Reasons why one would not accept TJ offer?

[Anonymous]

Just now noticed font size can be increased as well, and color can be altered.

[Anonymous]

Sending your child to TJ reduces their chances to go to a top university.

[Anonymous]

Student can graduate with just Algebra 2 from base school, without being forced to take calculus.

[Anonymous]

TJ culture is very toxic. Lots of cheating activities inside the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TJ culture is very toxic. Lots of cheating activities inside the school.

Hmm. As a parent member of a student related group . This is not true esp in the current healthy environment.

Is your kid currently in TJ?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sending your child to TJ reduces their chances to go to a top university.

This is mostly false. Sending your child to TJ only reduces their chances to go to a top university if they follow the same path followed by the traditional typical TJ student.

That path consists of:
- spending your summers either taking TJ summer courses or doing STEM-exclusive internships;
- arranging your course schedule to maximize advanced STEM offerings;
- limiting your non-iNite 8th period activities to obvious resume-building STEM clubs or the Model UN/Debate track;
- participating either in no sports or in individual, low-commitment sports like cross country, track, and swim;
- excelling in none of these things relative to the rest of the TJ population.

These students will end up competing with 200+ kids from TJ and the rest of Northern Virginia who are all trying to get to the same place in the same way.

The kids who end up with the strongest college outcomes from TJ tend to be:
- athletes in team sports;
- students who invest significantly in a performance or visual art;
- students who do something with their summers and extracurriculars that actually helps people;
- students who engage themselves in activities for which they have a deep passion, and thus can write about in a compelling manner.

Colleges are looking for students who are either going to invest in the school or inspire others to do the same. It's that simple. Students who behave in a transactional manner while they're at TJ are not going to be attractive to an elite school unless they are next-level elite themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TJ culture is very toxic. Lots of cheating activities inside the school.

This was the case for most of the 2010s but is getting under control rather quickly through the new admissions process. The old admissions process favored a cutthroat attitude and students/parents who were willing to do whatever it took to get in - and once they got to TJ, would do whatever it took to ensure that their student didn't appear to be struggling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

There have ALWAYS been Algebra 1 students who got into TJ. Indeed, for most of the school’s early existence, the majority of students entering were coming in from Alg1.

Some of the school’s most outstanding graduates, even in recent years, have entered from Alg1.

But you’re going to sit here and pretend that you care about them and their well-being as an excuse to advance your pernicious self-serving narrative that TJ should only be for kids who are in Geometry or higher - or that kids who are in Pre-calc or above should be automatic admits.

Alg1 TJ students do not need your support. They have been doing splendidly and will continue to do so while you cry your crocodile tears. Enough already with this nonsense.

Some posters are very committed to the false narrative about decline in standards. They prefer the rigged system where only wealthy students whose parents could afford to buy the test had a shot at admission.

96% had finished more than Algebra 1 before the class of 2025. That number is up to 30%+.

TJ has had to implement remedial math instruction since the class of 2025 began.

There is no false narrative. These are facts.

People spout this number as though it's supposed to mean something. What do you think it means, other than the fact that FCPS is now opening TJ's doors to more students who are merely "advanced" in math rather than "super-advanced"?

Both sides are true. FCPS opened the doors to lower income kids who are talented, but have lacked opportunities. They've also opened the door to completely mediocre kids in the middle to high SES schools. It's great that Algebra I kids at high FARMS schools are being given a chance. It's ludicrous that Algebra I kids at Longfellow, Rocky Run, Carson, etc. are getting in. Those are privileged kids who despite the enrichment and tutoring couldn't meet the bar for Algebra in 7th grade. For many FCPS AAP centers, there are 100+ kids applying who all look roughly the same on paper when using the pretty sparse TJ application process. It would make more sense to penalize kids from those schools who are only in Algebra I than it is to split hairs between kids' portrait of a graduate essays when deciding on admissions.

New poster: This is absolutely wrong. TJ doesn't give a crap about whether lower income kids lacked opportunities or if even lower income kids are given a bump. What they care about and what they mandate is accepting kids from all schools, which means that lower performing kids will get in over higher performing kids. TJ does nothing to determine if a kid from a low SES school actually is low income and TJ does nothing to determine if a kid from a low SES school lacked opportunities. Please - don't state false statements based on extrapolations which aren't not based in fact.

Couple of crucial corrections to the above:

1) TJ didn't do anything with respect to the admissions process - FCPS did. WHATEVER - SAME THING. Anyone knows what I was saying...which is correcting your purposeful misstatement to fit your narrative.

2) FCPS has access to all of the demographic information described in the above nonsense and does indeed use it.

PLEASE SHOW HOW THEY ARE USING DEMOGRAPHICS TO LET IN LOW INCOME LOWER PERFORMING KIDS IN THE TOP FEW PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL WHO APPLY OVER HIGHER PERFORMING, WEALTHIER KIDS WHO ARE ALSO IN THE TOP FEW PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL WHO APPLY? YOU CAN'T... AGAIN, PLEASE DO NOT STATE FALSE INFO.

