LCPS states that fall AOS and AET applicants cannot submit anything other than the listed admissions criteria. That one rule settles a surprisingly large number of questions. A recommendation letter, activity resume, portfolio, certificate collection, or extra personal essay would be supplemental material, so it stays outside this application.
This is not an argument against extracurriculars or ambitious projects. It is a distinction between what helps a student grow and what LCPS actually accepts for admissions review. Families lose time when they blur the two.
The cleanest way to think about it
If a document or accomplishment is not one of the published AOS and AET criteria, do not build an admissions strategy around submitting it. Keep meaningful activities for their real educational value, then focus application planning on the academic record and two required assessments.
The official rule is unusually clear
The LCPS admissions FAQ answers whether students can submit additional materials: they cannot submit anything other than the criteria listed on the admissions page. For current fall AOS and AET applicants, those listed criteria are:
- Enrollment in Algebra I or above at the time of application
- Final grades of C or above in math and science in grades 6 and 7 and semester I of grade 8
- The STEM Thinking Skills Assessment
- The Writing Assessment
These are the criteria on the current LCPS Admissions and Outreach page. Our companion guide explains what each AOS and AET admissions criterion includes.
What stays outside the application
LCPS does not publish a separate prohibited-materials catalog. Instead, it gives one broader rule: no materials beyond the listed criteria. The examples below follow directly from that rule.
| Item families often ask about | Place in the fall AOS/AET application | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher recommendation | Not submitted | It is additional material, not a listed criterion |
| Activity resume | Not submitted | Activities are not a separate listed criterion |
| Project portfolio or certificates | Not submitted | They would be supplemental materials |
| Personal statement or extra essay | Not submitted | The only listed writing component is the timed Writing Assessment |
The last row prevents a common misunderstanding. Students do complete writing, but it is not an essay drafted at home and uploaded with the application. LCPS administers a 45-minute Writing Assessment during the test session, using a STEM writing prompt.
Valuable is not the same as counted
A student may learn persistence from robotics, precision from Science Olympiad, teamwork from a coding club, or curiosity from an independent project. Those experiences can be genuinely valuable. LCPS simply does not list them as separate fall admissions criteria or accept an activity profile that asks reviewers to assign them extra credit.
This distinction should feel freeing. Students do not need to join a club in September because someone claimed it “looks good for ACL.” They can continue activities they care about without turning every interest into an admissions transaction.
AcademiesPrep interpretation
Keep an activity when the student values the work, the experience builds a useful habit, or it helps the student understand program fit. Do not keep it solely because the family expects to attach it to the AOS or AET application. That attachment is not part of the current LCPS process.
Where the time should go instead
Once families stop polishing materials LCPS will not accept, the next decisions become much more concrete:
- Check eligibility early. Confirm Algebra I or higher enrollment and review the specified math and science grades.
- Protect schoolwork. Test preparation should not create problems in the academic record that admissions already considers.
- Diagnose STEM reasoning. Find out whether unfamiliar problems break down at reading, setup, logic, execution, or pacing.
- Get specific writing feedback. A student needs to know whether a response lacks a central idea, development, organization, precision, or time management.
The point is not to fill every newly open hour with prep. It is to stop doing work that has no place in the application and use a smaller amount of time with more intention. Our guide to building a prep plan from the actual criteria shows how to do that without overwhelming the school week.
What does not count in AOS and AET admissions: FAQs
Can an AOS or AET applicant submit a recommendation letter?
No. LCPS states that fall applicants cannot submit anything other than the listed AOS and AET admissions criteria. A recommendation letter would be supplemental material outside that list.
Do extracurricular activities count as a separate admissions criterion?
No. LCPS does not list activities as a fall AOS or AET admissions criterion and does not permit extra application materials. Activities can still help a student grow, but they are not submitted as a separate criterion.
Is the LCPS Writing Assessment an extra application essay?
No. The Writing Assessment is one of the published criteria. LCPS gives students 45 minutes during the test session to type a response to a STEM writing prompt.
Should students quit activities that are not admissions criteria?
Not for that reason. Activities can matter for learning, enjoyment, friendships, and program fit. The admissions point is narrower: LCPS does not accept them as supplemental application material.
Useful next guides
- Review the four criteria that do count
- Understand Algebra I and grade requirements
- Learn the STEM assessment format
- Use the ACL Admissions Overview
Source note
The application-material rule in this article comes directly from the current LCPS admissions FAQ, and the criteria list comes from LCPS Admissions and Outreach. AcademiesPrep by EduAvenues is independent and is not endorsed or sponsored by the Academies of Loudoun or Loudoun County Public Schools.
Official sources reviewed:
Fact-checked July 16, 2026. Application rules can change, so review the active LCPS admissions materials before submitting anything.