TJ Falls to 14th in the Nation Per US News

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a long time the number one school in the nation, US News now has TJ at #14. Not sure how much is a change in methodology, how much is the admissions policy (surprised to see WTOP call that one out below, because they usually parrot the FCPS party line on everything), and how much is other schools getting better.

Following controversial changes to its admissions policy in 2021 to boost diversity, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia remains the top ranked school in the D.C. region and 14th in the nation, slipping from the top 10. It’s also the 5th ranked STEM school in the nation.

https://wtop.com/education/2024/04/regions-best-high-schools/

The FCPS Board was clear that they wanted the opportunity to attend TJ to extend to more of the county's students. They were not concerned about a slip in rankings and never said they were. It's the crazies on this board that said things like "The admissions changes led to a much stronger student body (by weeding out test preppers, etc.)." They were clearly wrong. Again, they are in denial about that but the FCPS Board was OK with it because the school should serve the full county and every middle school. I'm OK with that but let's not pretend it results in the best and brightest. A trade off that I for one and OK with but I freely admit that Asian students are denied seats they would otherwise have in a true merit-based system in order to further a different, and apparently legal, purpose.

Equity warriors throwing in the towel so soon? Essay Admissions was supposed to uncover the Einsteins from the bottom schools, who apparently are much more advanced in STEM than the prepped Asians with years of enrichment. Now that the silly Essay admissions is doing nothing more than simply letting in 150 Algebra 1 kids each year straight into remedial, it's time to explain away the decline?

The school Board never claimed that was the case. It was opening the door to more of the county's students. They never claimed what the equity warriors wished the case would be. The Board knew, and prepared for, a student body that was not at the academic math level of prior years. They were transparent in this process.

How is admitting 150 algebra1 students to TJ class bottom to struggle with remedial math considered anything but opening door to fail?

[Anonymous]

90% of the MIT, Caltech, and Ivy League kids took Algebra I in 8th grade a generation ago. I don't think this is the issue. I don't know what the criteria is of this US News report. I just think these kids who are at this level should have also done something else to deserve getting in beyond just doing well in classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a long time the number one school in the nation, US News now has TJ at #14. Not sure how much is a change in methodology, how much is the admissions policy (surprised to see WTOP call that one out below, because they usually parrot the FCPS party line on everything), and how much is other schools getting better.

Following controversial changes to its admissions policy in 2021 to boost diversity, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia remains the top ranked school in the D.C. region and 14th in the nation, slipping from the top 10. It’s also the 5th ranked STEM school in the nation.

https://wtop.com/education/2024/04/regions-best-high-schools/

The FCPS Board was clear that they wanted the opportunity to attend TJ to extend to more of the county's students. They were not concerned about a slip in rankings and never said they were. It's the crazies on this board that said things like "The admissions changes led to a much stronger student body (by weeding out test preppers, etc.)." They were clearly wrong. Again, they are in denial about that but the FCPS Board was OK with it because the school should serve the full county and every middle school. I'm OK with that but let's not pretend it results in the best and brightest. A trade off that I for one and OK with but I freely admit that Asian students are denied seats they would otherwise have in a true merit-based system in order to further a different, and apparently legal, purpose.

Equity warriors throwing in the towel so soon? Essay Admissions was supposed to uncover the Einsteins from the bottom schools, who apparently are much more advanced in STEM than the prepped Asians with years of enrichment. Now that the silly Essay admissions is doing nothing more than simply letting in 150 Algebra 1 kids each year straight into remedial, it's time to explain away the decline?

The school Board never claimed that was the case. It was opening the door to more of the county's students. They never claimed what the equity warriors wished the case would be. The Board knew, and prepared for, a student body that was not at the academic math level of prior years. They were transparent in this process.

How is admitting 150 algebra1 students to TJ class bottom to struggle with remedial math considered anything but opening door to fail?

Why do some posters keep labeling the Algebra 1 students (taking geometry at TJ) as remedial. Algebra in 8th is still 1 year ahead of normal pacing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:90% of the MIT, Caltech, and Ivy League kids took Algebra I in 8th grade a generation ago. I don't think this is the issue. I don't know what the criteria is of this US News report. I just think these kids who are at this level should have also done something else to deserve getting in beyond just doing well in classes.

