TJ admissions change from Merit to Essay impact to Asian American Students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Is it a coincidence that Algebra 1 offers went up and Asian American student quota came down?

Merit Test based Admissions:
Class of 2019, Asian American 70.20%; algebra 1 offers 5%
Class of 2020, Asian American 71.34%; algebra 1 offers 5%
Class of 2021, Asian American 74.90%; algebra 1 offers 4%
Class of 2023, Asian American 72.87%; algebra 1 offers 4%
Class of 2024, Asian American 73.05%; algebra 1 offers 4%

Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students:
Class of 2025, Asian American 54.36%; algebra 1 offers =31%
Class of 2026, Asian American 59.82%; algebra 1 offers >25%
Class of 2027, Asian American 61.64%; algebra 1 offers >25%
Class of 2028, Asian American 57.27%; algebra 1 offers >25%

Page 10 has Algebra1 numbers:
https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/BWE23Y004896/$file/TJ%20White%20Paper%2011.17.2020.pdf
Increase in Algebra 1 admits:
https://fcag.org/documents/TJ_Class_of_2025_analysis.pdf

What kind of a message does this send to Asian American students? There exists a quota limit?

Yes it does tell Asian American students there is a limit exclusively for them when their representation rises. But not for students of other race, even when the demographics dont match:


California State University—Los Angeles.
Hispanic Students: 74% No suppression

South Carolina State University,
Black Students: 95% No suppression

TJ High School for Science & Tech,
Asian Students 72%, Suppressed to 54% in one year

Students should not be discriminated based on their race

Agree. Good thing the new admissions process does not discriminate by race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one, including Asians, want to go to a school that is 75% Asian.

My kid is waitlisted and ready to go, and if given an offer, would be more than delighted to work with TJ Asian peers, as they did on their middle school Math Counts, Science Olympiad, and VEX robotics teams.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous[b wrote:]That was the design. TJ needs the diversity.[/b] Inclusive programs will help every student at the school.

At least you are being honest, I guess.
But I think you are saying the quiet part out loud here.

I think we are still supposed to be at the “no that’s not happening—you unhinged conspiracy theorist!” phase.
You are leaping ahead to the “well yes okay it’s happening—but here’s why that’s a good thing” phase a bit ahead of your progressive peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s why it happened to diversify and create equality.

Anonymous wrote:Merit Test based Admissions:
Class of 2019, Asian American students received 70.20%
Class of 2020, Asian American students received 71.34%
Class of 2021, Asian American students received 74.90%
Class of 2023, Asian American students received 72.87%
Class of 2024, Asian American students received 73.05%

Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students:
Class of 2025, Asian American students received 54.36%
Class of 2026, Asian American students received 59.82%
Class of 2027, Asian American students received 61.64%.
Class of 2028, Asian American students received 57.27%

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

Wow, it may be a slip, but exactly does a school system create equality? Changing the standards for admission may allow some heretofore students in and keep others out, but some students will always perform better than others. There is no such thing as "equality" in performance at TJ or elsewhere.

Equity politics begins and ends with giveaways. The School Board can hand out a TJ offer to the underqualified under the guise of a reward, but they cannot compel a student to study after gaining admission to TJ.

Stop trashing these kids to push your politics. It's disgusting. All of the admitted students were qualified for TJ.

The fact that under-qualified students were being admitted was reported by the principal who mentioned "9th grade students scoring below proficient on the initial Math Inventory", were being jump-started with ALEKS remedial in the third month itself. If admissions was merit based, why would remedial math be needed at the school start?

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/VAEDUFCPS/bulletins/38d509c

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That was the design. TJ needs the diversity. Inclusive programs will help every student at the school.

Anonymous wrote:Merit Test based Admissions:
Class of 2019, Asian American students received 70.20%
Class of 2020, Asian American students received 71.34%
Class of 2021, Asian American students received 74.90%
Class of 2023, Asian American students received 72.87%
Class of 2024, Asian American students received 73.05%

Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students:
Class of 2025, Asian American students received 54.36%
Class of 2026, Asian American students received 59.82%
Class of 2027, Asian American students received 61.64%.
Class of 2028, Asian American students received 57.27%

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

They need students who don't have parents that pay $$$$ for test prep classes. Just because you can pass one test OBVIOUSLY doesn't make you a relevant student.

