Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA)

Posted: March 22, 2025

SPECIAL EDUCATION: This school does a great job at pretending like they care about their students' mental health when they simply don't. At the start of junior year I was diagnosed with ADHD + others (anxiety, etc) , & on my diagnosis paper, it states that extra time would be beneficial. I have contacted many adults at this school to help me with getting 504 accommodations. One laughed in my face & told me that I would probably never be getting these accommodations.

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: This school is full of adults stuck in the past, who do not take this seriously, especially if u r diagnosed at a later age. They told me this process would take 6 weeks-- it has been months. My psychologist & parents have contacted them about my ADHD. Nothing. They insist on using school grades to determine if someone needs extra time instead of taking the experiences of the student/student's family into account.

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT: It is almost like enjoy seeing their students struggle; they think that this struggle means hard work. They take pride in not allowing their students to switch classes b/c they think they r raising the next generation of Einsteins. They watch me cry in the halls & do nothing. There is a big lack of empathy present in both students & adults in this school.

SAFETY: The students r constantly looking for ways to bring each other down. It's like everyone has had their soul sucked out of them-- compared to everyone I feel very immature; students r very serious & act like they're in college. Students see more APs & NHS as a "flex" & consider themselves superior to u. I refuse to join clubs b/c of the hostile student body. I had a friend (junior also)get a suspension for defending himself against a freshmen-- this includes ISS & bus suspension. His parents r divorced & his only way home was by bus. The freshmen who was shouting slurs/attempted to physically injure my friend has not been expelled yet, but u can now get expelled for cheating on a test.

TEACHING: I've written long paragraphs to them describing my experiences w/ ADHD. i feel like I constantly have to beg to them for understanding & extra time. Some r not even present during their designated office hours. Some also clearly treat freshmen worse than upperclassmen.

LEARNING: Majority of students come from immigrant households, such as myself, and work only for parent validation ("u kids have it easy, back in my country we..."). This school has stripped me of my love for learning.

Posted: March 22, 2025

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Posted: February 3, 2024

Posted: February 3, 2024

My child is a graduate of LASA. For kids and parents considering this school, I wanted to pass on these statements that teachers at LASA told my child, who has dyslexia, when my child asked those teachers to follow legally required accommodations related to their dyslexia, which were accommodations supported by medical evidence and approved by LASA's administration, the College Board, etc. (e.g., extra time on tests):
-- "Back in my day, we just called kids with dyslexia dumb,"
--"Do you REALLY need these accommodations?"
--"Students with 503 accommodations drag down our school."
--"You can't do the work here and don't belong here."

Posted: September 12, 2023

We feel so fortunate that both of our children have been able to attend LASA. As many have noted, students graduate with an education level equivalent to an undergraduate degree, and they often go on to find freshman year of college "too easy." However, LASA is not only an academic powerhouse; it's a refuge for smart, creative, hard-working and high-achieving students who so often feel awkward, "nerdy," or weird at typical schools. At LASA, our kids (one sophomore, one recent grad) have been able to focus hard and dig deep into their learning, surrounded by peers who really wanted to be there and also wanted to do well. Both of them have learned they can accomplish more than they thought. Both have learned to be organized and prepared for class. Both have realized they have good "math brains" and have more interest/aptitude in science than they previously thought. On the strength of a LASA education (and the accompanying high stats), our oldest received a merit scholarship to a private college we could never have otherwise afforded. We will be eternally grateful to LASA for the opportunities it's given our children.

Posted: September 12, 2023

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Posted: May 14, 2023

LASA has been exactly what our child needs. It’s filled with dedicated teachers and staff and curious, driven, hard working kids. We regularly say we can’t believe it’s real. Our LASA student has a 504 and they’ve been well supported.

Posted: May 14, 2023

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Posted: May 11, 2023

Posted: May 11, 2023

We are wrapping up an excellent 4 years at LASA. The communication from admin is fabulous - weekly emails that give all the information you need. The counselors send out great information on enrichment and special programs. The teachers are hardworking, dedicated, and create a great learning environment. My student also participated in athletics -while LASA may not always be tops in athletic competitions, the students get great support with teamwork, effort, commitment, and time management, and skill development. My child participated in a variety of clubs as well. Whatever you kid has an interest in, LASA has a club for it. My student made great friends, learned a lot, and is beyond prepared for college, career, and life.

Posted: May 11, 2023

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Posted: May 7, 2023

Harder than an engineering degree at college, but it definitely makes you learn how to apply yourself. I'm a sophmore in Mechanical engineering and I honestly think LASA is harder, but it might be because I was younger and less mature so I got distracted easier. Great education and freshman year was a joke because of lasa.

Posted: May 7, 2023

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Posted: April 18, 2023

Decent school if you don't want any social life at all. Lasa has been harder than my four years of college. The principal is awful. Extremely rude and uncaring about students if you aren't a perfect student. I was ignored by her for the last few years just because of how she felt about my friends, nothing based on my reputation. She also allowed bullying after the 2020 election by liberal students against one of my friends who happened to be republican, regardless of your political beliefs, you should not be in charge of an academic institution if you are clearly showing such a lack of care for the students you don't deem acceptable of it. I loved the teachers here. They are great. But they are under an awful, rude, and insensitive principal who is fake as can be. If you want your kid to be well rounded by any means, do NOT let them go to Lasa.

