Liberal Arts and Science Academy

Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) is a selective public magnet high school in Austin, Texas, United States.[3][4] Although LASA is open to all Austin residents and charges no tuition, competition for admission can be strong and is contingent on submission of an application, prior academic record, and the Cognitive Abilities Test. LASA is sometimes known as LASA High School.

Liberal Arts & Science Academy
Address
7309 Lazy Creek Drive

Austin
,
Texas
78724

United States
Information
TypePublic Magnet
Established2007[1]
School districtAustin Independent School District
CEEB code440069
PrincipalStacia Crescenzi
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,284 (2019)
Color(s)    Navy and White (2020- )   Purple (2007-2020)
USNWR ranking16th[2]
Websitelasahighschool.org
LBJ and LASA High School Main Entrance

LASA shares its campus with LBJ High School, a non-magnet school.

LASA is often ranked as one of the best public schools in Texas, with a ranking of #5 by U.S. News and World Report in 2018.

As part of AISD's November 2017 bond, LASA will relocate to the old Eastside Memorial campus, with new school colors and mascot, as well as a new name. The move is expected to take place in 2021.[5]

History

In 1928, the Austin City Council approved a plan to segregate the city, effectively forcing black populations to move to certain areas of the city. After a national movement for desegregation of public schools began, AISD announced that it would begin efforts to desegregate schools, even though the school district continued to not allow busing.[6] In 1968, the U.S. Department of Justice sued AISD for not integrating schools fast enough, and after many years of litigation, school boundaries were redrawn, LBJ high school a product of this reorganization of the school system. But enrollment at LBJ steadily dropped as a result of white parents taking their kids out of public school, prompting the school board to take further action.

In an effort to stem White flight and create more diverse public schools, the LBJ Science Academy was created in 1985. Classes were often shared in the science academy with LBJ students. The science academy was merged with a liberal arts magnet program located at Johnston high school by AISD in 2002 to form LASA High School, although the school still didn't have a federal ID number, and thus was considered a part of LBJ.[7][8] In 2007, so that LBJ could receive a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and the typically lower performing students of the regular LBJ program could be granted automatic admission for the top 10 percent of students in their class, LBJ and LASA were split into separate schools. After the split, although LASA retained its name, classes besides fine arts were no longer shared, and teachers taught at either LASA or LBJ, but typically not both, although both schools continue to share fine arts and athletic programs.[7][6]

Campus

LASA shares its campus with Lyndon B. Johnson Early College High School: LASA is on the second floor while Johnson is on the first floor. Melissa B. Taboada of the Austin American-Statesman stated that some members of the Austin community "say the division is a constant blemish on the campus".[9]

Admission

Admission is based on multiple criteria including grades, standardized test scores, essays, teacher recommendations, extracurricular activities, awards earned, and an admissions exam (currently the Cognitive Abilities Test).[10] For the 2021-2022 school year admissions cycle, LASA has added an additional creative project component with a separate rubric.[11]

Student Body

As of 2019 21% of LASA students are Hispanic and Latino and 2.1% are black. As of 2019, 10.4% of LASA students are low income. The percentages of low income, black, and Hispanic students at LASA decreased circa 2010-2015.[9]

The school spends $3,665 per student for academic programs and $5,919 per student for all school functions as of 2010.[12]

School Rankings

In 2018, U.S. News and World Report ranked the school #16 among the nation's best high schools and #5 among high schools in Texas.[13] Niche ranked LASA #11 nationally, and #1 in the state of Texas.[14] In 2014, Newsweek ranked LASA #8 nationally,[15] and #1 in Texas.[16][17] 38 out of the 260 students in the LASA Class of 2018 were National Merit Scholars.[18]

Traditions

The traditional "Senior Assassins" game was ended in 2014 after word of the game leaked to the media. The game began in 2006. Seniors would collect an entry fee, then chase each other in hallways during class breaks, trying to mark and "tag" each other with markers. A student who got marked was "dead." The last survivor claimed the cash prize. In 2013, students were injured in the hallway by running seniors. Walls were rammed and holes had to be repaired. The game finally ended that year when a male student chased a female into the women's bathroom and she complained. In 2014, the administration helped organize the game, setting additional rules. A parent alerted the media and the subsequent attention caused the district to order the principal to shut the game down.[19]

The official LASA mascot is the Raptor,[20] decided upon via school-wide and alumni voting in February 2020. Prior to separation from LBJ, LASA shared LBJ's mascot, the Jaguar, in UIL and other collaborative events across the schools.[21] For the 2020-2021 school year, some extracurricular activities like marching band and the First Ladies dance team will continue to be shared between the two schools, and use LBJ's colors and mascot, while the rest of the LASA-sponsored extracurriculars will adopt LASA's new mascot and colors .

Sports

LASA hosts UIL and intramural sports, including ultimate frisbee, golf, lacrosse, swimming, cross-country, and tennis. In contrast with fine arts, LASA's UIL athletics has split from LBJ in the 2020-2021 school year and has formed its own football, basketball, and other sports teams. The school offers, as a whole, 15 sports.

Clubs and Student Organizations

LASA offers more than 70 clubs and student organizations. These vary from year to year, and students may apply to create a new club each school year.

