Rigor at TJ compared to regular FCPS high Schools

[Anonymous]

Rigor at TJ compared to regular FCPS high Schools is much more.. Every course that is taught on Math, Science, CS side is more in depth and the testing way tougher than in a regular High school. Grading is tougher. So how do colleges not keep this in mind while evaluating student applications. It is definielty easy to get A's in a HS where rigor is lesser ! Looking for advice

[Anonymous]

It isn't even even in different high schools in FCPS. My sophomore at Langley has a friend who switched from another FCPS school and was getting all 100's and now is horrified to be struggling at Langley with B and C's. And yet I'm sure the high school the kid is at previously would do better in college admissions.

[Anonymous]

The colleges already know this about TJ. What advice do you need?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isn't even even in different high schools in FCPS. My sophomore at Langley has a friend who switched from another FCPS school and was getting all 100's and now is horrified to be struggling at Langley with B and C's. And yet I'm sure the high school the kid is at previously would do better in college admissions.

Sounds like your kid and their friend are in general ed classes. Obviously general ed at Langley is at a higher level than general ed at Mt. Vernon. But then again those other general ed kids aren't applying to UVA so I wouldn't worry about them.

However, teachers who teach AP/IB use prior year AP/IB format questions on their classroom tests. So the rigor across AP/IB schools is essentially standardized to that difficulty.

[Anonymous]

No my kid is taking all honors and 1 AP class as a sophomore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't even even in different high schools in FCPS. My sophomore at Langley has a friend who switched from another FCPS school and was getting all 100's and now is horrified to be struggling at Langley with B and C's. And yet I'm sure the high school the kid is at previously would do better in college admissions.

Sounds like your kid and their friend are in general ed classes. Obviously general ed at Langley is at a higher level than general ed at Mt. Vernon. But then again those other general ed kids aren't applying to UVA so I wouldn't worry about them.

However, teachers who teach AP/IB use prior year AP/IB format questions on their classroom tests. So the rigor across AP/IB schools is essentially standardized to that difficulty.

If you think IB rigor at Mount Vernon is similar to AP rigor at Langley, you’re delusional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rigor at TJ compared to regular FCPS high Schools is much more.. Every course that is taught on Math, Science, CS side is more in depth and the testing way tougher than in a regular High school. Grading is tougher. So how do colleges not keep this in mind while evaluating student applications. It is definielty easy to get A's in a HS where rigor is lesser ! Looking for advice

It seems about the same to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't even even in different high schools in FCPS. My sophomore at Langley has a friend who switched from another FCPS school and was getting all 100's and now is horrified to be struggling at Langley with B and C's. And yet I'm sure the high school the kid is at previously would do better in college admissions.

Sounds like your kid and their friend are in general ed classes. Obviously general ed at Langley is at a higher level than general ed at Mt. Vernon. But then again those other general ed kids aren't applying to UVA so I wouldn't worry about them.

However, teachers who teach AP/IB use prior year AP/IB format questions on their classroom tests. So the rigor across AP/IB schools is essentially standardized to that difficulty.

If you think IB rigor at Mount Vernon is similar to AP rigor at Langley, you’re delusional.

Yes, it's well known that IB is far more challenging than any AP course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't even even in different high schools in FCPS. My sophomore at Langley has a friend who switched from another FCPS school and was getting all 100's and now is horrified to be struggling at Langley with B and C's. And yet I'm sure the high school the kid is at previously would do better in college admissions.

Sounds like your kid and their friend are in general ed classes. Obviously general ed at Langley is at a higher level than general ed at Mt. Vernon. But then again those other general ed kids aren't applying to UVA so I wouldn't worry about them.

However, teachers who teach AP/IB use prior year AP/IB format questions on their classroom tests. So the rigor across AP/IB schools is essentially standardized to that difficulty.

If you think IB rigor at Mount Vernon is similar to AP rigor at Langley, you’re delusional.

Yes, it's well known that IB is far more challenging than any AP course.

