The Academy application and selection process is a highly competitive holistic review of coursework, grades, activities, testing, teacher evaluations, and an interview. Therefore all students must go through the same process. Due to the fact this program is a four – year program students must apply in the fall of the 8th – grade year. The average admission rate the past three cycles is less than 25%. Each year more than 200 applicants apply for approximately 80 places in their class of students.

Students are not required to have a certain grade point average or set of classes when they apply. However, if a student is accepted they must have Algebra 1 completed before the first day of school.

Students are not required to have completed/competed in science fair in junior high. However, students who are accepted into AST must compete in science fair in the 9th grade, and having gone through the process of science fair will better prepare the student for their 9th grade year.