High School Information and Academic Planning

Option schools and programs offer specialized educational instruction. Interested families must submit an online application during a specific time period. Spaces are limited.

Learn about the application and lottery process.

Five programs are offered for high school students (grades 9-12)

H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program focuses on student choice. Students make choices in three general areas: use of time and personal behavior, educational goals and school governance.

Slot allotment for prospective students: View the slot allotment data for each middle school and lottery results.

Arlington Tech @ the Arlington Career Center

The Arlington Tech program is a CTE Governors STEM Academy. Through a partnership with NOVA, students earn college credits, degrees, or certificates in dual enrolled classes.  Students participate in:

• • A rigorous early college program
  • Project-based learning with a focus on collaboration and project management
  • Course pathways focused on STEM and CTE classes
  • A year-long capstone during senior year
  • More information in this flier (English and español).

IB @ Washington-Liberty

The IB diploma curriculum at Washington-Liberty offers a rigorous and comprehensive education based on a global perspective. The number of IB transfer slots for each school year is based on the previous year’s grade 9 admissions and grade 12 completions.

The Wakefield AP Network was created to provide student support through a variety of academic and counseling initiatives. Wakefield offers 30 of the 38 AP courses authorized by the College Board.

The Wakefield Dual Language (English and Spanish) Immersion Program provides an academic continuation of the middle school English-Spanish Immersion Program provided at Gunston Middle School.

• 8th Grade students who wish to continue in high school will complete an Intent-to-Return form in the spring.
• Interested students who are new to APS and have academic language skills in Spanish and English, will need to take a proficiency exam.

Thomas Jefferson School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) is a Fairfax County public school designated by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) as a Governor’s regional school offering a comprehensive college preparatory program emphasizing the sciences, mathematics, and technology. Learn about their admissions process and timeline.

View slides from TJHSST presentation at DHMS on 10/14/25

Middle and High Schools

APS Lottery Dates for option schools:

TJHSST Application

TJHSST Slides from 10/14 Information session

Calendar for the Freshman Application

• Oct 20      Application open at 4:00 PM
• Nov 12     Application must be started by 4:00 PM
• Nov  14    Application must be submitted by 4:00 PM
• Dec 10     Notifications sent to ineligible students
• Jan 24     Essay and Student Portrait Sheet Administration
• Feb 4       Accommodations & Make-Up
• Mar 3       Review Process Begins
• Apr 30      Final Decision Release (No Later Than)

APS allows limited transfers between neighborhood schools, based on capacity and financial constraints.

More information TBD.

Each high school offers an in-person information session between November and December. Families are encouraged to attend to learn about their assigned neighborhood school or option school of interest, meet school staff, and ask questions. Links below are to the presentations shared at each event.

• Wakefield High School (Focus on immersion and the AP Network)
• Washington-Liberty High School (Intro to academics, life at W-L and focus on IB Diploma Programme)
• Yorktown High School (AP Capstone)
• H-B Woodlawn
• Arlington Tech: Virtual Information Night –  Wed, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. (Spanish and English); in-person Family Tours – Wed, Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (Spanish and English).

No dates announced yet.

The Program of Studies is written for students and parents to outline general and specific information regarding curricular offerings and services in Arlington Public Schools.

TBD