This is a trope and you sound like former superintendent Brabrand with your racist assumptions.

However—let’s follow your assumption that all the Asian students only got in because they paid $$$ for “test prep.”
This discounts that some students who did prep still did not do well or get in, some
got in with no test prep at all,…and ALL students who took and passed the test—with or without “prep”— demonstrated that they are capable of the level of work that used to be required to be accepted in and remain at the school. That was the entire point of the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


They need students who don't have parents that pay $$$$ for test prep classes. Just because you can pass one test OBVIOUSLY doesn't make you a relevant student.

This is a really bad argument. if tests are the problem, they have no skill to be in TJ. They should be at their local school. What about many more kids who pay $$$ but failed the TJ test. The tests help to pick kids with knowledge, skill and caliber to be a STEM focused school. Evidently, based on the fpcs data, the SB and fcps failed and not capable of selecting the right talent for this school. Kudos for the racist fcps organization and SB for successfully discriminating talent in the name of their ideology and forwarding their political careers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s why it happened to diversify and create equality.

Anonymous wrote:Merit Test based Admissions:
Class of 2019, Asian American students received 70.20%
Class of 2020, Asian American students received 71.34%
Class of 2021, Asian American students received 74.90%
Class of 2023, Asian American students received 72.87%
Class of 2024, Asian American students received 73.05%

Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students:
Class of 2025, Asian American students received 54.36%
Class of 2026, Asian American students received 59.82%
Class of 2027, Asian American students received 61.64%.
Class of 2028, Asian American students received 57.27%

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

Wow, it may be a slip, but exactly does a school system create equality? Changing the standards for admission may allow some heretofore students in and keep others out, but some students will always perform better than others. There is no such thing as "equality" in performance at TJ or elsewhere.

Equity politics begins and ends with giveaways. The School Board can hand out a TJ offer to the underqualified under the guise of a reward, but they cannot compel a student to study after gaining admission to TJ.

Stop trashing these kids to push your politics. It's disgusting. All of the admitted students were qualified for TJ.

The fact that under-qualified students were being admitted was reported by the principal who mentioned "9th grade students scoring below proficient on the initial Math Inventory", were being jump-started with ALEKS remedial in the third month itself. If admissions was merit based, why would remedial math be needed at the school start?

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/VAEDUFCPS/bulletins/38d509c

If they were aware that this "initial Math Inventory" test was reliable for assessing students' prerequisite skills, why wasn't it included as part of the admissions screening process?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Merit Test based Admissions:
Class of 2019, Asian American students received 70.20%
Class of 2020, Asian American students received 71.34%
Class of 2021, Asian American students received 74.90%
Class of 2023, Asian American students received 72.87%
Class of 2024, Asian American students received 73.05%

Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students:
Class of 2025, Asian American students received 54.36%
Class of 2026, Asian American students received 59.82%
Class of 2027, Asian American students received 61.64%.
Class of 2028, Asian American students received 57.27%

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

I heard that low-income Asian families were the biggest beneficiary of these changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Merit Test based Admissions:
Class of 2019, Asian American students received 70.20%
Class of 2020, Asian American students received 71.34%
Class of 2021, Asian American students received 74.90%
Class of 2023, Asian American students received 72.87%
Class of 2024, Asian American students received 73.05%

Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students:
Class of 2025, Asian American students received 54.36%
Class of 2026, Asian American students received 59.82%
Class of 2027, Asian American students received 61.64%.
Class of 2028, Asian American students received 57.27%

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

I heard that low-income Asian families were the biggest beneficiary of these changes.

Yet, the overall Asian students representation was muscled down from 73% to 54%. If what you "heard" is true, that would imply a significant number of middle class Asian students more than what the lowered 54% denotes, were discriminated based on their skin color.

[Anonymous]

Essay writing is an academic task. And knowing how to express yourself in a compelling way through writing is actually a skill that translates into the workplace, while test taking doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s why it happened to diversify and create equality.