The math level isn't the issue, specifically. A generation ago, many very talented kids lacked access to Algebra I, even when they were 99th percentile+ kids. Currently in FCPS, no one lacks access. Every kid is given numerous years and paths for AAP or advanced math. They are given all of the tools they should need to qualify for Algebra in 7th, and the bar is not overwhelmingly high. The kids who don't qualify in FCPS simply aren't very good at math. This is doubly true for the LCPS kids taking Algebra in 8th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a long time the number one school in the nation, US News now has TJ at #14. Not sure how much is a change in methodology, how much is the admissions policy (surprised to see WTOP call that one out below, because they usually parrot the FCPS party line on everything), and how much is other schools getting better.

Following controversial changes to its admissions policy in 2021 to boost diversity, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia remains the top ranked school in the D.C. region and 14th in the nation, slipping from the top 10. It’s also the 5th ranked STEM school in the nation.

https://wtop.com/education/2024/04/regions-best-high-schools/

The FCPS Board was clear that they wanted the opportunity to attend TJ to extend to more of the county's students. They were not concerned about a slip in rankings and never said they were. It's the crazies on this board that said things like "The admissions changes led to a much stronger student body (by weeding out test preppers, etc.)." They were clearly wrong. Again, they are in denial about that but the FCPS Board was OK with it because the school should serve the full county and every middle school. I'm OK with that but let's not pretend it results in the best and brightest. A trade off that I for one and OK with but I freely admit that Asian students are denied seats they would otherwise have in a true merit-based system in order to further a different, and apparently legal, purpose.

Equity warriors throwing in the towel so soon? Essay Admissions was supposed to uncover the Einsteins from the bottom schools, who apparently are much more advanced in STEM than the prepped Asians with years of enrichment. Now that the silly Essay admissions is doing nothing more than simply letting in 150 Algebra 1 kids each year straight into remedial, it's time to explain away the decline?

The school Board never claimed that was the case. It was opening the door to more of the county's students. They never claimed what the equity warriors wished the case would be. The Board knew, and prepared for, a student body that was not at the academic math level of prior years. They were transparent in this process.

How is admitting 150 algebra1 students to TJ class bottom to struggle with remedial math considered anything but opening door to fail?

Why do some posters keep labeling the Algebra 1 students (taking geometry at TJ) as remedial. Algebra in 8th is still 1 year ahead of normal pacing.

I'm not that poster, but they have a point in the context of TJ. TJ only accepts a small fraction of the FCPS kids, and it has a mission statement of providing an appropriate education for kids with needs well above their peers. It's hard to justify placing kids on a track that's barely above average into an elite magnet school where they will be comparatively behind the other kids.

I'm not even opposed to Algebra I kids being admitted to TJ, providing that they demonstrate high aptitude in some other STEM arena. The current application process leaves no room for any kid to demonstrate any level of excellence. It instead assumes that kids who are somewhat above average in math and kids who are elite in math from the same SES level and at the same school are indistinguishable and equally in need of TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:equity in action

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a long time the number one school in the nation, US News now has TJ at #14. Not sure how much is a change in methodology, how much is the admissions policy (surprised to see WTOP call that one out below, because they usually parrot the FCPS party line on everything), and how much is other schools getting better.

Following controversial changes to its admissions policy in 2021 to boost diversity, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia remains the top ranked school in the D.C. region and 14th in the nation, slipping from the top 10. It’s also the 5th ranked STEM school in the nation.

https://wtop.com/education/2024/04/regions-best-high-schools/

The FCPS Board was clear that they wanted the opportunity to attend TJ to extend to more of the county's students. They were not concerned about a slip in rankings and never said they were. It's the crazies on this board that said things like "The admissions changes led to a much stronger student body (by weeding out test preppers, etc.)." They were clearly wrong. Again, they are in denial about that but the FCPS Board was OK with it because the school should serve the full county and every middle school. I'm OK with that but let's not pretend it results in the best and brightest. A trade off that I for one and OK with but I freely admit that Asian students are denied seats they would otherwise have in a true merit-based system in order to further a different, and apparently legal, purpose.

Equity warriors throwing in the towel so soon? Essay Admissions was supposed to uncover the Einsteins from the bottom schools, who apparently are much more advanced in STEM than the prepped Asians with years of enrichment. Now that the silly Essay admissions is doing nothing more than simply letting in 150 Algebra 1 kids each year straight into remedial, it's time to explain away the decline?

The school Board never claimed that was the case. It was opening the door to more of the county's students. They never claimed what the equity warriors wished the case would be. The Board knew, and prepared for, a student body that was not at the academic math level of prior years. They were transparent in this process.

