You are receiving this email because you have filled out the LASA Interest form or submitted the LASA application. If you have changed your mind and no longer want to apply to LASA, please fill out this form so I can take you off my mailing list.
Good afternoon everyone,
There are some new email addresses on my list, so I bet some of you are scratching your heads going “LASA Info Email 2? What happened to Email 1?” Well, I sent it out before winter break, you see.
If you haven’t read it yet, you can find it here:
LASA Info Email 1: Introductions, Information, and Important Dates
I suggest you read it first, and then come back here. Don’t worry, I’ll wait!
As a quick recap, my name is Jo Koerth and I am the principal’s secretary at LASA. If you’ve sent a question to LASAadmissions@austinisd.org, odds are I’m the one who replied to you.
Now, LASA doesn’t really have an admissions department as such. What we do have is myself, and San Czaplinski, the Academy Director. Each year, from November to March(ish), we add applications to our already full time jobs.
As you can probably tell, it can get a little overwhelming at times. Especially in the weeks right before and after the deadline. We both do our best to respond to emails quickly, but we’re so grateful for your patience.
There are a couple of things you can do to help us out:
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Read all the information at lasahighschool.org/apply thoroughly before reaching out with questions. Most answers can be found there.
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Don’t ask about the status of your application or something you submitted. Once you have submitted your LASA Application, you will receive an email with the application status and if there are any issues with something you’ve submitted. (Remember, I have to actually look at your application and go over everything first, so this won’t be instant! I try to get these emails out within a week but it depends on how many applications are submitted at the same time, and how often I get interrupted by questions or my other full-time job.)
Quick reminders:
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With the exception of Enroll Austin, the LASA application is the responsibility of the student. Parents/guardians can help, but ultimately it’s your task. It’s not easy, so you should feel proud of yourself as you navigate it. You are doing a hard thing!
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In order to be eligible to apply to LASA you have to live in AISD and be in the 8th, 9th, 10th, or 11th grade.
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Students have to submit the LASA Application.
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Parents/Guardians have to complete Round 1 in Enroll Austin which will open on Monday (1/12/26).
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Only students who have both the LASA Application and Enroll Austin on file by the deadline (11:59 PM on Friday, January 30, 2026) can be considered.
CHECKLIST
Applying to LASA can feel a little overwhelming. That’s why we created the LASA Application Checklist. You will notice that it has both a list (divided by what is the student’s responsibility and what the parent/guardian has to do), and if you scroll down, there is more information for each required item.
Whenever you have a question on a specific part of the application, check the checklist first! We’ve tried very hard to cover the most common questions and the mistakes people make most often.
COGAT
Tomorrow is the first opportunity to take the CogAT. An email with information went out yesterday. If you missed the email, you can read it here. It has the most comprehensive information regarding tomorrow.
I want to clarify that students who have a cell phone should bring it in order to fill out the sign-in form. BUT, we will also have computers available for students who do not have a cellphone.
The sign-in form doesn’t have anything to do with the test itself. It just helps us know which students attended which day/session.
For student safety, parents/guardians won’t be able to come into the building, so do your goodbyes and goodlucks before heading to the entrance.
Once you get inside, please let us know if you are not an 8th grader or if you have accommodations. This helps us make sure you’ll be in the correct testing room.
Parents/guardians who don’t want to drive home or go hang out in a coffee shop nearby while students test are welcome to attend the parent panel hosted by our parent organization (PFLASA). You can read more about it and sign up here.
The panel takes place in the portable (white building) to the right of the school on Arthur Stiles Rd. (By the tennis courts.)
CHOICES
With Enroll Austin, you are asked to decide at the time you apply, which school you would most like to attend. You can apply to up to seven schools and/or programs and you should rank them in the order you most want to go to them.
If you get into your first choice, you will never know whether you got into your second or third choice. So make sure you choose carefully!
There really is no strategy to this. It’s all about preference and what would work best for your family. Don’t put your first choice second because you don’t think you’ll get in! If you get into whichever school you put first, you won’t even know whether or not you would have gotten into your first choice.
We don’t care if you put LASA first or not. That’s not something we look at. We want you to go to the school that is the best fit for you. Sure, we would love for it to be us, but only if that’s what you really want.
The following upcoming events are designed to help you know where you want to rank LASA. Please take advantage of them!
Saturday, January 10 - “Find Your Fit” Parent Panel
While you are taking the CogAT, parents can attend this parent panel to hear from current LASA parents with students at other high schools. They will hear about LASA in relation to other high schools and they will be able to bring this information back to you.
Monday, January 12 - Shadowing Starts at LASA
Once you have submitted your LASA Application, you can request a shadow date. On the date you select, you will be able to shadow a LASA student for a day. It will give you a chance to see the campus and attend classes to see if LASA really is the place for you.
(You will get an email with the shadow request form after you’ve submitted your application. No, you can’t just submit the application with a bunch of dummy information to get first crack at shadowing. That’s not how it works.)
Tuesday, January 13 - LASA Info Night
This presentation is held in the LASA theater from 6 PM to 8 PM. If you have attended one of our previous Info Nights, you do not have to come again the presentations are all the same. You will hear about LASA from current LASA students and one of our administrators.
Tuesday, January 20 - Virtual LASA Info Night
This is basically the same as the one above. The only differences are that it is livestreamed (the link will be posted to lasahighschool.org around 5:50 PM) and available in both English and Spanish.
Saturday, January 24 - “Find Your Fit” Parent Panel
The same thing as the parent panel on January 10.
So, in closing: Please make sure the school/program you rank first is actually your number one choice!
Of course, you don’t have to attend the school you get into. You can always attend your homeschool, or apply for a transfer to another high school during round 2. (LASA is not available during round 2.)
PARENTS
Enroll Austin opens next week on Monday, January 12, 2026, giving you 19 days to complete it by the LASA deadline on Friday, January 30, 2026.
I suggest that you try to get it submitted as early as possible. That way, if you encounter any issues, there will be plenty of time to get help.
Things you can do to prepare:
If your student is currently enrolled in an AISD school:
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Make sure you know your username and password for the AISD Portal.
If your student was enrolled in an AISD school, but isn’t anymore:
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Find the AISD student ID number they were assigned. This isn’t required but will be super helpful in the long run!
All parents no matter where their student is enrolled:
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Get a digital copy (scan/photo) of the front of your driver’s license
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Get a digital copy (scan/photo/pdf) of your most recent mortgage statement or lease
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Have a family conversation about which high schools your student wants to attend, and in which order they should be ranked from most to least wanted
Good luck!
/Jo Koerth
Principal’s secretary at LASA and half of the LASA “Admissions Department”
IMPORTANT LINKS
Enroll Austin - opening on January 12, 2026