Academies of Loudoun

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Academies of Loudoun
Academies of Loudoun from bus loop.jpg
Location
Academies of Loudoun
42075 Loudoun Academy Dr

Leesburg
,
Virginia
20175
Coordinates 39°02′33″N77°33′01″W / 39.042637°N 77.550348°W / 39.042637; -77.550348
Information
Type Magnet school
MottoExplore, Research, Collaborate, Innovate
Founded2018
School district Loudoun County Public Schools
Grades9–12
Enrollment2,156 [1]  (2022-23)
Color(s)Blue, Green, and Teal
Mascot Raptor
Website www.lcps.org/o/acl

The Academies of Loudoun (ACL) is a magnet school in Leesburg, Virginia. It is part of Loudoun County Public Schools, and houses three schools with a focus on STEM education: The Academy of Engineering and Technology (AET), The Academy of Science (AOS), and the Monroe Advanced Technical Academy (MATA). [2] [3] Students enrolled in the Academies of Loudoun attend the Academies every other school day, spending the remaining days at their non-magnet high school, determined by attendance zones. The Academies is located on a 119-acre wooded campus, and cost $125 million. [4] [3]

Contents

Programs

The Academies of Loudoun offer 3 programs to Loudoun County students: the Academy of Science, the Academy of Engineering and Technology, and the Monroe Advanced Technical Academy. The Academy of Science was the first to be founded in 2005.

Academy of Engineering and Technology (AET)

AET houses four subprograms, Engineering, IT, Entrepreneurship, and Advanced AET. Engineering and IT are intensive four year programs that require students to complete high level science and math coursework, and complete multiple research projects, culminating with an independent research project senior year. Entrepreneurship is a two year program, covering concepts related to marketing and running a business. Entrepreneurship students may matriculate into Advanced AET, which is a two year program (starting junior year), which is an abridged version of the Engineering or IT curriculum. [5] The acceptance rate of AET was approximately 9% as 2020. [6]

Academy of Science (AOS)

Much like AET students, student at AOS take a rigorous course-load of STEM classes. Students in AOS begin completing high-level research in sophomore year, and develop independent research projects in junior and senior year. [7] The acceptance rate for AOS was approximately 7% as of 2020. [6]

Monroe Advanced Technical Academy (MATA)

The Monroe Advanced Technical Academy gives students the opportunity to complete an education with hands-on elements by offering the following 1 year pathways: [8]

and the following two year pathways: [8]

History

The Academies of Loudoun opened in the 2018–2019 school year. This brought the three pre-existing schools under the same roof. The Academy of Science was relocated from Dominion High School, the Academy of Engineering and Technology was relocated from Tuscarora High School (Virginia), [9] and the Monroe Advanced Technical Academy was rebranded from the C. S. Monroe Technology Center, known as Monroe Tech, and relocated from its building in Leesburg.

2019 admissions controversy

In 2019, the Loudoun NAACP filed a complaint that alleged African American students were denied opportunity to attend the Academies of Loudoun, based on their racial background. The Attorney General's office subsequently launched an investigation, and Virginia officials found that the Academies of Loudoun's admissions policies prevented qualified black and Hispanic students from being accepted. The Academies of Loudoun has since reviewed and modified their admission policies. [10]

2024 fire

On Tuesday, September 17, 2024, a structure fire started in the welding workshop at the Academies of Loudoun. Fire-rescue crews were called at approximately 1 pm when a pull-station was activated, with the school resource officer reporting heavy smoke in the boiler room less than a minute later. All students and faculty were evacuated safely. Arriving units determined that the fire was located towards the rear of the building, inside of the welding classroom's fume extraction system. Crews worked for about an hour to fully extinguish the fire. One firefighter and an adult civilian sustained minor injuries and were transported to area hospitals for treatment, with no further injuries reported. The fire alarm and sprinkler system were reported to have functioned as designed. The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal's office determined that the fire had started due to debris or a spark accidentally entering the extraction system from students welding earlier that day. The fire caused an estimated $1 million in damages. [11] [12] [13] The building was temporarily closed to students and staff the next day due to a strong odor remaining after the fire. The building was reopened to students the next week, six days after the fire on Monday, September 23. [14]

Activities

Science Fair

In 2025, Academies sent 5 students to the International Science and Engineering Fair. [15]

Robotics team

ACL RoboLoCo, the Academies' robotics team, participates in the FIRST Robotics Competition annually. In 2022, and 2023, they qualified for the FIRST Championship, colloquially known as "Worlds". [16]

References

  1. ↑ "2022-2023 School Profile - ACL" (PDF). Loudoun County Public Schools. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  2. ↑ Nadler, Danielle (March 6, 2017). "Academies of Loudoun Takes Shape". LoudounNow.com. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Academies of Loudoun Opens in Leesburg". Loudoun County Economic Development, VA. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  4. ↑ Truong, Debbie (September 17, 2018). "Loudoun now has an elite science and technology academy of its own". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Client Challenge". www.lcps.org. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  6. 1 2 https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/loudoun/Board.nsf/files/BSCJSG4E8AE0/$file/Academies%20Admissions%20Changes%20Presentation%20081120.pdf
  7. ↑ "Client Challenge". www.lcps.org. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Client Challenge". www.lcps.org. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  9. ↑ Balingit, Moriah (April 11, 2023). "Academies of Loudoun will take collaborative approach to STEM education". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  10. ↑ Natanson, Hannah (November 20, 2020). "Virginia AG's office finds elite Loudoun STEM school discriminates against Black, Hispanic students". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Structure Fire at Academies of Loudoun in Leesburg Determined to be Accidental". Loudoun County, VA. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  12. ↑ Gustin, Alexis (September 18, 2024). "Damage from Academies Fire Estimated at $1M". LoudounNow. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  13. ↑ Staff, 7News (September 17, 2024). "Accidental fire at Loudoun Co. school stemmed from welding class, causes $1M in damages". WSET. Retrieved January 1, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ Gustin, Alexis (September 27, 2024). "Repairs Underway After Fire at Academies of Loudoun Classroom". LoudounNow.com. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Students Showcase Science Skills at 43rd Annual LCPS Regional Science and Engineering Fair". April 27, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Academies of Loudoun robotics team qualifies for world championship". INSIDENOVA.COM. April 27, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
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