How is admitting 150 algebra1 students to TJ class bottom to struggle with remedial math considered anything but opening door to fail?

Why do some posters keep labeling the Algebra 1 students (taking geometry at TJ) as remedial. Algebra in 8th is still 1 year ahead of normal pacing.

No one is assigning labels here. The information is based on facts regarding the remedial math assignments that freshmen are receiving. A significant number of the admitted "9th grade students (are) scoring below proficient on the initial Math Inventory," as reported by the TJ Principal. It doesn't seem like the TJ Principal is labeling anyone either; rather, they are addressing the "below proficient" algebra skills within the admitted class right upfront. If anything, the TJ Principal is clearly indicating that since the School Board removed the entrance math test, TJ Math teachers are now compelled to conduct basic math evaluation as soon as students enter into TJ.

[Anonymous]

Given all the meddling the school board has done in the name of equity, I'm surprised it hasn't plummeted to 140th place!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a long time the number one school in the nation, US News now has TJ at #14. Not sure how much is a change in methodology, how much is the admissions policy (surprised to see WTOP call that one out below, because they usually parrot the FCPS party line on everything), and how much is other schools getting better.

Following controversial changes to its admissions policy in 2021 to boost diversity, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia remains the top ranked school in the D.C. region and 14th in the nation, slipping from the top 10. It’s also the 5th ranked STEM school in the nation.

https://wtop.com/education/2024/04/regions-best-high-schools/

The FCPS Board was clear that they wanted the opportunity to attend TJ to extend to more of the county's students. They were not concerned about a slip in rankings and never said they were. It's the crazies on this board that said things like "The admissions changes led to a much stronger student body (by weeding out test preppers, etc.)." They were clearly wrong. Again, they are in denial about that but the FCPS Board was OK with it because the school should serve the full county and every middle school. I'm OK with that but let's not pretend it results in the best and brightest. A trade off that I for one and OK with but I freely admit that Asian students are denied seats they would otherwise have in a true merit-based system in order to further a different, and apparently legal, purpose.

Equity warriors throwing in the towel so soon? Essay Admissions was supposed to uncover the Einsteins from the bottom schools, who apparently are much more advanced in STEM than the prepped Asians with years of enrichment. Now that the silly Essay admissions is doing nothing more than simply letting in 150 Algebra 1 kids each year straight into remedial, it's time to explain away the decline?

The school Board never claimed that was the case. It was opening the door to more of the county's students. They never claimed what the equity warriors wished the case would be. The Board knew, and prepared for, a student body that was not at the academic math level of prior years. They were transparent in this process.

How is admitting 150 algebra1 students to TJ class bottom to struggle with remedial math considered anything but opening door to fail?

but that's fake news

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Given all the meddling the school board has done in the name of equity, I'm surprised it hasn't plummeted to 140th place!

I'd expect it to be back to number 1 since they put an end to the test-buying which caused the drop

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an Asian and here’s my take on this: I think the current selection process is fine as long as FCPS provides enrichment to super smart underprivileged kids. I am well aware of how much prep goes into TJ( or used to), kids from poor backgrounds don’t have the resources in time and money to match these other kids working since 1st grade for TJ, prepping a kid to death is not merit.

In my mind if a kid from disadvantaged background scores 90 as compared to 99 from kids in better circumstances, then they are good. You cannot ignore the hardship some of these children face to get even to 90, if they had support they would have scored 100. Where FCPS is failing is that they are not providing these kids enough support in elementary and middle school level so that once these kids are at TJ they can perform.

So you think not having a test, giving bonus points to underprivileged kids, and then extra enrichment is a good way to go?

I would argue that bringing back some form of testing in science and math and reading (not necessarily the previous tests) plus underprivileged enrichment (which kind of already exists) and bonus point would be better. right now there is a single math question.

If you had real testing, then it would probably identify gifted underprivileged kids who would then be boosted into the selection ranks by their experience factors. Right now, you are getting kids who could get above a 3.9; that doesn't say much about STEM aptitude at all.

Yes, I liked the good old days when you could just buy the test answers. Things were far more predictable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a long time the number one school in the nation, US News now has TJ at #14. Not sure how much is a change in methodology, how much is the admissions policy (surprised to see WTOP call that one out below, because they usually parrot the FCPS party line on everything), and how much is other schools getting better.

