FAQ

Arlington Tech is a STEM high school program in Arlington Public Schools.  The mission is to combine STEM and CTE opportunities to offer pathways that merge rigorous academic classes with the practical application of content. Students apply to attend Arlington Tech as their full-time high school program.

Arlington Tech is a CTE Governor’s STEM Academy. Our focus is on opportunities connected to STEM (science, math, engineering, and math) and CTE (career and technical education). The expectation is for every student to graduate with at least 9 transferable college credits through DE and industry credentials. As a STEM school, students will take science and math for all four years of high school.  Arlington Tech is possible through our partnership with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA).

Arlington Tech has a dedicated focus on project-based learning.  This means students spend a significant amount of time collaborating with peers on open-ended and long-term projects.  Projects allow students to be self-driven in their choice of projects, management of projects, and completing roles within their group.  Students communicate with experts in the field, often presenting to authentic audiences, which may be people within or outside of APS.

The regular school day is 8am – 3pm. There are late buses at 4:15 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Students can come to school as early as 7:00 am.

Students throughout the county are bused to our building (Arlington Career Center) to attend Arlington Tech. The APS transportation department posts hub stops and pick up times a week before school starts.

Students stay with their grade-level cohort for academic classes. This allows us to create interdisciplinary projects and supports as students move towards DE and Capstone opportunities. In general, students will not be able to opt out of grade-level academic classes or retake a class in Arlington Tech for course recovery.

Dual Enrollment means that students are enrolled in college (NOVA) while enrolled in high school (APS). Students in DE create an account on https://nvcc.dualenroll.com and can check their status there. We have a NOVA counselor onsite who can help with all things NOVA: Deirdre Magro (dmagro@nvcc.edu). More information can be found on the NOVA website.

Students in Arlington Tech take DE classes. We do not have AP, and although there is overlap, DE classes do not following an AP syllabus. If students are interested in taking an AP test, they may coordinate with their home school. We encourage students to ask individual teachers about the alignment of their syllabus with Advanced Placement.

DE classes follow NOVA guidelines. Therefore, to receive special education accommodations in a DE class, students must complete a Memorandum of Accommodation (MOA). We encourage students to apply for an MOA early if they are registering for a DE class to give NOVA time to approve accommodations appropriate for any DE class. Learn more about this process.

We do not anticipate significant interference in our students’ experiences because no construction will happen within our current building. The parking lot has gone from four to three entrances. The best place to enter is on Highland, closest to the Montessori School. We will lose some outside space, so PE classes and Ultimate Frisbee are finding alternative locations. Noise levels are something we cannot anticipate.

Currently, Arlington Tech students play sports, participate in theater productions and join marching band in their home schools. Students can participate in activities that occur outside of the school day but are not able to travel back to their home school during the school day for activities or classes. Students can take a bus from ACC to their home school at the end of the school day (3pm).

Students can access more than 30+ activities and clubs at the Arlington Career Center. Clubs are sponsored by a teacher or staff member and students are able to start new activities or clubs.