Lottery Added In LCPS Career And Technical Academy Admissions

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — The Loudoun County School Board took action Tuesday to improve student access to the school division's career and technical academy.

The school board unanimously approved changes to admissions at Monroe Advanced Technical Academy, a Virginia Governor's STEM Academy also known as MATA. The academy provides career and technical education as part of the Academies of Loudoun, with options ranging from auto repairs and construction to culinary arts, nursing aide, and pharmacy technology.

A staff report on admissions options at MATA was originally an informational item for the school board. However, Little River District representative Sumera Rashid made a motion to consider the admissions changes that night, making the changes for the upcoming winter admissions cycle.

The approved changes remove the PSAT test as an admissions requirement but keeps enrollment in Algebra I or higher and a counselor recommendation with verification that a student is on track for on-time graduation. The admissions process will add a lottery system for applications to in-demand career programs, which is a change from using a selection committee.

"All qualified applicants will be offered MATA enrollment, placing them in an automated lottery if applications exceed enrollment capacity," Rashid said in a social media post after the vote. "This does not guarantee admission for all students who could benefit most from CTE programs, but it is a step toward more equal access and representation for all LCPS students."

Rashid pointed to accessibility issues for students who could benefit most from career and technical education. In addition, data presented to the school board showed applications from students with disabilities declined from 16.8 percent in 2019 to 10.7 percent in 2024, while offers fell from 17.2 percent to 9 percent.

"Because data from MATA applications and admissions showed a significant 6.1% application decrease and an 8.2% offer decrease over the last 6 years for students with disabilities, we could actually see the opportunity window for these students close since the move from a standalone vocational academy to a CTE academy within the relatively new Academies of Loudoun," Rashid shared. "This is unacceptable, and it is not what LCPS is or should be about."

School board members also got clarification on the on-time graduation benchmark, as students with disabilities and English learners may stay enrolled at LCPS until age 22.

The changes will go into effect ahead of the winter admissions cycle. MATA's admissions process is set to open on Nov. 25 for current ninth, 10th and 11th graders for the next school year.