Yes. Current eighth grade students may apply to AOS, AET, or both during the fall admissions cycle. Each program needs its own application, and each only counts once a parent or guardian approves it in ParentVUE by the deadline. Choosing both does not add a second test. LCPS uses the same admissions criteria and assessments for the two programs.
Beyond the two applications, the mechanics are straightforward. The harder question is whether both programs genuinely fit the student. AOS and AET share a campus and an admissions process, but they are designed around different kinds of work.
One assessment plan, two fit decisions
A student applying to both programs submits two applications but takes the Writing Assessment and the admission test only once. Applying to both can preserve options, but it should not replace learning what students actually do in AOS and AET.
How testing works when a student selects both
The LCPS admissions FAQ has long said students applying to AOS, AET, or both take the same assessments. For 2026, both are given on November 12, 2026, during the school day at every LCPS middle school:
- The 2026 Academies of Loudoun Admission Test (LCPS has not published its length; in past cycles it was a 50-minute, 33-question STEM Thinking Skills Test)
- A 30-minute Writing Assessment (earlier cycles listed 45 minutes)
The published fall criteria are also identical for AOS and AET. Both require Algebra I or higher enrollment at the time of application, a C or higher in the specified math and science courses (an eligibility gate, not a scored factor), and the two assessments.
In practical terms, a student does not need an “AOS test plan” and a separate “AET test plan.” The same reasoning, pacing, and writing work supports either selection. Our guide to what counts in AOS and AET admissions explains all four criteria.
Where AOS and AET stop being interchangeable
The shared application can tempt families to treat AOS and AET as two nearly identical chances at the same experience. The official program pages show a more meaningful distinction.
| Program | Official emphasis | Questions worth asking the student |
|---|---|---|
| AOS | Advanced mathematics, science, research, experimentation, and scientific communication | Do you enjoy investigating why something happened, working with evidence, and staying with a research question? |
| AET | Engineering, information technology, entrepreneurship, research, design, and innovation | Do you enjoy designing, building, coding, troubleshooting, or improving a solution? |
The official emphasis column summarizes the LCPS AOS program page and LCPS AET program page. The questions are AcademiesPrep guidance, not admissions criteria.
A student does not need a perfectly settled career plan in eighth grade. Still, “I like STEM” is too broad to decide whether both programs fit. Ask what type of hard work the student is willing to do repeatedly. Research can involve ambiguity, failed experiments, and careful scientific writing. Engineering and technology can involve iteration, debugging, design constraints, and team projects. The appealing subject label matters less than the daily work.
Should your student apply to both?
AcademiesPrep interpretation
LCPS permits students to select both programs. It does not tell families which selection strategy to use. The questions below are decision guidance, not official admissions advice.
Selecting both is reasonable when the student can describe a genuine attraction to each program's work. It may also make sense when the student's interests cross the boundary between scientific research and applied design. For example, a student might enjoy both investigating environmental data and designing a sensor that collects it.
Selecting both is less useful when one choice exists only because the family assumes “more applications must be better.” A program that the student would not attend is not a meaningful option. The AOS versus AET guide can help families test the fit more seriously.
There is one final boundary to remember: LCPS says a student may participate in only one ACL curricular program at a time. Applying to both is permitted. Attending both is not.
A simple family exercise
Give the student two blank pages. On the first, finish the sentence “I would choose AOS because I want to spend time...” On the second, use the same sentence for AET. Ask for examples of actual work, not prestige, college admissions, or how selective the program seems.
If both pages contain specific, honest answers, a dual application may reflect real breadth. If one page remains vague, the family has learned something useful before making the selection.
Applying to both AOS and AET: FAQs
Can an eighth grader apply to both AOS and AET?
Yes. Current eighth grade students can apply to AOS, AET, or both during the fall admissions cycle. Each program needs its own application, and each only counts once a parent or guardian approves it in ParentVUE by the deadline.
Do students applying to both AOS and AET take two tests?
No. AOS and AET use the same assessments: the Writing Assessment and the 2026 Academies of Loudoun Admission Test, both on November 12, 2026. A student applying to both takes them once.
Can a student attend both AOS and AET?
No. LCPS states that students may participate in only one Academies of Loudoun curricular program at a time.
Do AOS and AET use different admissions criteria?
No. LCPS currently publishes the same fall admissions criteria for AOS and AET. The programs themselves have different academic emphases even though the admissions criteria are shared.
Continue with the right guide
- Compare AOS and AET in greater depth
- Review the shared admissions criteria
- Build one focused assessment prep plan
- Read the ACL Admissions Overview
Source note
Testing and application statements in this guide come from LCPS admissions materials. Program descriptions come from the current AOS and AET pages, while the family decision questions are our interpretation. AcademiesPrep by EduAvenues is independent and is not endorsed or sponsored by the Academies of Loudoun or Loudoun County Public Schools.
Official sources reviewed:
- LCPS Academies of Loudoun Admissions and Outreach
- Academies of Loudoun admissions FAQ
- Academy of Science program page
- Academy of Engineering and Technology program page
Fact-checked September 26, 2026. Confirm the available program selections and current testing instructions on the active LCPS admissions page.