The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) is a public residential school in Natchitoches, Louisiana, for students in Grades 10 through 12. Families applying now are applying for fall 2027. The school publishes one firm date for this cycle: the priority deadline is March 1, 2027. It does not publish a decision date or an application opening date, so this post separates what is confirmed from what you will need to check.
The short version
- Applications for Fall 2027 are open on the school's admissions site.
- The priority deadline is March 1, 2027.
- Applicants who submit by that date can take part in summer new student programs and events.
- After March 1, applications are still considered, but summer opportunities may be limited.
- The interview does not start before mid-January, and it comes after the rest of your checklist is complete.
- No decision or notification date is published.
What the March 1 deadline really means
LSMSA calls March 1 a priority deadline, not a final cutoff. That wording matters. The school says applications received afterward are still considered. What a late applicant gives up is some access to summer programs, which the school says may be limited.
For a student who wants the summer programs, March 1 is the date to work backward from. For a family that is still deciding, it is a reasonable target, because a complete file by that date keeps every option open.
The deadline applies to the complete file, not only the first form. The application has eight steps, and a file is not finished until all of them are in.
The eight steps, in the order they tend to happen
The school lists these parts of the application:
1. The online application. The applicant and a parent or guardian both complete it. The school states that the other checklist steps cannot begin until it is submitted, so this comes first. 2. Standardized test scores. ACT, SAT, PreACT or PSAT scores are uploaded with the student's name visible. The ACT Writing and Science portions are not required. 3. A transcript. Either a transcript or the previous year's report cards, showing all high school credits earned and last year's grades. 4. LEAP or EOC score reports. The school asks for previous reports, not current-year results. Private school and homeschool applicants are exempt. 5. Letters of recommendation. Three letters, requested through online forms. 6. Current grades. Final fall semester grades are uploaded at the end of the fall term or the start of spring. 7. A campus visit. Recommended if possible. The school does not list it as required. 8. An interview. Scheduled after the rest of the checklist is complete.
Two of these steps depend on other people: the three letters and the interview scheduling. Those are the ones that tend to run late, so start them first.
A working calendar to March 1
LSMSA has not published month-by-month dates, so the calendar below is a planning suggestion, not a school schedule. Adjust it to your student's school calendar.
Now, if you have not started. Check eligibility. LSMSA says students must have residential ties to Louisiana. A family moving to Louisiana can apply if it will be living in the state at the start of the school year. The school does not define "residential ties" on its pages, so if your situation is unusual, ask Enrollment Services in writing.
Next. Choose a test date. If your student has an ACT score, the ACT code for sending scores directly to LSMSA is 6351. The school says registration typically closes about a month before the test date, so register early. If scores are more than a year old, the school encourages a retake. The testing page does not state an SAT school code, so if your student takes the SAT, confirm how to send scores before test day.
Then. Submit the online application, because nothing else can begin until it is in. Ask your principal or counselor, a math or science teacher, and an English teacher for letters. Tell each one why you are asking before the online request arrives.
Winter. Upload final fall semester grades as soon as they are available. This is also the time when interviews begin. The school's frequently asked questions page says interviews are virtual, on Microsoft Teams, and will not start before mid-January. Most interviews are by phone or video. Because the interview is scheduled only after the checklist is complete, a missing letter can delay it.
By March 1. Aim to have every step complete. If something outside your control is late, such as a teacher's letter, tell Enrollment Services early. The school's contact details are admissions@LSMSA.edu or 318-357-2503.
What is not published
Families sometimes plan around dates the school has not announced. These are not on the school's pages, so do not assume them:
- Decision or notification dates. The school says decisions are made after a review of all materials and after the interview is completed. No notification date is published.
- A date when the application opened. The site says Fall 2027 applications are open, with no opening date.
- Visit event dates. Exploration Days, campus tours and fall information sessions around the state exist, but the pages list no dates. Campus tours run on selected Saturdays and mostly on Monday or Friday weekdays, and registration is required.
- EXCEL dates and cost. EXCEL is a four-week summer bridge program. About 15 to 20 students are chosen each year during application review, and the page lists no dates or cost.
- Admit rate and seat count. The school does not publish them in the pages we reviewed, so we do not quote any.
Planning around the fees
LSMSA charges no tuition. Required yearly fees total $1,200, which includes a $140 security deposit for new students only. Student Activity Fees are $260 for sophomores and juniors and $340 for seniors. The school's combined yearly totals are $1,460 for new sophomores and juniors and $1,540 for new seniors. Required fees can be fully or partly waived based on the USDA Child Nutrition Program and Louisiana SNAP, and Student Activity Fees do not qualify for a waiver. Check the school's fees page for current amounts before you budget.
What to do this week
If you are early in the process, do three things. Confirm Louisiana residential ties. Pick a test date and register. Write down the names of the three people you will ask for letters. Everything else on the checklist follows from those choices.
If you want help thinking through your student's plan in writing, share your student's context with EduAvenues, or read the EduAvenues high school admissions page.
Sources
- LSMSA admissions
- How to apply
- Testing information
- Fees
- EXCEL program
- Visit us
- Resources for future students
LSMSAPrep by EduAvenues is an independent service, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts.