Schools for Advanced Studies (SAS)

Schools for Advanced Studies

Overview

Los Angeles Unified School District Schools for Advanced Studies (SAS) demonstration sites receive the SAS designation for their exemplary Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) implementation. The Schools for Advanced Studies designation, initially implemented in the 1998-1999 school year, was created to acknowledge exemplary school models of innovative, equitable and effective GATE practices districtwide. By providing high-quality differentiated instruction with an emphasis on depth, complexity, acceleration and novelty, SAS sites offer high-level academic opportunities that meet the unique educational needs of K-12 gifted learners, identified in the Intellectual Ability, High Achievement Ability, Specific Academic Ability, Creative Ability and Leadership Ability categories or verified based on critical thinking/achievement.

The SAS model, which is in alignment with the California Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program Resource Guide and the State Board of Education Recommended Standards for Programs for Gifted and Talented Students, explicitly supports the District's goal to ensure equitable GATE participation for underrepresented students. It is District policy that resident schools must undergo a rigorous application process every five years to obtain or maintain the SAS designation. Independent charter schools and magnet programs are not eligible for the SAS designation.

Transportation services may be provided for SAS students. Please click here to request Transportation.

Please contact the GATE/SAS coordinator at the SAS site directly to inquire about the services offered at the school for gifted/high-ability learners. Each SAS site must adhere to State and District GATE/SAS requirements; however, schools have flexibility in the clustering model, thematic emphasis, differentiated instructional strategies and enrichment opportunities provided to students. Detailed school information can be found on the District's School Search Tool at https://GoTo.LAUSD.net (click Explore).

SAS Designated Sites

For Eligibility and Enrollment Criteria, visit the Choices Website and click on "Who is Eligible?"

Current List of SAS Sites (2025-2026)

LAUSD Residential Schools with SAS Designation

Students residing within the boundaries of a designated SAS school who meet the eligibility criteria must be placed in the site’s SAS gifted/talented program (unless a parent/guardian has opted out). All qualified students who reside within the school’s boundaries must be accommodated before any SAS applicants are enrolled. No formal application is required for a qualified student who resides within the school’s boundaries since SAS is the school site’s GATE instructional program for its students. Student eligibility will be verified at the SAS site through District records and articulation with the sending school. If you have questions, contact the school directly.

LAUSD Affiliated Charter Schools with SAS Designation

Student selection, enrollment and placement in the SAS gifted/talented program at Affiliated Charter Schools must be conducted in accordance with the State and District legal requirements established for charter schools. If a student is selected for an SAS site through the Affiliated Charter process and meets one of the SAS eligibility criteria, this student must be accommodated in the site’s SAS gifted/talented program. For Affiliated Charter SAS enrollment procedures, please refer to the Affiliated Charter Schools section of the Choices website or the Choices brochure.

LAUSD Zone of Choice Sites with SAS Designation

If a parent/guardian would like their child to attend a Schools for Advanced Studies (SAS) site within their Zone of Choice (ZOC), the 5th, 6th or 8th grade student must select that site during the ZOC selection process. If a student is assigned to a designated SAS site through this ZOC process and meets one of the SAS eligibility criteria, this student must be accommodated in the site’s SAS gifted/talented program.

For information about Zones of Choice, contact the ZOC office at (213) 241-0466 or at https://www.lausd.org/zoc.

SAS Application Resources

SAS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

2025-2026 Choices Brochure and Fairs

Choices Late Application for the 2025-2026 School Year (Available beginning February 3, 2025)

To apply to an SAS site for the 2025-2026 school year after the on-time deadline, the parent/guardian may complete a late application online at GoTo.LAUSD.net or use the paper application in the Choices brochure. The late paper application may also be downloaded from the GoTo.LAUSD.net website. A late application may be submitted any time from February 3, 2025, through the fourth week of the 2025-2026 school year.

The Verification of Eligibility for students applying to a Gifted Magnet or SAS site during the late application period will be processed at the school site. School site personnel will contact the applicant if/when a space becomes available and verification is needed. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian of private school, independent charter and non-LAUSD students to ensure that the completed Verification of Eligibility form is submitted to the SAS site directly, if/when selected.

Verification criteria and forms are available on the Choices website. (DO NOT send verification forms for late applications to Choices.) Affiliated Charter SAS sites do NOT participate in the verification process; contact the Affiliated Charter SAS site directly for more information on its GATE/SAS services and support.