Posted: April 18, 2023

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Posted: September 24, 2020

This is a great option for high achievers, but I think the school should strive to be more diverse and get more low-income students. At 8% low income, in a district that is majority low-income, and just 2% black, in a district that is much more diverse. This is increasingly become a school for affluent (and largely white) students in a district that is largely low-income and BIPOC.

Posted: September 11, 2018

Posted: September 11, 2018

The teachers are the crown jewel of this school among its many strong points. They are well educated and allowed to run their classrooms as they see fit. LASA is a stellar education experience because of their students and teachers, not because they have blinged out labs and equipment. Mix engaged students with inspired teachers in an environment that empowers learning and magic happens.

Posted: September 11, 2018

Posted: September 11, 2018

The principal is terrific and has a good thing going here.

Posted: September 11, 2018

All the students here are above average and there still is a bell curve once they are put together in the same school. Yes, there are still some prodigy kids at LASA but all are encouraged to excel.

Posted: September 11, 2018

My second child just started at LASA (2018-19 school year) after my older one graduated from LASA a couple of years ago. The older one says that college is easier than LASA and he is consistently on the dean's list. He was middle of his class at LASA. Overall, I'm continually impressed by the educational experience at LASA and the caliber of the students. The teachers are consistently strong top to bottom (it's not easy to get a job there) and turnover seems low. I would also add that the counselors are also amazing and truly there to help manage the wellbeing of the students AND help them launch to the college that's a best fit for each student.

Posted: January 23, 2018

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Posted: January 23, 2018

We moved from CA. This school is really good.

Posted: November 3, 2016

Amazing school. It is absolutely a lie that you have to stay up till midnight working on homework. If you apply yourself in school and focus on your homework you will get everything done in no time and still have time for extracurriculars and friends. The classes are amazing and once you get through the basic courses you can explore Quantum Mechanics in Modern Physics or prepare for a pre-med degree in Anatomy and Pathophysiology. Naturally some classes lend themselves to memorization such as Biology or Geography but if you really hate memorization then just avoid biology and geography electives like to hear plague.

Posted: February 4, 2015

LASA is a nerd school, plain and simple. It is very academically challenging and has wonderful staff that are willing to any students who need help and go above and beyond normal curriculum. Then, for the fun stuff. LASA has an almost endless number of clubs from ZAST (zombie apocalypse survival training) to D&D club to dysfunctional homes club to reptile club to math club... There are social groups for anyone and you won't find of more excepting community of students. The staff are also amazing. You have to give to a teacher if they agree to host a game of zombie tag, during school. The guidance counselors are also wonderful from medical issues and 504's to planning for college. I simply cannot recommend this school high enough, the only catch is getting in, which can be difficult...

Posted: January 24, 2015

LASA could not be any better. Parents say that the school is "putting too much pressure on my kids" or "they stay up till 4 in the morning doing homework". Something like that could happen if you don't stay on top of your hw and procrastinate beyond belief. Are there big projects? Sure! But they are assigned way before the due date and the teachers are always there if you have any questions. I couldn't ask for a better learning environment. Almost all of the students are extremely passionate about learning and it's one of the few places where no matter what, you can always fit in. There is little to know bullying and everyone that teaches/attends at the school wants to see you succeed. The one thing that you need is organization skills. A planner basically saved my life. I love LASA!

Posted: November 22, 2014

We feel so fortunate that our children are able to attend LASA. There is a lot of homework and the classes are taught at a very high level, but isn't it wonderful to have a school where being smart is cool? This is the only Texas public school I have seen in which being on the football team or being a cheerleader or a drill team member is not such a big deal. The popular kids are the ones who work hard and are nice. I can't imagine sending my kids anyplace else.

Posted: November 16, 2014

My son is a smart kid, but he's by no means a genius. He loves LASA, respects and even loves his teachers, has a healthy attitude about academic one-upmanship, and is getting a great education. I feel the homework burden is not overwhelming, and the extracurriculars are plentiful but the students are not forced to participate if they're not interested. Is he in the top 5% of his class, destined for a free ride at an Ivy League school? No. Are there students there who are under intense pressure from their families to excel? Absolutely. He missed a great deal of school recently because of an extended illness, and the teachers and counselor, along with his fellow students, have been very supportive in assisting him getting caught up. He's feeling confident and his grades have not suffered. He's a junior, and I was concerned that, with all the AP classes, he would be in trouble after the absence. If your child does not manage a heavy workload well, gets stressed in a competitive atmosphere or tends to compare himself or herself with others regularly, LASA might not be a great choice. There are students there with extremely high academic talents and drive, and that can be intimidating.

Posted: April 6, 2014

The LASA magnet HIgh School program has been a great experience for us - all around. The teachers are dedicated and care about their classes. The material they learn is amazing. My son loves his classes, teachers and friends at school. I think it is a good fit for academically minded students who like to learn and study. It is a tough school, they teach and learn at a high level. So, it is not for everyone. Good amount of homework. It is an amazing option for kids who love to learn and challenge themselves. Great preparation for college, for sure. We are lucky to have this public high school magnet option in Austin.

