7309 Lazy Creek Dr.
Austin, Texas 78724
512.414.2589

Frequently Asked Questions

What and where is LASA?
LASA is the Austin Independent School District's advanced academic magnet high school. It was created in 2002 when the Liberal Arts Academy and the Science Academy magnets merged thus creating a program that has advanced academics in every curricular area. LASA shares facilities with LBJ High School, the neighborhood comprehensive high school, at 7309 Lazy Creek Drive, Austin, Texas.

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Why should my child consider attending LASA?
Rigor: The curriculum for every course -- Math, English, Science, and Social Studies -- is written to go above and beyond state and district standards.
Community: Students take courses with teachers who are experts in their field and attend classes with students who enjoy the challenge provided by those teachers.
Inquiry: Many of our courses rely heavily on discussion and seminar style delivery of the course information. Other courses rely heavily on the use, interpretation, and delivery of research.
Excellence: Teachers, students, and parents recognize that these four years are only the preparation for the next level. Discussions of college selection and admissions, scholarships, letters of recommendation, and financial aid enter into conversations in the classroom beginning the freshman year.
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How do students get to and from LASA?
LASA students receive free transportation on Capital Metro buses from all corners of the district. Students usually arrive at LBJ shortly after 7 a.m. and depart around 3:55 pm. Students who need to stay late for tutoring, athletics, band, or other activities can catch the late bus that leaves LBJ around 6:15 pm.
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Are there required courses for my child's freshman year?
Entering freshmen must take English, Math, Social Studies, Science, a Language other than English, two LASA signature course -- Science and Technology and Electronic Magazine -- and one elective.
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What is the difference between Magnet and Topics?
These are the two levels of curriculum in our core courses. The term Topics originally described the difference between the two levels of math offered by the Science Academy. If a student took Topics math, then they were on track to take BC Calculus before they graduated. Other Science Academy students were on track to finish with AB Calculus. Now, Topics courses are differentiated from Magnet courses by their breadth and depth of the material covered by the curriculum. Another way to differentiate the two curricula is to think of courses in college. Topics courses are, for example, math for math majors or English for English majors and Magnet courses are Math for English majors and English for math majors.
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What is the amount of homework we can expect?
Students can expect no more than 30 minutes per school night per course. Every six weeks, students receive a "Homework Free Weekend" and LASA students will have no assignments due the next Monday. Topics classes may contain more material and therefore will require extra preparation.
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What extracurricular activities are available to my student?
The extracurricular activities available can be classified into three areas: athletics, clubs and fine arts. Click here to view to view the many options at LASA.
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What is the graduation expectation for LASA students?
LASA students are encouraged to graduate with a magnet endorsement in addition to their diploma. The endorsement has three parts: graduating on the Distinguished Achievement Plan, Texas's most rigorous graduation plan; completing mathematics through precalculus; and being enrolled and earning credit in a math or science course in their senior year.
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What college application assistance is available to my student when he/she gets to that point?
Each student at LASA will be assigned a counselor who will assist in the college application process. In addition, the English IV classes have built into the curriculum the composition of college essays during the first semester. Also, the school hosts several nights in the second semester during junior year for parents to hear college, scholarship and financial aid information and then several nights during the senior year first semester for parents as a forum to ask questions and to ask for assistance.
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What Advanced Placement classes are available to my student?
Biology
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Chemistry
Computer Science A
Computer Science AB
English Language
English Literature
Environmental Science
European History
French Language
French Literature
German Language
Government & Politics
Japanese Language
Latin Literature
Latin Vergil
Macroeconomics
Physics B
Physics C
Psychology
Spanish Language
Spanish Literature
Statistics
Studio Art
U.S. History
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What magnet electives are available to my child?
Many of the above AP classes are electives, but we frequently offer the following courses. In addition, many language other than English courses, Fine Arts and other courses at the upper levels are treated as magnet courses. For more information, please see Academic Courses.

Amateur Radio
Anatomy and Physiology
Aquatic Science
Constitutional Law
Contemporary Issues
Differential Equations
Discrete Math
Environmental Policy and
Philosophy
Facing History
Hitchhiker's Guide to
Science Fiction
Internetworking
Medical Microbiology
Multivariable Calculus
Music and Revolution
Networking
Pathophysiology
Research Practicum
Robotics
Shakespeare
Street Law
Environmental Philosophy and Policy
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Do you have final examination exemptions?
No and yes. No, students do not become exempt from final exams by the former AISD standards. Rather, our students become exempt from certain final core course examinations by scoring Commended on the correlating sections of the spring TAKS examination. All students must take the fall semester final examinations.
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What is a signature course?
One of the cornerstones of LASA is the group of courses known as Signature Courses. These innovative classes are collaborative in nature and challenge the students to work together--in research, design, implementation and presentation of projects. LASA students take Electronic Magazine and Science and Technology as freshmen, and then take Planet Earth and Great Ideas as sophomores. Click here for more information on Signature Courses.
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