Late Application FAQ (English)

Late Application FAQ (Spanish)

Choices Timeline for 2025-2026 Enrollment

On-time Choices applications may be submitted: October 1, 2024 - November 15, 2024 (no late applications accepted for the on-time process)

On-time SAS Verification of Eligibility forms, if applicable, may be submitted: October 1, 2024 - December 6, 2024 (no late forms accepted for the on-time process)

Email receipts for online applicants will be sent to parents/guardians: October 1, 2024 - November 15, 2024 (when the online application is submitted)

Confirmation/Correction Letters for on-time applications will be sent to parents/guardians: Mid-December 2024

Late Choices applications may be submitted: Beginning February 1, 2025

Program Eligibility Letters will be sent to parents/guardians: February 2025

Selection/Waiting List Letters will be sent to parents/guardians: March 2025

Deadline for selected students to accept or decline placement: April 2025

Specific dates will be posted, when available, at https://choices.lausd.net

SAS Verification of Eligibility Process

SAS Applicants Currently Attending an LAUSD School

In January 2025, the District will conduct an online verification of eligibility process for current on-time District applicants to SAS, including students enrolled in the Virtual Academy and City of Angels Independent Study School. A Verification of Eligibility form is not required for students currently enrolled in a District site. Principals will receive an online list of SAS applicants who do not meet gifted identification or test score criteria (if applicable). Principals will work with the GATE coordinator and teachers to verify these applicants based on the four critical thinking and problem-solving skills criteria. Parents/guardians are encouraged to speak to school staff regarding eligibility criteria before submitting an application. Late online verification for the on-time application period will not be accepted; the recommendation submitted by the administrator is final. For the late application period, verification for District applicants will occur if/when a late/waitlist seat is offered. This verification process is conducted between the SAS site and the current District school of attendance.

SAS Applicants NOT Currently Attending an LAUSD School

A Verification of Eligibility form is required for students currently enrolled in a private school, independent charter or non-District school, including incoming kindergarten students enrolled in a non-District preschool or Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK). Two versions of the form are available based on grade level, SAS Kindergarten and Grades 1-12. Forms are available for download at https://choices.lausd.net or printed from the Choices "Print Confirmation" application receipt. For the on-time process, the parent/guardian must complete the Choices application by November 15, 2024 and submit the Verification of Eligibility form by December 6, 2024. Please refer to https://choices.lausd.net or the Choices brochure for detailed directions about submitting the form, if applicable. Late forms will not be accepted for the on-time application period; the recommendation submitted by the administrator is final. For the late application period, verification for non-District applicants will occur if/when a late/waitlist seat is offered. This verification process will require that the non-District school submit the Verification of Eligibility form directly to the SAS site. (DO NOT send the Verification of Eligibility form for late applicants to Unified Enrollment.)

Verification of Eligibility Forms

Verification of Eligibility (Grades 1-12) form - English LATE APPLICANT

Verification of Eligibility (Grades 1-12) form - Spanish LATE APPLICANT

Verification of Eligibility (SAS Kindergarten) form - English LATE APPLICANT

Verification of Eligibility (SAS Kindergarten) form - Spanish LATE APPLICANT

Eligibility Exemplars for Kindergarten SAS Applicants - English

Eligibility Exemplars for Kindergarten SAS Applicants - Spanish

Kindergarten SAS Applicants NOT Currently Attending Preschool or Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK)

A process has been developed to assist District staff in verifying the eligibility of incoming kindergarten applicants to SAS who are not currently enrolled in preschool or UTK. Parents/guardians must review the Parent/Guardian Guide and Eligibility Exemplars. The parent/guardian must complete the Choices application by November 15, 2024 and submit verification evidence by December 6, 2024. Late evidence will not be accepted; the recommendation determination by District personnel is final.

Informational Guides for SAS Kindergarten Applicants NOT Enrolled in Preschool/UTK

LATE Parent/Guardian Guide - English

Eligibility Exemplars for Kindergarten SAS Applicants - English

LATE Parent/Guardian Guide - Spanish

Eligibility Exemplars for Kindergarten SAS Applicants - Spanish

Homeschooled SAS Applicants

A process has been developed to assist District staff in verifying the eligibility of homeschooled applicants to SAS who do not have a verifying organization. (Homeschooled applicants with a verifying organization, e.g., independent charter school, must follow procedures for SAS applicants not currently attending an LAUSD school.) For more information about the verification process for homeschooled applicants, please email [email protected].

Informational Guides for SAS Homeschool Applicants

LATE Parent/Guardian Guide - English

LATE Parent/Guardian Guide - Spanish