Admissions

Criteria

Applicants will be selected for admission to University Laboratory School by an admission committee consisting of the superintendent and principals of ULS, a representative selected by the superintendent,  a representative of the Dean of the College of Human Sciences & Education and a representative from Louisiana State University selected by the university president.

University Laboratory School generally receives more applications than the school’s enrollment
can accommodate. Although a candidate for admission may successfully meet some or all of the criteria
listed below, this does not assure admission. Generally, an applicant is reviewed based on the application,
including any added materials, and personal interactions, if any. To the extent an applicant wishes to
share information that relates to one or more of the factors set forth below, such may be done in space
provided on the application and/or with a one-page addendum. Outside letters of recommendation are not
necessary but may be submitted with a completed application. Principal and teacher recommendations
should be sent directly to the Admissions Office by the student's current school, if any. The admissions
committee and/or the Director may request an interview or additional information from any applicant.


Each candidate for admission is presented to an admissions committee. The admissions
committee will consider each applicant and make a recommendation to the Director. The review of
applications is holistic, with consideration of many criteria, including those listed below. The admissions
committee neither assigns point values nor ranks applicants. The admissions committee and/or the
Director may request an interview or additional information from any applicant.


The deliberations of the admissions committee are confidential. The Director will make final
admission decisions. Any questions about an application may be directed to ulsadmissions@lsu.edu.


I. Non-Exclusive Criteria Which May Be Considered by the Admissions Committee (in no
particular order)
• Siblings currently enrolled
• Parent Alumni
• Grandparent Alumni
• Other Family Alumni (Aunt, Uncle)
• Academic Record

  1. GPA
  2. LEAP 2025
  3. IOWA
  4. ACT/PLAN/ASPIRE

• Extracurricular Activities
• Child of LSU/University Lab School Employee
• Disciplinary history
• Diversity

II. ULS Goals Considered When Making Admission Decisions
• Implementation of exemplary, research-based teaching practices.
• Provision of a safe environment that promotes teaching and learning.
• Provision of a rigorous curriculum rich in the liberal arts and sciences.
• Promotion of a diverse community of learners and teaching professionals.


III. Diversity Considerations by the Admissions Committee
ULS believes that interaction among students from different backgrounds and with different life experiences enriches the overall learning environment. Because students learn from one another as well as from our faculty, diverse racial, socioeconomic, religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds improve understanding of and appreciation for the differences among individuals and social groups. In keeping with that goal, the admissions committee will consider race and ethnicity as well as religious diversity, diversity in life experiences and socioeconomic diversity as a factor when considering applications for admission.


IV. Special Admissions
To further the mission and partnership of the Lab School and Louisiana State University, the admissions committee may be convened to review and consider mid-year candidates at the request of the University. The admissions team and the Director will employ the same criteria and processes detailed in this policy when reviewing any mid-year candidates.

LEAP Tests

Students entering 5th or 9th grade, who are selected for admission from public, private, home study or out-of-state schools, are required to pass either the LEAP 2025 Test or the State Placement Test prior to enrollment. 

Policy of Nondiscrimination 

To assure equal opportunity for all qualified persons in admission to or participation in the programs and activities of the University Lab School, no preference is given to any race, creed, color, religion, gender, national origin, or disability. University Laboratory School prohibits discrimination against any applicant because of race, creed, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, national origin, or disability. Applicants with disabilities must be qualified otherwise for the program they seek to enter, with or without reasonable accommodations, and must be able to perform the essential elements of the program.