LASA's debate team competes in Policy Debate. The team is nationally ranked and has qualified a team to the Tournament of Champions every year since 2016. In 2017, LASA had their first team on the Coaches Poll and they finished the year ranked 14th.[22] The same team made it to octofinals of the Tournament of Champions that year and won the Texas Forensic Association State Tournament. [23]In the final 2018 coaches poll, LASA finished the year ranked 15th in the country.[24] In the 2020-2021 school year, they were able to qualify 3 teams to the TOC for the first time. They are coached by Yao Yao Chen, a volunteer, who won the Kandi King Award for Coaching Excellence in 2021 from the Winston Churchill Classic Tournament.[25]

LASA's Quiz bowl club won national titles at NAQT's High School National Championship titles in 2013 and 2014, as well as the PACE NSC in 2014. They have also had numerous top 4 finishes at both tournaments.[26] LASA is also the only school as of 2019 to have won two National Championship titles in the Varsity Division of the National History Bowl.[27]

Science Olympiad is also offered at LASA as a club. LASA has placed in the top 3 at state 15 times. In 2015, the Science Olympiad team placed 3rd in Nationals.[28]

Curriculum

To graduate with LASA's magnet endorsement, students must complete a minimum of 15 magnet classes, including a minimum three years of one language, four years of English, four years of social studies, four years of math (or until they complete multivariable calculus), and four years of science. Course offerings include Advanced Placement (AP) courses covering 30 Advanced Placement tests; students may begin taking them their freshman year.[29]

Additionally, LASA offers specialized electives in various areas, such as How To Be An Adult, Amateur Radio (students may apply for a HAM radio license while taking the course), and a Modern Physics course. As of 2019, LASA has 20 elective science classes, which encompass astronomy, forensic science, and modern physics.[30] Electives for humanities include creative writing, women's literature, amateur radio, and constitutional law.

Languages

LASA offers eight languages: French, German, Latin, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, American Sign Language, and Italian.

Firefighting

LASA students are eligible to participate in the LBJ Fire Academy, a two year firefighting and EMT training course. The Fire Academy is a TCFP approved firefighter certification program and a Texas Department of State Health Services approved EMT certification program. It was created in 2006, and later expanded to allow students from 7 AISD schools including LBJ, LASA, Anderson, Austin High, McCallum, Navarro, and Northeast.[31] Students begin the program their junior year with firefighter training, before switching to EMT coursework early in their senior year. The classes are "double-block", meaning students attend the academy for one and a half hours everyday. Additional skills training is completed in 8-hour blocks on certain Saturdays. Students complete their "ride-outs" with the Austin Fire Department.

Computer Science

LASA{CS}, the computer science program at LASA, offers courses that cover Java, C++, data structures, Python, web and mobile applications, and digital electronics. Additionally, there is an independent study class to allow more advanced students to work on their own projects.[32]

Publications

LASA publishes its own newspaper every six weeks, The Liberator, as well as its own yearbook, Stetson. Stetson was previously LBJ's yearbook. When LASA and LBJ began to share a campus, LASA produced the book for both campuses. In 2016, LBJ began its own yearbook again, and LASA kept the Stetson name.

Signature Courses

Students must take two "Signature Courses" in both their freshman and sophomore years. These Signature Courses are semester-long, "double-block" period classes. Freshmen must take Introduction to Engineering ("SciTech") and Graphic Design and Illustration ("E-Zine"); sophomores take Introduction to the Humanities ("Great Ideas") and Biogeology ("Planet Earth").[30]

References
  1. Finn, Jr., Chester E.; Hockett, Jessica A. (2012). Exam Schools: Inside America's Most Selective Public High Schools. Princeton University Press. pp. 88–95. ISBN 9780691156675.
  2. "Best High Schools in the U.S." U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  3. Taboada, Melissa B. "Austin trustees' new bond plan calls for LASA to move south and grow". Austin American. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  4. McGee, Kate. "LASA and LBJ Students Want to Unify in a School Divided". www.kut.org. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  5. S, Austin; ers; Fri.; Jan. 25; 2019. "Austin ISD Begins to Move Eastside High Schools". www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved March 24, 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. Rodriguez, James (2018). A SCHOOL DIVIDED: THE HISTORY OF LBJ AND LASA. The University of Texas at Austin.
  7. Finn, Jr., Chester E.; Hockett, Jessica A. (2012). Exam Schools: Inside America's Most Selective Public High Schools. Princeton University Press. pp. 88–95. ISBN 9780691156675.
  8. "The Final Bell". Texas Monthly. January 21, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  9. Taboada, Melissa B."Poor, minority students missing out on Austin’s popular magnet programs" (Archived December 30, 2015, at WebCite). Austin American-Statesman. Sunday February 8, 2015. Retrieved on December 30, 2015.
  10. "LASA Online - Prospective Students". Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  11. "LASA Admissions Creative Rubric". Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  12. "Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School". December 8, 2015.
  13. "Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA)".
  14. "2019 Liberal Arts & Science Academy Rankings". Niche. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  15. "America's Best High Schools - The Daily Beast". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on October 16, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  16. "America's Best High Schools - The Daily Beast". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  17. "America's Top Schools 2014". Newsweek. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  18. "LASA - School Profile". sites.google.com. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  19. Cargile, Erin (March 17, 2014). "Austin ISD shuts down "Student Assassin" game". KXAN. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  20. "Athletic Announcements". LASA High School. February 21, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  21. Saul; et al. "JagMag". Issuu.
  22. "National Top 25 High School Debate Coaches Poll" (PDF). HSImpact. April 4, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  23. "Tournament of Champions". Tabroom. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  24. "National Top 25 High School Debate Coaches Poll" (PDF). HSImpact. April 6, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  25. "2021 Winston Churchill Classic Awards Ceremony". YouTube. January 9, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  26. "2014 HSNCT". Archived from the original on July 18, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  27. "National History Bowl Varsity Division National Champions".
  28. "Liberal Arts and Science Academy - Science Olympiad Student Center Wiki". scioly.org. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  29. "Magnet Endorsement". LASA High School. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  30. LASA Course Guide 2019, 2019, pp. 19–20
  31. "About Us". LBJ Fire Academy. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  32. "LASA Computer Science". lasacs.com. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
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