High School Countywide Option Schools and Programs

Arlington Public Schools provides families the opportunity to attend an option school/program as an alternative to attending their neighborhood school. In order to be considered for an option school, families must submit an application online between Nov. 7, 2022 and Jan. 13, 2023 by 4 p.m. Learn about the application process. If more applications are received than there are seats available, APS will conduct a random, double-blind lottery to determine admission.  The Options and Transfers policy is outlined in School Board Policy J-5.3.31.

Advanced Placement (AP) Network at Wakefield

The 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. Learn more.

• Population it serves — Students countywide interested in the AP Network.
• Transportation — Provided to students living more than 1.5 miles away from the school.

Arlington Tech at the Arlington Career Center

Arlington Tech at the Arlington Career Center is a rigorous, project-based learning, high school program that prepares students to succeed in college and in the workplace through collaborative problem solving.

Arlington Tech provides the opportunity for students to explore and become certified in a variety of Career and Technical Education programs and to get a jump start on college by earning Early College Credits through dual-enrollment with Northern Virginia Community College.

Arlington Tech students will complete a year-long senior capstone project in which they would be employed as an intern, a consultant, or act as an independent researcher. Learning at Arlington Tech is active, authentic, and motivated by the students’ interest. Learn more.

• Video: Learning About Arlington Tech
• Population it serves — Arlington Tech is a countywide program open to students in high school via application to the 9th grade entry level.
• Transportation — Provided to students living more than 1.5 miles away from the school.

H-B Woodlawn

The central focus is student choice. Students make choices in three general areas: use of time and personal behavior, educational goals and school governance.

• School Profile
• Population it serves — H-B Woodlawn is a countywide program open to all students in middle and high school via application to the 6th or 9th grade entry levels.
• Transportation — School bus transportation is provided for H-B Woodlawn students living more than 1.5 miles away from the school, through hub stops placed in central locations where students from several neighborhoods meet to catch the bus. There are 37 H-B Woodlawn hub stops located throughout the County. A map and list of stop locations is available to view at the school’s main office. In addition, H-B Woodlawn is located in a transit-friendly area and many students are using public transit to get to and from school. There is no FORMAL parent drop-off area for the H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program at the Heights Building.

Slot Allotment: For the 2023-24 school year, there are 26 slots available for students interested in applying to H-B Woodlawn’s 9th grade class.  These slots are in addition to the current 8th graders already at H-B Woodlawn who will move on to 9th grade next fall

Pursuant to APS options and transfers procedures, each year, APS middle schools are assigned a portion of the 26 slots based on the size of their 8th-grade cohorts and the number of students who were not previously enrolled in APS who applied to the program.

• Interested APS 8th graders must select the middle school their child currently attends when applying.
• Interested students not currently enrolled in APS must apply under the “outside of APS” allotment.

H-B Woodlawn 2023-24 school lottery results (as of 4/14/2023)

 Dual Language (English and Spanish) Immersion Program at Wakefield

The Wakefield Immersion Program provides an academic continuation of the middle school English-Spanish Immersion Program provided at Gunston Middle School.  Learn more.

• Population it serves — 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.
• Transportation — Provided to students living more than 1.5 miles away from the school.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at 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 the 2023-24 school year is based on the previous year’s Grade 9 admissions and Grade 12 completions. Learn more.

• Population it serves — Students countywide interested in the International Baccalaureate program.
• Transportation — Provided to students living more than 1.5 miles away from the school.

Thomas Jefferson School for Science and Technology

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 more.

• Population it serves — Any Arlington County student enrolled in grade 8 may apply, and if selected, attend TJHSST tuition-free. Ninth grade students may apply for replacement positions following the application progress established by TJHSST.
• Transportation — Provided to and from TJHSST during regular school hours for Arlington students.
• Admission process — TJHSST has a separate admissions process.

For additional information or questions, please contact the APS Welcome Center at 703-228-8000 (option 3) or schooloptions@apsva.us.