Nice try, but very wrong. Gen Ed at Langley is more challenging than IB at Mount Vernon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't even even in different high schools in FCPS. My sophomore at Langley has a friend who switched from another FCPS school and was getting all 100's and now is horrified to be struggling at Langley with B and C's. And yet I'm sure the high school the kid is at previously would do better in college admissions.

Sounds like your kid and their friend are in general ed classes. Obviously general ed at Langley is at a higher level than general ed at Mt. Vernon. But then again those other general ed kids aren't applying to UVA so I wouldn't worry about them.

However, teachers who teach AP/IB use prior year AP/IB format questions on their classroom tests. So the rigor across AP/IB schools is essentially standardized to that difficulty.

If you think IB rigor at Mount Vernon is similar to AP rigor at Langley, you’re delusional.

Yes, it's well known that IB is far more challenging than any AP course.

Nice try, but very wrong. Gen Ed at Langley is more challenging than IB at Mount Vernon.

It might make you feel superior to think this but the facts really beg to differ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rigor at TJ compared to regular FCPS high Schools is much more.. Every course that is taught on Math, Science, CS side is more in depth and the testing way tougher than in a regular High school. Grading is tougher. So how do colleges not keep this in mind while evaluating student applications. It is definielty easy to get A's in a HS where rigor is lesser ! Looking for advice

It seems about the same to me.

Agree. And I don't see anything wrong with that: different programs, requirements and consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rigor at TJ compared to regular FCPS high Schools is much more.. Every course that is taught on Math, Science, CS side is more in depth and the testing way tougher than in a regular High school. Grading is tougher. So how do colleges not keep this in mind while evaluating student applications. It is definitely easy to get A's in a HS where rigor is lesser! Sometimes, it becomes so complex that without the help of such resources as https://edubirdie.com/ or additional lessons with a tutor, it is tough to cope with the program. I would like to hear other opinions and maybe even advice.

It seems about the same to me.

Agree. And I don't see anything wrong with that: different programs, requirements and consequences.

You need to evaluate your capabilities when choosing a college realistically. We were warned that it would be challenging, but it isn't easy to understand how much.

[Anonymous]

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/college-credit-high-school/international

Why is it that fcps offers IB program in Mount Vernon/Lewis/Justice/..., but not in McClean/Langley/Oakton/...?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't even even in different high schools in FCPS. My sophomore at Langley has a friend who switched from another FCPS school and was getting all 100's and now is horrified to be struggling at Langley with B and C's. And yet I'm sure the high school the kid is at previously would do better in college admissions.

Sounds like your kid and their friend are in general ed classes. Obviously general ed at Langley is at a higher level than general ed at Mt. Vernon. But then again those other general ed kids aren't applying to UVA so I wouldn't worry about them.

However, teachers who teach AP/IB use prior year AP/IB format questions on their classroom tests. So the rigor across AP/IB schools is essentially standardized to that difficulty.

If you think IB rigor at Mount Vernon is similar to AP rigor at Langley, you’re delusional.

Yes, it's well known that IB is far more challenging than any AP course.

Nice try, but very wrong. Gen Ed at Langley is more challenging than IB at Mount Vernon.

It might make you feel superior to think this but the facts really beg to differ.

Tell us all about those "facts." We'll wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rigor at TJ compared to regular FCPS high Schools is much more.. Every course that is taught on Math, Science, CS side is more in depth and the testing way tougher than in a regular High school. Grading is tougher. So how do colleges not keep this in mind while evaluating student applications. It is definielty easy to get A's in a HS where rigor is lesser ! Looking for advice

You go to TJ to get a rigorous education. It is a drawback for college admissions for almost all the kids.

Even the tippy top TJ kid who might be in top 5% of academics at TJ would is at a slight disadvantage compared to base HS. At base the same student would have the teachers writing recommendation letters that say something to the effect of "walking on water" vs. a merely strong recommendation at TJ. The teachers at TJ were so used to seeing exceptionally strong kids over the years, that the bar to get a strong recommendation is extraordinarily high.

Colleges do consider the rigor, but would an Ivy pick bottom half student at TJ based on academics? Not unless they have some extraordinary extra-curriculars.

It is a big unfair, but consolation is that they do get really strong education.