Frequently Asked Questions about the application process:

• What is the process to apply for an SMCPS academy?

  • Students interested in applying for GIS and STEM will complete the online application during the April 1 - 30 application window.  

• How do I apply? Where do I find an application?

  • Applications can be found on the academies page of the SMCPS website.

• What if I am not currently enrolled in SMCPS?

  • You do not need to be enrolled in SMCPS to apply for an academy program.  Non-SMCPS students should complete the online application and submit teacher input.  Applicants not enrolled in SMCPS for the entire 25-26 school year will be required to complete the assessments utilized on each academy score matrix. After the application period closes, non-SMCPS applicants will be emailed information regarding assessment dates and locations. Please note that additional data may also be requested and you may be asked to submit additional information in the form of official transcripts, nationally-normed assessments, and samples of student work.  

• What about teacher recommendations?

  • Most applicants will need one teacher to complete a "Teacher Input Form".  This is not a recommendation; it is a glimpse into the applicant as a student. Teacher input is different from a recommendation in that teachers are simply commenting on a student's skills in their current courses and not making a prediction regarding a student's future skills or abilities. Current STEM 8 students will not need a teacher to complete the input form in order to apply for STEM 9. However, STEM 8 students wishing to apply for AVPA will need to request that the appropriate teacher complete the input form. 

  • Formal teacher recommendations are not required and should not be submitted.

• Is there a length requirement for the personal essay?

  • The goal of the personal essay is to both provide the application review committee with more information about you and also provide a glimpse of your writing ability. The essay should only be a few paragraphs in length, and it should focus on your reasons for wanting to be a part of the student's chosen academy program.  

• Will the AVPA application contain assessments?

  • No, traditional classroom-based assessments are not part of the AVPA application. 

  • Students who apply for AVPA will participate in a workshop, an audition/portfolio review, and an interview. Information regarding these activities will be emailed to applicants once their application has been submitted. Please email Dr. Gill at cmgill@smcps.org if you are an AVPA applicant and did not receive information regarding the above. 

• Will the STEM Academy application contain assessments?

  • STEM utilizes assessments as a part of the matrices that determine student eligibility for each grade-level program. The majority of the assessments needed to populate the academy's matrix have already been given to students as a part of their regular school experience. 

    • This year, only STEM 7 and STEM 8 will require an additional assessment beyond what has already been given. Applicants for these grades will be contacted about taking these assessments at their home schools, during the school day.

    • It is possible that students enrolled in the CPCS will need to sit for additional assessments.

  • Students new to SMCPS during the 25 -26 school year and students not currently enrolled will need to sit for assessments. 

  • All applicants requiring assessments will receive an email informing them.

• Who needs to take an assessment? 

  • All applicants not currently enrolled in an SMCPS school will need to sit for assessments. 

    • • Non-SMCPS applicants will complete these assessments at SMCPS central administrative offices in Leonardtown. 

      • Applicants will receive information regarding their assessment date and time once they submit their application. These assessments will be given by appointment after the application has been submitted.

  • Applicants who enrolled in an SMCPS school after the start of the 25-26 school year may need to sit for assessments. 

    • • It may be possible to administer these assessments at the applicant's home school during the school day; however, these applicants may need to complete some assessments at the SMCPS central administrative offices.

      • These applicants will receive further information once their applications have been submitted.

  • All students applying for STEM 7 and STEM 8 will need to sit for a science assessment. 

    • • • SMCPS students will complete the assessment at their home schools. 

• What about the lottery?

  • STEM utilizes a scoring matrix to rate the potential for success in each grade of the academy program.

  • All applicants who meet or exceed the threshold scores for each assessment on their grade-level matrix will be entered into a lottery for available seats in that program.

• How many seats are there in STEM?

  • Each grade of STEM (6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th) has 48 total student seats.

  • During the application period each year, SMCPS is looking to fill the following: 

    • STEM 6 - 48 open seats.

    • STEM 7 and STEM 8  - seats opened throughout the school year.

    • STEM 9 - seats left open by students exiting STEM for other high school programs.

• Do students need to reapply each year to stay in the program?

  • Middle school students in STEM will not need to reapply to remain in middle school STEM; however, these students will need to apply for high school STEM or another high school academy.

• How will I know if I am accepted?

  • All applicants will be sent notification of their application status on or before COB on May 22, 2026. 

  • Students not offered a spot in an academy may be held in the lottery pool for the August lottery. 

    • It is possible that additional spots will open throughout the summer; these open spots will be filled during the August lottery. 

• What happens if I am accepted?

  • If you are accepted into STEM, you will be given until June 1, 2026, to confirm your spot. 

    • Failure to confirm your place by this date will forfeit your placement in that academy program. 

  • Once you have confirmed your placement in an academy program,  SMCPS staff will facilitate a records transfer from your home school to your academy school, if necessary.