Following controversial changes to its admissions policy in 2021 to boost diversity, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia remains the top ranked school in the D.C. region and 14th in the nation, slipping from the top 10. It’s also the 5th ranked STEM school in the nation.

https://wtop.com/education/2024/04/regions-best-high-schools/

The FCPS Board was clear that they wanted the opportunity to attend TJ to extend to more of the county's students. They were not concerned about a slip in rankings and never said they were. It's the crazies on this board that said things like "The admissions changes led to a much stronger student body (by weeding out test preppers, etc.)." They were clearly wrong. Again, they are in denial about that but the FCPS Board was OK with it because the school should serve the full county and every middle school. I'm OK with that but let's not pretend it results in the best and brightest. A trade off that I for one and OK with but I freely admit that Asian students are denied seats they would otherwise have in a true merit-based system in order to further a different, and apparently legal, purpose.

Equity warriors throwing in the towel so soon? Essay Admissions was supposed to uncover the Einsteins from the bottom schools, who apparently are much more advanced in STEM than the prepped Asians with years of enrichment. Now that the silly Essay admissions is doing nothing more than simply letting in 150 Algebra 1 kids each year straight into remedial, it's time to explain away the decline?

The school Board never claimed that was the case. It was opening the door to more of the county's students. They never claimed what the equity warriors wished the case would be. The Board knew, and prepared for, a student body that was not at the academic math level of prior years. They were transparent in this process.

How is admitting 150 algebra1 students to TJ class bottom to struggle with remedial math considered anything but opening door to fail?

You are almost right! 31% of 550 is well over 150 algebra 1 students. The year before with old admission process, it was never more than 20+ algebra1 admits.

"Compared to TJ Class of 2024, the proportion of students in Class of 2025 admitted with the minimal required math background of Algebra 1 in 8th grade increased sevenfold, from 4.5% to 31%"
https://fcag.org/documents/TJ_Class_of_2025_analysis.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:90% of the MIT, Caltech, and Ivy League kids took Algebra I in 8th grade a generation ago. I don't think this is the issue. I don't know what the criteria is of this US News report. I just think these kids who are at this level should have also done something else to deserve getting in beyond just doing well in classes.

What is your source. The other point, you are talking about a generation ago. You are doing dis-service to the kids that their talent and hard work is not needed by this community. Dis-service to the country by ensuring we slip in innovation and competitiveness to other countries.
The Equity warriors are taking community and country to a worst place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a long time the number one school in the nation, US News now has TJ at #14. Not sure how much is a change in methodology, how much is the admissions policy (surprised to see WTOP call that one out below, because they usually parrot the FCPS party line on everything), and how much is other schools getting better.

Following controversial changes to its admissions policy in 2021 to boost diversity, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia remains the top ranked school in the D.C. region and 14th in the nation, slipping from the top 10. It’s also the 5th ranked STEM school in the nation.

https://wtop.com/education/2024/04/regions-best-high-schools/

The FCPS Board was clear that they wanted the opportunity to attend TJ to extend to more of the county's students. They were not concerned about a slip in rankings and never said they were. It's the crazies on this board that said things like "The admissions changes led to a much stronger student body (by weeding out test preppers, etc.)." They were clearly wrong. Again, they are in denial about that but the FCPS Board was OK with it because the school should serve the full county and every middle school. I'm OK with that but let's not pretend it results in the best and brightest. A trade off that I for one and OK with but I freely admit that Asian students are denied seats they would otherwise have in a true merit-based system in order to further a different, and apparently legal, purpose.

Equity warriors throwing in the towel so soon? Essay Admissions was supposed to uncover the Einsteins from the bottom schools, who apparently are much more advanced in STEM than the prepped Asians with years of enrichment. Now that the silly Essay admissions is doing nothing more than simply letting in 150 Algebra 1 kids each year straight into remedial, it's time to explain away the decline?

The school Board never claimed that was the case. It was opening the door to more of the county's students. They never claimed what the equity warriors wished the case would be. The Board knew, and prepared for, a student body that was not at the academic math level of prior years. They were transparent in this process.

How is admitting 150 algebra1 students to TJ class bottom to struggle with remedial math considered anything but opening door to fail?

Why do some posters keep labeling the Algebra 1 students (taking geometry at TJ) as remedial. Algebra in 8th is still 1 year ahead of normal pacing.

Kids in Algebra in 8th should not be bussed to a magnet STEM school.

[Anonymous]

It’s pretty hilarious that Young Scholars carries more weight in the admission process than FCPS own AAP.