And: nice try avoiding directly addressing my corrections of your falsehoods.

Putting things in bold doesn't make them true. They give bonus points for FARMS status, and a very high amount.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There have ALWAYS been Algebra 1 students who got into TJ. Indeed, for most of the school’s early existence, the majority of students entering were coming in from Alg1.

Some of the school’s most outstanding graduates, even in recent years, have entered from Alg1.

But you’re going to sit here and pretend that you care about them and their well-being as an excuse to advance your pernicious self-serving narrative that TJ should only be for kids who are in Geometry or higher - or that kids who are in Pre-calc or above should be automatic admits.

Alg1 TJ students do not need your support. They have been doing splendidly and will continue to do so while you cry your crocodile tears. Enough already with this nonsense.

Some posters are very committed to the false narrative about decline in standards. They prefer the rigged system where only wealthy students whose parents could afford to buy the test had a shot at admission.

96% had finished more than Algebra 1 before the class of 2025. That number is up to 30%+.

TJ has had to implement remedial math instruction since the class of 2025 began.

There is no false narrative. These are facts.

People spout this number as though it's supposed to mean something. What do you think it means, other than the fact that FCPS is now opening TJ's doors to more students who are merely "advanced" in math rather than "super-advanced"?

Both sides are true. FCPS opened the doors to lower income kids who are talented, but have lacked opportunities. They've also opened the door to completely mediocre kids in the middle to high SES schools. It's great that Algebra I kids at high FARMS schools are being given a chance. It's ludicrous that Algebra I kids at Longfellow, Rocky Run, Carson, etc. are getting in. Those are privileged kids who despite the enrichment and tutoring couldn't meet the bar for Algebra in 7th grade. For many FCPS AAP centers, there are 100+ kids applying who all look roughly the same on paper when using the pretty sparse TJ application process. It would make more sense to penalize kids from those schools who are only in Algebra I than it is to split hairs between kids' portrait of a graduate essays when deciding on admissions.

New poster: This is absolutely wrong. TJ doesn't give a crap about whether lower income kids lacked opportunities or if even lower income kids are given a bump. What they care about and what they mandate is accepting kids from all schools, which means that lower performing kids will get in over higher performing kids. TJ does nothing to determine if a kid from a low SES school actually is low income and TJ does nothing to determine if a kid from a low SES school lacked opportunities. Please - don't state false statements based on extrapolations which aren't not based in fact.

Couple of crucial corrections to the above:

1) TJ didn't do anything with respect to the admissions process - FCPS did. WHATEVER - SAME THING. Anyone knows what I was saying...which is correcting your purposeful misstatement to fit your narrative.

2) FCPS has access to all of the demographic information described in the above nonsense and does indeed use it.

PLEASE SHOW HOW THEY ARE USING DEMOGRAPHICS TO LET IN LOW INCOME LOWER PERFORMING KIDS IN THE TOP FEW PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL WHO APPLY OVER HIGHER PERFORMING, WEALTHIER KIDS WHO ARE ALSO IN THE TOP FEW PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL WHO APPLY? YOU CAN'T... AGAIN, PLEASE DO NOT STATE FALSE INFO.

And: nice try avoiding directly addressing my corrections of your falsehoods.

Putting things in bold doesn't make them true. They give bonus points for FARMS status, and a very high amount.

DP.

The FCPS website spells it out explicitly: TJ admissions considers “experience factors” in admissions:

“ A holistic review will be done of students whose applications demonstrate enhanced merit; 550 seats will then be offered to the highest-evaluated students. Students will be evaluated on their grade point average (GPA); a student portrait sheet where they will be asked to demonstrate Portrait of a Graduate attributes and 21st century skills; a problem-solving essay; and experience factors, including students who are economically disadvantaged, English language learners, or special education students.”

Source: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-admissions/tjhsst-freshman


Further down the page it explains

Experience Factors
Economically Disadvantaged
English Language Learners
Special Education



40% of the admissions weight is counted if students have “experience factors.”

Stop trying to gaslight people when the data is right on an FCPS page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There have ALWAYS been Algebra 1 students who got into TJ. Indeed, for most of the school’s early existence, the majority of students entering were coming in from Alg1.

Some of the school’s most outstanding graduates, even in recent years, have entered from Alg1.

But you’re going to sit here and pretend that you care about them and their well-being as an excuse to advance your pernicious self-serving narrative that TJ should only be for kids who are in Geometry or higher - or that kids who are in Pre-calc or above should be automatic admits.

Alg1 TJ students do not need your support. They have been doing splendidly and will continue to do so while you cry your crocodile tears. Enough already with this nonsense.