Anonymous wrote:Merit Test based Admissions:
Class of 2019, Asian American students received 70.20%
Class of 2020, Asian American students received 71.34%
Class of 2021, Asian American students received 74.90%
Class of 2023, Asian American students received 72.87%
Class of 2024, Asian American students received 73.05%

Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students:
Class of 2025, Asian American students received 54.36%
Class of 2026, Asian American students received 59.82%
Class of 2027, Asian American students received 61.64%.
Class of 2028, Asian American students received 57.27%

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

Wow, it may be a slip, but exactly does a school system create equality? Changing the standards for admission may allow some heretofore students in and keep others out, but some students will always perform better than others. There is no such thing as "equality" in performance at TJ or elsewhere.

Equity politics begins and ends with giveaways. The School Board can hand out a TJ offer to the underqualified under the guise of a reward, but they cannot compel a student to study after gaining admission to TJ.

Stop trashing these kids to push your politics. It's disgusting. All of the admitted students were qualified for TJ.

The fact that under-qualified students were being admitted was reported by the principal who mentioned "9th grade students scoring below proficient on the initial Math Inventory", were being jump-started with ALEKS remedial in the third month itself. If admissions was merit based, why would remedial math be needed at the school start?

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/VAEDUFCPS/bulletins/38d509c

Blahhhh. Kids in TJ need redial math? What a joke it becomes.
No fault to TJ, which has no say in this matter. It is FCPS that does the selection.
If you want to enter TJ based on merit, enter your sophomore year when it is actually TJ that decides who can enter.
But by that time it may be too disruptive to switch school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Essay writing is an academic task. And knowing how to express yourself in a compelling way through writing is actually a skill that translates into the workplace, while test taking doesn't.

Your are assuming they got in on the merit of their essays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Essay writing is an academic task. And knowing how to express yourself in a compelling way through writing is actually a skill that translates into the workplace, while test taking doesn't.

Even if academic English writing were employed as the objective selection criterion, the representation of Asian students would have surpassed 73%, not fallen below it. SOL English scores, AP English Language/Literature scores, TJ publication artifacts, and every other objective piece of evidence all indicate a relatively higher level of English language proficiency, not just advanced Math, among TJ Asian students and likely the TJ Asian applicant pool.

[Anonymous]

Currently my kid is at TJ - under the new admissions process.

He is doing OK - but I really think the entrance exam should align to the TOUGH math and science curriculum.

While I get what FCPS was trying to do - they need to ensure only those kids who can handle hard math, are admitted. Else they are just setting up these kids to fail

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s why it happened to diversify and create equality.

Anonymous wrote:Merit Test based Admissions:
Class of 2019, Asian American students received 70.20%
Class of 2020, Asian American students received 71.34%
Class of 2021, Asian American students received 74.90%
Class of 2023, Asian American students received 72.87%
Class of 2024, Asian American students received 73.05%

Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students:
Class of 2025, Asian American students received 54.36%
Class of 2026, Asian American students received 59.82%
Class of 2027, Asian American students received 61.64%.
Class of 2028, Asian American students received 57.27%

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

Wow, it may be a slip, but exactly does a school system create equality? Changing the standards for admission may allow some heretofore students in and keep others out, but some students will always perform better than others. There is no such thing as "equality" in performance at TJ or elsewhere.

Equity politics begins and ends with giveaways. The School Board can hand out a TJ offer to the underqualified under the guise of a reward, but they cannot compel a student to study after gaining admission to TJ.

Stop trashing these kids to push your politics. It's disgusting. All of the admitted students were qualified for TJ.

The fact that under-qualified students were being admitted was reported by the principal who mentioned "9th grade students scoring below proficient on the initial Math Inventory", were being jump-started with ALEKS remedial in the third month itself. If admissions was merit based, why would remedial math be needed at the school start?

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/VAEDUFCPS/bulletins/38d509c

If they were aware that this "initial Math Inventory" test was reliable for assessing students' prerequisite skills, why wasn't it included as part of the admissions screening process?

Because it wouldn't produce the right class demographics? I can't see any other reason