line decor
line decor
 
7309 Lazy Creek Dr.
Austin, TX 78724
(512) 414-LASA (5272)
FAX (512) 414-6050
shell

Last Updated: October 1, 2009
Contact Webmaster
 

Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School

CEEB Code: 440069
2008-2009 School Profile
7309 Lazy Creek Drive  ·  Austin, TX 78724
Telephone: 512-414-2589  ·  Fax: 512-414-6050  ·  Web site: www.lasaonline.org



SUMMARY

The Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) High School is a four-year comprehensive, public, urban, advanced academic magnet high school of 870 students.  The class of 2009 numbers 208 students.  The program recruits the most academically advanced students from public and private middle schools in Austin; as such, admission to LASA is competitive, based on test scores, previous accomplishments and teacher recommendations.

 

HISTORY

The LBJ Science Academy, the first Austin magnet school, was created in 1985. The Liberal Arts Academy at Johnston High School was opened in 1987. The Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) of Austin emerged from these two separate magnet schools in 2002 on the Lyndon Baines Johnson High School campus. In 2007, the School Board approved the separation into two high schools: the Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School and Lyndon Baines Johnson High School. The two high schools, housed on the same campus, still share fine arts and athletics classes and compete in UIL events as one school.

 

MISSION

LASA educates socially responsible leaders, problem solvers, and thinkers through a nationally recognized, rigorous, innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum.

 

2007-2008 RECOGNITIONS

  Ranked #95 on Newsweek’s top 1300 high schools
  Earned Exemplary Accountability Rating from the state of Texas

 

GRADING SYSTEM

  Letter Grade Numeric Value
  A 90 – 100
  B 80 – 89
  C 70 – 79
  F 69 or Below

The theoretical maximum GPA is 4.8 on a 4.0 scale, reflecting the number of required unweighted courses as well as 1 additional grade point for pre-AP, AP, magnet, and topics courses.

 

CLASS RANK

Ranking and GPA are determined at the end of each semester. All courses count for purposes for ranking and GPA (unless listed as Pass/Fail). Since admission to LASA is competitive and tested aptitudes are above the national average, rank in class cannot be regarded as a valid indication of preparation for college for the students at LASA. Should rank be considered an important factor, LASA students should be measured against the totality of Austin ISD’s senior class, approximately 4000 students, since they have chosen to attend the most academically rigorous school and to travel much further across town to prepare for college.

 

CURRICULUM

The curricular expectations for LASA students exceed that of a traditional curricular program. Magnet Level courses contain more lecture and are more traditional and are the equivalent of a strong pre-AP curriculum. Topics level courses move at a quicker pace, cover more material, are project-based and contain special “topics” within the subject matter. All courses at LASA, with the exception of Health, Speech Communication, and Physical Education, are offered at the minimum of a magnet level.

 

ACADEMIC COURSE LOAD

Students choose courses annually from the major areas of study to include: English, Social Studies, Math, Science, and Foreign Language. An upperclassman will typically take 4 to 5 AP courses per semester.

 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT

In 2008, LASA students voluntarily took 1093 Advanced Placement tests with a 77% passing rate.
Advanced Placement courses are offered in the following areas: U.S. Government, French Language, Computer Science A/AB, Spanish Language, Statistics, Chinese Language, Calculus AB/BC, English Literature, French Literature, German Language, Japanese Language and Culture, U.S. History, European History, Studio Art, Biology, Music Theory, Physics B, Physics C:M/EM, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Psychology, English Language, Economics: Micro/Macro, World History, Spanish Literature, Latin Literature, and Latin Vergil.

 

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

LASA students complete a rigorous program of study that requires a minimum of 24 credits for graduation. In addition to completing the requirements for the state of Texas Distinguished Achievement Program (as prescribed by the Texas Education Agency), students must complete a minimum of 17 magnet credits to receive a Magnet endorsement upon graduation and complete mathematics through at least Precalculus.

 

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

    2008
  Commended 31
  Semifinalist 19
  Finalist 15

In addition to the 2008 recognized scholars listed above, there was one student recognized in the National Achievement Scholarship Program and twelve students recognized in the National Hispanic Scholar Recognition Program. Fifty-three students met preliminary NMSQT requirements to enter the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program.

 

SAT DATA & SCORE DISTRIBUTION

(76 students*)

   
2008
  
    CR M W
  Overall Mean 651 643 629
  700-800 25 28 23
  600-699 34 24 25
  500-599 14 20 23
  400-499 3 4 5
  300-399 0 0 0
  200-299 0 0 0

*LASA graduated 193 students in its initial graduating class. Many of those students took their final SAT during their junior year when LASA was still part of LBJ High School’s 440306 ACT-CEEB code, thereby resulting in only 76 students being present on LASA’s 440069 SAT report for 2008.

 

LASA OFFICE PERSONNEL

Ms. Jamie Kocian -- Project ADVANCE Facilitator/College Counselor
Ms. Ivonne Malone -- Lead Counselor (Pe-Z)
Dr. David Qualls -- Counselor (A-Ha)
Ms. Lisa Adams -- Counselor (He-Pa)
Mr. Rene Sanchez -- Principal
Ms. Melanie Meyer -- Associate Principal
Mr. Alan Santucci -- Assistant Principal
Ms. Joselyn Wade -- Principal’s Secretary
Ms. Paula Boothe -- Registrar
Ms. Karen Foree -- Guidance Secretary