Some posters are very committed to the false narrative about decline in standards. They prefer the rigged system where only wealthy students whose parents could afford to buy the test had a shot at admission.

96% had finished more than Algebra 1 before the class of 2025. That number is up to 30%+.

TJ has had to implement remedial math instruction since the class of 2025 began.

There is no false narrative. These are facts.

People spout this number as though it's supposed to mean something. What do you think it means, other than the fact that FCPS is now opening TJ's doors to more students who are merely "advanced" in math rather than "super-advanced"?

Both sides are true. FCPS opened the doors to lower income kids who are talented, but have lacked opportunities. They've also opened the door to completely mediocre kids in the middle to high SES schools. It's great that Algebra I kids at high FARMS schools are being given a chance. It's ludicrous that Algebra I kids at Longfellow, Rocky Run, Carson, etc. are getting in. Those are privileged kids who despite the enrichment and tutoring couldn't meet the bar for Algebra in 7th grade. For many FCPS AAP centers, there are 100+ kids applying who all look roughly the same on paper when using the pretty sparse TJ application process. It would make more sense to penalize kids from those schools who are only in Algebra I than it is to split hairs between kids' portrait of a graduate essays when deciding on admissions.

New poster: This is absolutely wrong. TJ doesn't give a crap about whether lower income kids lacked opportunities or if even lower income kids are given a bump. What they care about and what they mandate is accepting kids from all schools, which means that lower performing kids will get in over higher performing kids. TJ does nothing to determine if a kid from a low SES school actually is low income and TJ does nothing to determine if a kid from a low SES school lacked opportunities. Please - don't state false statements based on extrapolations which aren't not based in fact.

Couple of crucial corrections to the above:

1) TJ didn't do anything with respect to the admissions process - FCPS did. WHATEVER - SAME THING. Anyone knows what I was saying...which is correcting your purposeful misstatement to fit your narrative.

2) FCPS has access to all of the demographic information described in the above nonsense and does indeed use it.

PLEASE SHOW HOW THEY ARE USING DEMOGRAPHICS TO LET IN LOW INCOME LOWER PERFORMING KIDS IN THE TOP FEW PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL WHO APPLY OVER HIGHER PERFORMING, WEALTHIER KIDS WHO ARE ALSO IN THE TOP FEW PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL WHO APPLY? YOU CAN'T... AGAIN, PLEASE DO NOT STATE FALSE INFO.

And: nice try avoiding directly addressing my corrections of your falsehoods.

Putting things in bold doesn't make them true. They give bonus points for FARMS status, and a very high amount.

DP.

The FCPS website spells it out explicitly: TJ admissions considers “experience factors” in admissions:

“ A holistic review will be done of students whose applications demonstrate enhanced merit; 550 seats will then be offered to the highest-evaluated students. Students will be evaluated on their grade point average (GPA); a student portrait sheet where they will be asked to demonstrate Portrait of a Graduate attributes and 21st century skills; a problem-solving essay; and experience factors, including students who are economically disadvantaged, English language learners, or special education students.”

Source: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-admissions/tjhsst-freshman


Further down the page it explains

Experience Factors
Economically Disadvantaged
English Language Learners
Special Education



40% of the admissions weight is counted if students have “experience factors.”

Stop trying to gaslight people when the data is right on an FCPS page

Different Equity minion here. good post. but avoid starting your replies with DP, PP,...nonsense. makes us look like wimps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sending your child to TJ reduces their chances to go to a top university.

+1. I don’t understand why people believe it helps. TJ kids with a 4.3 and 1600 struggle to get into UVA. At your base school, it would be a safety school for your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ culture is very toxic. Lots of cheating activities inside the school.

Hmm. As a parent member of a student related group . This is not true esp in the current healthy environment.

Is your kid currently in TJ?

Thanks

My kid is at TJ - new admissions process. He says cheating is rampant.

Kids take pictures of exam problems and share with others who have not yet taken the exam. A whole group of kids have As just based on cheating. Its common knowledge to all - even the administration - but they just turn a blind eye

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TJ culture is very toxic. Lots of cheating activities inside the school.

Of course, admit lower math students and leave them no choice but to cheat. This was happening before admissions change and after change it grew exponentially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sending your child to TJ reduces their chances to go to a top university.

+1. I don’t understand why people believe it helps. TJ kids with a 4.3 and 1600 struggle to get into UVA. At your base school, it would be a safety school for your kid.

Yet, an envious base school parent cant stop talking about TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sending your child to TJ reduces their chances to go to a top university.

+1. I don’t understand why people believe it helps. TJ kids with a 4.3 and 1600 struggle to get into UVA. At your base school, it would be a safety school for your kid.

Yet, an envious base school parent cant stop talking about TJ.

PP was right about the admissions struggle. If you have a kid at TJ, feel free to look at the stats for yourself in Naviance.