out more about the application process, see fine arts performances and more!
Finally, and most importantly, students who have submitted their supplemental materials form, and the Enroll Austin application can apply to shadow at LASA. Shadowing is offered on a first-come-first-serve basis and we have a limited number of spots available.
Please take advantage of these opportunities, look at the other schools/programs you’re applying to and see if they have similar opportunities and take advantage of them as well. Then weigh the options and talk through them as a family.
I cannot help you with this one. The choice has to be what is best for your family.
You can change the ranking order as many times as you need right up until the deadline on February 4, 2025.
Most Asked Questions:
What exactly needs to be done before my student can request a shadow date?
Short answer: The supplemental materials form and the Enroll Austin application must be submitted.
Longer answer: When your student submits their supplemental materials form, they will be sent a link to the shadow request form. Before they submit a shadow request, their parent has to have submitted the Enroll Austin application.
(On Enroll Austin’s home page where there’s an overview of your students, you should see the word “submitted” under your student’s name for the 2025/2026 school year.)
You do not have to wait for the teacher recommendations to be submitted, or have submitted any of the supporting documents.
Where can I add the teacher email addresses in Enroll Austin to send them the recommendation form?
First you have to submit the Enroll Austin application for 2025/2026. Then click “NEXT STEPS” at the top of the page (make sure you’re on your student’s record first!). This will bring you to the place where you can upload required documents, and submit teacher email addresses for recommendations. You can come back here at any time to check and see if the teacher recommendations have been submitted.
What test scores should I be submitting?
Short answer: None.
Longer answer: LASA does not require test scores as part of our application process. If you’re only applying to LASA, you can leave the test score slot blank, or use it if you have to upload a second report card. If you are applying to other schools/programs, please follow their directions.
We just submitted everything, can you check and make sure we did everything right?
Short answer: No
Long answer: Kinda? I cannot stop everything I am doing and check an individual student’s application right now. (I wish I had that kind of time!) However, I am in the process of going through everything we’ve received over winter break. Once I have finished, I will start sending out application status emails to families who have submitted the supplemental application form. This email will let you know of any issues with the submitted materials. I check all items on the list manually and mark them as received only when they’ve been received and checked. Of course, I am only human (and, again, outnumbered in the hundreds) so I can’t automatically check something the second it arrives. I really appreciate your understanding.
I am hoping to send out the first batch of emails by Friday evening. (Cross your fingers everyone!) But it depends a little on how much attention my regular duties demand and how many admission questions I get and how many admissions issues I have to troubleshoot. (If someone has a lead on cloning technology or time travel, please hook me up!)
That’s it for this time! Thanks for sticking with me through this wall of text.
Upcoming Dates
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Jan 11, 2025 - CogAT Admissions Test & “Find Your Fit”- parent panel (sign-up for parent panel)
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Jan 13, 2025 - First day of Shadowing at LASA (available only to those students who have submitted their supplemental materials form and Enroll Austin Application)
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Jan 14, 2025 - Virtual LASA Info Night (in English and Spanish)
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Jan 16, 2025 - LASA Showcase
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Jan 18, 2025 - Virtual Help Sessions by our parent organization, PFLASA (sign-up required)
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Jan 20, 2025 - Last day to request accommodations for the 1/25/25 CogAT Admissions Test
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Jan 25, 2025 - CogAT Admissions Test & “Find Your Fit”- parent panel (sign-up for parent panel)
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Feb 1, 2025 - Virtual Help Sessions by our parent organization, PFLASA (sign-up required)
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Feb 4, 2025 - DEADLINE! Also, last day to shadow at LASA, and last day to make changes to ranking in Enroll Austin
All LASA Info Emails will be available on the Application Updates & Announcements blog within 24 hours of being sent.
IMPORTANT LINKS
Jo Koerth (she/her/hers)
LASA ADMISSIONS