Free ACL admissions tool

Academies of Loudoun Admissions Countdown

Every published LCPS date for the 2026-27 Academies of Loudoun admissions cycle, in Eastern time, with a live countdown to the next deadline or test. Add any date to your calendar in one tap.

Next up

Fall application deadline for AOS and AET

Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 12:00 noon ET

This date is today.

Google Calendar See every date

After that: Fall admission test and Writing Assessment, Nov 12.

All 2026-27 Academies of Loudoun Admissions Dates

Times are Eastern. LCPS can change its calendar, so we check the official LCPS admissions page and update this page when a date moves.

Fall cycle: AOS and AET, for 8th graders

  1. Fall application window opens

    All day

    Applications for AOS and AET open for 8th grade students.

    Google Calendar

  2. Information session at Rock Ridge High School

    6:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET

    LCPS information session on the Academies of Loudoun programs only.

    Google Calendar

  3. 8th grade class meetings on admissions

    September 2026

    LCPS holds 8th grade class meetings on admissions in every middle school.

  4. Special Programs fair at Heritage High School

    6:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET

    LCPS fair covering all LCPS Special Programs, including the Academies of Loudoun.

    Google Calendar

  5. Special Programs fair at Park View High School

    10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon ET

    LCPS fair covering all LCPS Special Programs, including the Academies of Loudoun.

    Google Calendar

  6. Information session at Heritage High School

    6:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET

    LCPS information session on the Academies of Loudoun programs only.

    Google Calendar

  7. Fall application deadline for AOS and AET

    12:00 noon ET

    Applications close at 12:00 noon ET. An application counts only when a parent or guardian approves it in ParentVUE by this deadline.

    Google Calendar

  8. Fall admission test and Writing Assessment

    During the school day

    8th grade applicants take the 2026 Academies of Loudoun Admission Test and the Writing Assessment during the school day at every LCPS middle school. Private school and homeschool students test at the Academies of Loudoun.

    Google Calendar

  9. Offers for fall applicants

    February to March 2027

    LCPS sends admission offers to fall-cycle applicants.

  10. Accept or decline an offer

    February to August 2027

    Families accept or decline offers during this period. The waitlist stays open through the first day of school.

Winter cycle: Advanced AET and MATA, for 10th and 11th graders

  1. Winter application window opens

    All day

    Applications open for Advanced AET and MATA.

    Google Calendar

  2. Information session at Potomac Falls High School

    Time on the LCPS admissions page

    LCPS winter information session for Advanced AET and MATA families.

    Google Calendar

  3. Winter application deadline for Advanced AET and MATA

    12:00 noon ET

    Applications close at 12:00 noon ET.

    Google Calendar

  4. Advanced AET test

    All day

    Test day for Advanced AET applicants.

    Google Calendar

One .ics file for Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, or Outlook. Every date is set in Eastern time and comes with a reminder the day before.

Get ACL deadline updates by email

Join the AcademiesPrep email list for Academies of Loudoun admissions updates, including changes to these dates.

Occasional Academies of Loudoun admissions updates from AcademiesPrep. Unsubscribe anytime.

What to Do Before Each Date

  1. By October 15 at 12:00 noon: apply and approve. AOS and AET each have their own application, so submit both if your student wants to be considered for both. Then a parent or guardian approves each application in ParentVUE. An application that is not approved by the deadline does not count.
  2. November 12: test day. 8th graders take the Writing Assessment (30 minutes, scored on a 0 to 10 rubric) and the 2026 Academies of Loudoun Admission Test during the school day at their middle school. Private school and homeschool students test at the Academies of Loudoun. Our free ACL diagnostic shows where your student stands before then.
  3. February to August 2027: offers. Offers go out from February to March. Families accept or decline from February to August, and the waitlist stays open through the first day of school.
  4. December 1 to January 15 at 12:00 noon: winter applications. 10th and 11th graders apply to Advanced AET or MATA. Each has its own application, and a student can enroll in only one Academies of Loudoun program.
  5. January 23: Advanced AET test. Advanced AET applicants test on this Saturday.

Not sure your student can apply? The ACL eligibility checker walks through the published requirements for each program.

How to Read This Calendar

Times are Eastern.
October 15 falls in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4). Daylight saving time ends November 1, 2026, so the January 15 deadline falls in Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5). The countdown and the calendar files handle the change for you.
Information sessions.
The August 27 and October 6 sessions cover the Academies of Loudoun programs only. The September 17 and October 3 events are fairs for all LCPS Special Programs. LCPS also holds 8th grade class meetings on admissions in every middle school during September 2026. This page does not list a time for the December 10 winter session yet, so its calendar event is all day; check the LCPS admissions page for the time.
Date ranges.
LCPS gives months, not exact dates, for offers and for accepting or declining. Those rows have no calendar button.
Dates can change.
If LCPS moves a date, we update this page and the calendar files. The LCPS page is always the official record.

Academies of Loudoun Dates: Common Questions

When is the Academies of Loudoun application deadline for 2026?

The fall application for AOS and AET is due Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 12:00 noon Eastern time. An application counts only when a parent or guardian approves it in ParentVUE by that deadline. The winter application for Advanced AET and MATA is due Friday, January 15, 2027 at 12:00 noon Eastern time.

When is the Academies of Loudoun admission test?

8th grade applicants take the 2026 Academies of Loudoun Admission Test and the Writing Assessment on Thursday, November 12, 2026, during the school day at every LCPS middle school. Private school and homeschool students test at the Academies of Loudoun. The Advanced AET test is Saturday, January 23, 2027.

Does my child need a separate application for AOS and AET?

Yes. AOS and AET each have their own application. A student who wants to be considered for both submits both, and a parent or guardian approves each one in ParentVUE by the deadline.

When do families hear about offers?

LCPS sends offers to fall applicants from February to March 2027. Families accept or decline from February to August 2027, and the waitlist stays open through the first day of school.

When are the ACL information sessions?

The fall sessions are Thursday, August 27 at Rock Ridge High School (6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Academies of Loudoun programs only), Thursday, September 17 at Heritage High School (6:00 to 8:00 p.m., a fair for all LCPS Special Programs), Saturday, October 3 at Park View High School (10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, a fair for all LCPS Special Programs), and Tuesday, October 6 at Heritage High School (6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Academies of Loudoun programs only). LCPS also holds 8th grade class meetings on admissions in every middle school during September 2026. The winter session for Advanced AET and MATA is December 10 at Potomac Falls High School.

Are the deadlines in Eastern time?

Yes. Both noon deadlines are Eastern time. October 15 falls in Eastern Daylight Time and January 15 in Eastern Standard Time. If you are outside the Eastern time zone, the countdown also shows the time where you are, and the calendar files convert automatically.

Sources, last checked September 26, 2026

LCPS can change its dates and requirements, and its pages are the official record. Questions go to the LCPS admissions office at AcademiesAdmissions@lcps.org or 571-252-1992. AcademiesPrep is an independent prep program and is not affiliated with the Academies of Loudoun or Loudoun County Public Schools.

The application is a form. November 12 is the test.

See where your student stands on STEM reasoning and the writing response, with a parent-friendly readiness report.

Take the Free ACL Diagnostic