TJ Environment Now

[Anonymous]

Can anyone who has a child at TJ under the new admissions standards/testing share what the student body is like now? Any information about this is helpful as we explore possible options for HS. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

OP, the school hasn't changed that much. What is your student like and want in a school?

[Anonymous]

I am not sure. He is very bright, not challenged in his current AAP middle school program. We are exploring options and I was curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure. He is very bright, not challenged in his current AAP middle school program. We are exploring options and I was curious.

Does he love STEM? I would say that is the most important factor and if so, he will love TJ.

[Anonymous]

The student body now is a little bit more Black and Hispanic, but not by much. Last year Hispanic kids at TJ passed 100% of their AP exams and there was only one Black kid that did not pass their exam, so clearly Black and Hispanic kids aren't dragging anything down. Asian kids have AP pass rates that remain very, very high at 99.5% given they had 650 Asian kids take an AP exam. So, the new admission standards and the effect it has on the make-up of the student body shouldn't be of concern. It's still the same rigorous TJ.

[Anonymous]

That's helpful. I wasn't concerned about the Black and Hispanic students....I was more curious due to the shift in testing requirement and more subjective criteria. Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's helpful. I wasn't concerned about the Black and Hispanic students....I was more curious due to the shift in testing requirement and more subjective criteria. Thanks again!

With the new admissions, TJ will miss some STEM students but they always have. Some of them transfer in during sophomore year. There are some students who won't be able to handle the rigor and they leave so by 10th grade, every student should be where they belong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The student body now is a little bit more Black and Hispanic, but not by much. Last year Hispanic kids at TJ passed 100% of their AP exams and there was only one Black kid that did not pass their exam, so clearly Black and Hispanic kids aren't dragging anything down. Asian kids have AP pass rates that remain very, very high at 99.5% given they had 650 Asian kids take an AP exam. So, the new admission standards and the effect it has on the make-up of the student body shouldn't be of concern. It's still the same rigorous TJ.

How many TJ 9th and 10th graders took AP exams last year? Last year, the 11th and 12th graders all would have been selected by the old system and not the new one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone who has a child at TJ under the new admissions standards/testing share what the student body is like now? Any information about this is helpful as we explore possible options for HS. Thank you!

Our child is doing well and TJ is a good fit. Classes are across the board much more difficult than base HS. We transferred from base HS so have something to compare. If child is intensely into academics and would enjoy a high level of rigor, TJ is the place to be. Great experience. College wise it is probably a bit of a drag for Top 20 admissions. But it is a better HS experience for our child.

For our second child we would not be applying to TJ. Second child also very good in academics but not quite like first child. Base HS would be a much better experience.

You know your child and I am sure you would make the right choice for them.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone who has a child at TJ under the new admissions standards/testing share what the student body is like now? Any information about this is helpful as we explore possible options for HS. Thank you!

Our child is doing well and TJ is a good fit. Classes are across the board much more difficult than base HS. We transferred from base HS so have something to compare. If child is intensely into academics and would enjoy a high level of rigor, TJ is the place to be. Great experience. College wise it is probably a bit of a drag for Top 20 admissions. But it is a better HS experience for our child.

For our second child we would not be applying to TJ. Second child also very good in academics but not quite like first child. Base HS would be a much better experience.

You know your child and I am sure you would make the right choice for them.

Good luck!

Could it be because your child is taking advanced classes with possibly some students from class of 2024 (last batch from old selection) too?

[Anonymous]

My kid is a freshman at TJ. He loves it. He is friends with his classmates and finds them to be supportive, he feels like he fits in, the workload has been reasonable (so far—we know it ramps up), he likes the extracurricular activities baked into the day, and he likes not having to deal with the BS that exists in a lot of other high schools. He’s a bright STEM kid who is motivated but also keeps things in perspective. I think it’s important for a kid to make up their own mind on whether to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's helpful. I wasn't concerned about the Black and Hispanic students....I was more curious due to the shift in testing requirement and more subjective criteria. Thanks again!

With the new admissions, TJ will miss some STEM students but they always have. Some of them transfer in during sophomore year. There are some students who won't be able to handle the rigor and they leave so by 10th grade, every student should be where they belong.

Except for all the students who don't get in bect TJ is far too small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone who has a child at TJ under the new admissions standards/testing share what the student body is like now? Any information about this is helpful as we explore possible options for HS. Thank you!

Our child is doing well and TJ is a good fit. Classes are across the board much more difficult than base HS. We transferred from base HS so have something to compare. If child is intensely into academics and would enjoy a high level of rigor, TJ is the place to be. Great experience. College wise it is probably a bit of a drag for Top 20 admissions. But it is a better HS experience for our child.

For our second child we would not be applying to TJ. Second child also very good in academics but not quite like first child. Base HS would be a much better experience.

You know your child and I am sure you would make the right choice for them.

Good luck!

DC is a sophomore at TJ. I checked to be sure I didn’t write the above. Feels spot on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a freshman at TJ. He loves it. He is friends with his classmates and finds them to be supportive, he feels like he fits in, the workload has been reasonable (so far—we know it ramps up), he likes the extracurricular activities baked into the day, and he likes not having to deal with the BS that exists in a lot of other high schools. He’s a bright STEM kid who is motivated but also keeps things in perspective. I think it’s important for a kid to make up their own mind on whether to attend.

What BS would that be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a freshman at TJ. He loves it. He is friends with his classmates and finds them to be supportive, he feels like he fits in, the workload has been reasonable (so far—we know it ramps up), he likes the extracurricular activities baked into the day, and he likes not having to deal with the BS that exists in a lot of other high schools. He’s a bright STEM kid who is motivated but also keeps things in perspective. I think it’s important for a kid to make up their own mind on whether to attend.

What BS would that be?

Vaping, kids taking AP and honors courses who don’t belong in them, lousy teachers.