Posted: March 27, 2014

10 out of 10--can't beat that, right? Not so fast. The 10 is based on test scores--but at what cost do the students at this school get these test scores? Although I'm sure the teachers are better than many at the regular public schools, their programs are not progressive and my son complains that the memorize-regurgitate nature of it is killing his curiosity and love of learning. They have inculcated in him the idea that getting in to a good college (which can apparently only be achieved by staying at LASA and maintaining a high GPA)---is the only thing that matters in life and if he doesn't do this, he will be living under a bridge. Meanwhile, it is intensely high pressure to the point that students stay up half the night completing assignments. Something like an unexpected, extended illness can transform this situation into a catastrophe overnight. I'm sorry, but even healthy kids need to sleep. I'm all for academic rigor and my kid is outrageously bright, but time with friends is important at this age too. My faith in this school is shaken and I really wanted him to go here, but I'm just not sure we can stay. I really want my son to have a more balanced education.

Posted: March 21, 2014

This is a truly amazing school. I've visited a lot of high schools, and although I may be slightly biased, I'm still just as impressed as I was the day I first walked it. The teachers and staff do a great job of treating you like adults and human beings rather than just another job, and they all care about and love what they do. Academically, it's top tier -- class sizes are a bit large in some cases, but with Austin's quickly expanding population LASA's struggling to keep up with the influx of smart children. Tons of APs. Great extracurriculars. Great culture. I love it.

Posted: September 9, 2013

Most of the complaints that I have heard from students through the years is that this school is too hard. However, it is challenging for a reason. It is a college prep school, and the challenging environment shows both through the hallways as well as with the test scores. The different classes that we take are very helpful and benefit the students in the long run, no matter how tedious the work is sometimes. The only little criticism is that the student senate should get more involved like it has been in the past to make sure that the students voices are being heard in the different rules that are being enforced.

Posted: September 7, 2013

This school has gone downhill. When my son went just three years ago, the focus was on academics challenging classes with a strong bent on independent thinking. My younger daughter is now there, and the school is starting a visible descent into chaos. There are still great teachers and some good classes, but every time I am on campus, there are kids just wandering around doing nothing. The school's population went from 800 to about 1,000 (this is an application-only school) which means that it's no longer as selective as it was. Scores have gone down in high school rankings. The principal seems a little "flighty" compared to the previous one. I hope this can return to the great school it once was.

Posted: February 9, 2013

I am a senior who has really enjoyed the academics, friends and unique experiences offered at LASA. However the previous review about challenges involving college admissions is true. If you work hard you will get into the college of your dreams from LASA, and be incredibly well prepared for it. However scholarships become a lot more challenging to obtain when you are not in the top 50% or if you do reach a certain cut off GPA. Thankfully school is instate, so financial aid is not so critical for me. However if your kid has dreams of a $60k/year school, you may have a more difficult time affording college. On a more positive note, I feel incredibly well prepared for college, scored very well on the SAT & ACT, and have had some incredibly driven, memorable, and all out amazing teachers who I will not forget anytime soon. The student body of LASA is incredibly forgiving, loving and intelligent. The most eccentric kids are still respected, a miracle compared to the cliquish environment at a lot of other high schools.

Posted: January 29, 2012

The curriculum and teachers are amazing. My student loves LASA, where the focus is on academics, not frivolity and drama. It's cool to be super smart here, but it is also a lot of hard work and very competitive. Like the previous poster said, the gpa's here have to be astronomically high in order to get into the top 10% of the class. My student's is 4.2+ and still not in the top 10%. How can we improve a student's chances at getting in top-tier colleges?

Posted: December 18, 2011

My son is a senior this year and has attend LASA for all 4 years. He has had some amazing teachers, is academically well prepared for college, and scored very high on the SAT. That being said, I want to warn students and parents about the college process. It is very difficult to get a high gpa at this school and be competitive in the college process. At the LASA Roadshow, we were told that college recruiters are well aware of the rigor at LASA and take that into consideration when looking at your application. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. It is all about your UNWEIGHTED gpa and class rank. The weighted gpa on your report card gives a you false sense of security. My son has a 3.7 gpa and puts him in the 65% rank (there are ~180 kids in his class). We only found out recently that this is a 2.7 unweighted. This is what colleges see and there is no way you will get into a top tier college with that. Teachers grade very tough here and we had just accepted it thinking it would pay off in the end- but it has not. Do yourself a favor and l look up the admission stats and gpa's for good schools and ask yourself if your child has what it takes to make that gpa at the most rigorous school in Austin.

Posted: July 14, 2011

This is easily the best school in Austin. There are a lot of award-winning academic teams and all sorts of clubs to join. The student body is very friendly and diverse so it's not at all difficult to find a niche. If you're ambitious and one to take up a challenge, LASA would be a great place for you. That said, I wouldn't go here if you're just looking to cruise through high school without a whole lot of effort.