Loudoun Academy of Science
| Academies of Loudoun | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
 | |
42075 Academy Drive Leesburg, VA 20175 | |
| Coordinates | 39°02′33″N 77°33′01″W / 39.042637°N 77.550348°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Magnet school |
| Motto | Explore, Research, Collaborate, Innovate |
| Established | 2005 |
| School district | Loudoun County Public Schools |
| Principal | Tinell Priddy |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Number of students | 480 |
| Color(s) | Blue, Turquoise, and Green |
| Athletics | None |
| Mascot | Raptors |
| Director of AOS | Jennifer Chang |
| Website | Official Webpage |
The Academy of Science (AOS) is a STEM program for high school students enrolled in Loudoun County Public Schools. The program was previously located in Dominion High School. During the summer of 2018, the Academy of Science joined the Monroe Advanced Technical Academy (MATA) and the new Academy of Engineering and Technology (AET) to form the Academies of Loudoun (ACL). The Academies of Loudoun opened with a new campus located in Leesburg, Virginia.[1]
History and structure
[edit]The Academy of Science program was established in 2005 as a magnet program for Loudoun County high school students. The program is highly competitive with an acceptance rate of 15%.[citation needed] The coursework focuses on science and math with a Dual Enrollment and numerous Advanced Placement Courses.[2] In the final two years, students take an independent research class.
Admissions
[edit]Applications to join the Academy of Science begin in student's final year of middle school. Applicants are judged based on test scores, a writing section, and grades.[3]
AOS and AET came under scrutiny in 2019 by the NAACP for alleged discrimination against black students during the admission process.[4]
Extracurricular activities and athletics
[edit]Loudoun County high schools have alternating block schedule that allows Academies students to attend both their home high school as well as the academies. ACL has extracurricular available to students during their lunch period, but no athletic teams exist at the Academies. Students attending the Academies are able to join extracurricular and sports at their home high schools.
Research
[edit]In the final two years attending AOS, students take a research course. The students work either independently or with another student to investigate a topic chosen by them and approved by their mentors. The Academies have a large amount of scientific instrumentation that would not be available at most high schools. Students are given the opportunity to collaborate with students of the Hwa Chong Institution in Singapore and Daegu Science High School in South Korea.
Research projects from AOS have been published and have placed in competitions like the Siemens Westinghouse Competition and International Science and Engineering Fair.[5]
39°1′33.4″N 77°22′26.4″W / 39.025944°N 77.374000°W
References
[edit]- ^ "Academies of Loudoun / Homepage". www.lcps.org. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
- ^ "AOS Overview / AOS Overview". www.lcps.org. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
- ^ "Fall Admissions (8th Grade Applicants Only) / Fall Admissions Information". www.lcps.org. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Cline, Nathaniel (March 25, 2019). "Loudoun County NAACP calls for investigation into Academies' admissions process". Loudoun Times. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ^ Doppalapudi, Hasan; Badam, Saunak; Tomlinson, Michael (May 12, 2020). "Capturing Harmful Air Pollutants Using an Electrospun Mesh Embedded with Zinc-based Nanocrystals". Journal of Emerging Investigators. 2: 1–5.