Who are the kids that get into TJ from the lower ranking middle schools?

[Anonymous]

I have a child at poorly performing MS which, prior to the admission policy change, typically did not have any students admitted to TJ. DC is truly a brilliant and hardworking kid - the top student in honors geometry (near perfect average), acing the rest of their all honors courses, all advanced pass or perfect SOL scores, etc. DC is white and we do not qualify for free/reduced priced meals.

I'm curious to know what the admittance pool looks like at a school like ours? Do we have a shot or are the spots typically offered to high performing students with one or more "experience factors"?

I hope to keep the conversation civil and am genuinely asking out of curiosity. TIA!

[Anonymous]

No clue but he should apply if he is interested in attending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at poorly performing MS which, prior to the admission policy change, typically did not have any students admitted to TJ. DC is truly a brilliant and hardworking kid - the top student in honors geometry (near perfect average), acing the rest of their all honors courses, all advanced pass or perfect SOL scores, etc. DC is white and we do not qualify for free/reduced priced meals.

I'm curious to know what the admittance pool looks like at a school like ours? Do we have a shot or are the spots typically offered to high performing students with one or more "experience factors"?

I hope to keep the conversation civil and am genuinely asking out of curiosity. TIA!

One from ours was such an outlier. Real genius even. Don't think they would've stood a chance with the old system though since their family is low-income and wouldn't even consider prep classes that were required to be competitive then.

[Anonymous]

OP here - should also add that we've done no prep classes or anything like that, but from what I gather, most of the kids at this school don't. He will definitely apply, I just wonder whether he will be at a disadvantage because of no experience factors compared to the vast majority of his peers at the same school.

[Anonymous]

My DC with very similar stats was rejected from Longfellow but I think your child has an excellent chance of being admitted. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at poorly performing MS which, prior to the admission policy change, typically did not have any students admitted to TJ. DC is truly a brilliant and hardworking kid - the top student in honors geometry (near perfect average), acing the rest of their all honors courses, all advanced pass or perfect SOL scores, etc. DC is white and we do not qualify for free/reduced priced meals.

I'm curious to know what the admittance pool looks like at a school like ours? Do we have a shot or are the spots typically offered to high performing students with one or more "experience factors"?

I hope to keep the conversation civil and am genuinely asking out of curiosity. TIA!

One from ours was such an outlier. Real genius even. Don't think they would've stood a chance with the old system though since their family is low-income and wouldn't even consider prep classes that were required to be competitive then.

Prep was never necessary. My two kids and many others did no prep. Stop with those lies.

OP, your kid should do well coming from a low performing school. It’s the kids like yours at high performing schools that are getting rejected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at poorly performing MS which, prior to the admission policy change, typically did not have any students admitted to TJ. DC is truly a brilliant and hardworking kid - the top student in honors geometry (near perfect average), acing the rest of their all honors courses, all advanced pass or perfect SOL scores, etc. DC is white and we do not qualify for free/reduced priced meals.

I'm curious to know what the admittance pool looks like at a school like ours? Do we have a shot or are the spots typically offered to high performing students with one or more "experience factors"?

I hope to keep the conversation civil and am genuinely asking out of curiosity. TIA!

One from ours was such an outlier. Real genius even. Don't think they would've stood a chance with the old system though since their family is low-income and wouldn't even consider prep classes that were required to be competitive then.

Prep was never necessary. My two kids and many others did no prep. Stop with those lies.

OP, your kid should do well coming from a low performing school. It’s the kids like yours at high performing schools that are getting rejected.

It is not a lie that kids prepped. Prep programs posted the names of kids who were accepted into TJ and similar schools. And they posted them for many years, you used to be able to look at the roster for many years back.

Were there kids who were accepted who did not prep? Yes. Was there a large percentage of kids who did prep? Yes. By the time they were dropping the Quant test, there were more kids who had participated in prep programs then had not.

The reality is that parents who are very invested in their kids attending TJ will look at what seems to work and replicate that. Prep worked, so you saw that practice grow. The prep now is shifting from the Quant test and to essay prep, people are discussing it and the prep programs, like Currie, are more focused on the writing portion in their write ups. If moving schools seems to work I would guess that you will see more families do that. If you can afford the cost of the prep programs, and they do run in the 10,000-20,000 range for 7th and 8th grade, then you can rent a cheap apartment and drive your kid to school for a year or two.

The kids whose parents are looking to game the system are not the majority of the school but they are a significant percentage of the school. I am sure it sucks for the kids who didn’t go to the prep schools or look to game the system but it doesn’t change the fact that it did happen and is continuing to happen today.

[Anonymous]

You should apply. Admissions rules have been changed. Now each feeder school is allocated a certain percentage of students that are admitted— something like 4%. For most schools, that means about 4-6 kids per school. So, my understanding is that kids from all FCPS MS will be represented. At least that’s what the presentation said

Of course, this may change pending Ct decision

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should apply. Admissions rules have been changed. Now each feeder school is allocated a certain percentage of students that are admitted— something like 4%. For most schools, that means about 4-6 kids per school. So, my understanding is that kids from all FCPS MS will be represented. At least that’s what the presentation said

Of course, this may change pending Ct decision

Each MS is allocated seats equal to 1.5% of their 8th grade class, which normally works out to 8-9 students per school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC with very similar stats was rejected from Longfellow but I think your child has an excellent chance of being admitted. Good luck!

Did you end up sending your kid to McLean or did you find another school? How is it working out?

We are appalled by the arrogant, dismissive attitude of the school board member about the overcrowding there and not sure we can stomach sending DC there.

[Anonymous]

Is your child in 7th grade? If so, do not be surprised if there are a bunch of kids who enroll for 8th grade.


There is a list of middle schools where kids can be admitted easily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should apply. Admissions rules have been changed. Now each feeder school is allocated a certain percentage of students that are admitted— something like 4%. For most schools, that means about 4-6 kids per school. So, my understanding is that kids from all FCPS MS will be represented. At least that’s what the presentation said

Of course, this may change pending Ct decision

Kids from all FCPS, LCPS, PWCPS MS are represented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at poorly performing MS which, prior to the admission policy change, typically did not have any students admitted to TJ. DC is truly a brilliant and hardworking kid - the top student in honors geometry (near perfect average), acing the rest of their all honors courses, all advanced pass or perfect SOL scores, etc. DC is white and we do not qualify for free/reduced priced meals.

I'm curious to know what the admittance pool looks like at a school like ours? Do we have a shot or are the spots typically offered to high performing students with one or more "experience factors"?

I hope to keep the conversation civil and am genuinely asking out of curiosity. TIA!

One from ours was such an outlier. Real genius even. Don't think they would've stood a chance with the old system though since their family is low-income and wouldn't even consider prep classes that were required to be competitive then.

Prep was never necessary. My two kids and many others did no prep. Stop with those lies.

OP, your kid should do well coming from a low performing school. It’s the kids like yours at high performing schools that are getting rejected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your child in 7th grade? If so, do not be surprised if there are a bunch of kids who enroll for 8th grade.


There is a list of middle schools where kids can be admitted easily.

Except, the admins at those schools will know who just moved in. There will not be enough data from one semester. You have to move in 7th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC with very similar stats was rejected from Longfellow but I think your child has an excellent chance of being admitted. Good luck!

Did you end up sending your kid to McLean or did you find another school? How is it working out?

We are appalled by the arrogant, dismissive attitude of the school board member about the overcrowding there and not sure we can stomach sending DC there.

What does a school board member have to do with how a high school is for a student? Strange leap.