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

[Anonymous]

At our base school, starting at age 10 we had no choice on the math track. You'd have to do summer school to try to jump the track. Which I'm sure some groups are more likely to do than others. So unless all the districts give students a way to jump the line without working all summer, the system is set up years in advance to not allow kids to pursue higher level math when they have the ability to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This part is true.

"Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students”

If you didn’t enroll Algebra 1 in 7th grade, then it tells us that you failed to meet the benchmark score on the Iowa test and failed to achieve an advanced pass on the SOL. One thing FPCS knows for sure is that most of those students who enrolled in entry level math 7 honors are definitely non-Asian. Therefore, even without knowing your background, they do know where your background excels. They can recruit from just about any school across the county and be certain that those applicants who present Geometry HN or higher at the time of application are mostly likely Asians. So, skim from the bottom and not from the top. No need to rely exclusively on the applicants zip code. They can just look at the math course in 7th grade.

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

I don't have any kids in FCPS; I'm not Asian. I was only a lowly Algebra I in 8th grade kid; my strengths are in language arts. As a taxpayer, however, I am shocked that the average math education level at our flagship STEM high school has been so impacted by the new admissions change. Diversity is a noble goal, but it must also result in the best STEM students getting into our magnet STEM school. Lowering the standard will prove to be a huge mistake for the school and FCPS. Yes, it will take a few years to fully manifest, but it will happen. If fewer kids are qualified for those advanced math classes, the classes will be reduced or eliminated. As an earlier post implied, the school's national ranking, reputation, and qualify of STEM education will decline unless other highly reputed STEM schools elsewhere follow the same wrongheaded path to mediocrity.

Now that parents have allowed school board to eliminate TJ merit standard and use the lowest standard as racial proxy to achieve equity, as expected it emboldens the board to rapidly apply this template downstream. Template: Out with the objective merit criteria, in with the subjective criteria, use proxies to adjust racial quota limits, achieve diversity.

AAP is the next target... or already is. Use HOPE cultural grouping based selections at the entry point, and Severely limit the advanced math acceleration options for 6th to 8th grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also why are the Prince William and Arlington rates of admittance so much higher than Fairfax?

Smaller denominator / significantly fewer applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also why are the Prince William and Arlington rates of admittance so much higher than Fairfax?

there is a quota for participating counties

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This part is true.

"Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students”

If you didn’t enroll Algebra 1 in 7th grade, then it tells us that you failed to meet the benchmark score on the Iowa test and failed to achieve an advanced pass on the SOL. One thing FPCS knows for sure is that most of those students who enrolled in entry level math 7 honors are definitely non-Asian. Therefore, even without knowing your background, they do know where your background excels. They can recruit from just about any school across the county and be certain that those applicants who present Geometry HN or higher at the time of application are mostly likely Asians. So, skim from the bottom and not from the top. No need to rely exclusively on the applicants zip code. They can just look at the math course in 7th grade.

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

I don't have any kids in FCPS; I'm not Asian. I was only a lowly Algebra I in 8th grade kid; my strengths are in language arts. As a taxpayer, however, I am shocked that the average math education level at our flagship STEM high school has been so impacted by the new admissions change. Diversity is a noble goal, but it must also result in the best STEM students getting into our magnet STEM school. Lowering the standard will prove to be a huge mistake for the school and FCPS. Yes, it will take a few years to fully manifest, but it will happen. If fewer kids are qualified for those advanced math classes, the classes will be reduced or eliminated. As an earlier post implied, the school's national ranking, reputation, and qualify of STEM education will decline unless other highly reputed STEM schools elsewhere follow the same wrongheaded path to mediocrity.

Now that parents have allowed school board to eliminate TJ merit standard and use the lowest standard as racial proxy to achieve equity, as expected it emboldens the board to rapidly apply this template downstream. Template: Out with the objective merit criteria, in with the subjective criteria, use proxies to adjust racial quota limits, achieve diversity.

AAP is the next target... or already is. Use HOPE cultural grouping based selections at the entry point, and Severely limit the advanced math acceleration options for 6th to 8th grades.

So they’re raising the bar?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This part is true.

"Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students”

If you didn’t enroll Algebra 1 in 7th grade, then it tells us that you failed to meet the benchmark score on the Iowa test and failed to achieve an advanced pass on the SOL. One thing FPCS knows for sure is that most of those students who enrolled in entry level math 7 honors are definitely non-Asian. Therefore, even without knowing your background, they do know where your background excels. They can recruit from just about any school across the county and be certain that those applicants who present Geometry HN or higher at the time of application are mostly likely Asians. So, skim from the bottom and not from the top. No need to rely exclusively on the applicants zip code. They can just look at the math course in 7th grade.

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

I don't have any kids in FCPS; I'm not Asian. I was only a lowly Algebra I in 8th grade kid; my strengths are in language arts. As a taxpayer, however, I am shocked that the average math education level at our flagship STEM high school has been so impacted by the new admissions change. Diversity is a noble goal, but it must also result in the best STEM students getting into our magnet STEM school. Lowering the standard will prove to be a huge mistake for the school and FCPS. Yes, it will take a few years to fully manifest, but it will happen. If fewer kids are qualified for those advanced math classes, the classes will be reduced or eliminated. As an earlier post implied, the school's national ranking, reputation, and qualify of STEM education will decline unless other highly reputed STEM schools elsewhere follow the same wrongheaded path to mediocrity.

Now that parents have allowed school board to eliminate TJ merit standard and use the lowest standard as racial proxy to achieve equity, as expected it emboldens the board to rapidly apply this template downstream. Template: Out with the objective merit criteria, in with the subjective criteria, use proxies to adjust racial quota limits, achieve diversity.

AAP is the next target... or already is. Use HOPE cultural grouping based selections at the entry point, and Severely limit the advanced math acceleration options for 6th to 8th grades.

The HOPE scores will do the same thing as the GBRSs scores, which many a parent complained about. And kids not invited into LIV can still participate in Advanced Math. A good number of kids are in Advanced Math because inclusion tends to be based on SOL scores, iReady scores, and in class performance. You don't need to be in LIV in order to take Algebra 1 as a 7th grader. Not to mention, the Teachers in the HOPE thread have flat out said that they were not told to apply the HOPE scores across races but only within their classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This part is true.

"Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students”

If you didn’t enroll Algebra 1 in 7th grade, then it tells us that you failed to meet the benchmark score on the Iowa test and failed to achieve an advanced pass on the SOL. One thing FPCS knows for sure is that most of those students who enrolled in entry level math 7 honors are definitely non-Asian. Therefore, even without knowing your background, they do know where your background excels. They can recruit from just about any school across the county and be certain that those applicants who present Geometry HN or higher at the time of application are mostly likely Asians. So, skim from the bottom and not from the top. No need to rely exclusively on the applicants zip code. They can just look at the math course in 7th grade.

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

I don't have any kids in FCPS; I'm not Asian. I was only a lowly Algebra I in 8th grade kid; my strengths are in language arts. As a taxpayer, however, I am shocked that the average math education level at our flagship STEM high school has been so impacted by the new admissions change. Diversity is a noble goal, but it must also result in the best STEM students getting into our magnet STEM school. Lowering the standard will prove to be a huge mistake for the school and FCPS. Yes, it will take a few years to fully manifest, but it will happen. If fewer kids are qualified for those advanced math classes, the classes will be reduced or eliminated. As an earlier post implied, the school's national ranking, reputation, and qualify of STEM education will decline unless other highly reputed STEM schools elsewhere follow the same wrongheaded path to mediocrity.

Now that parents have allowed school board to eliminate TJ merit standard and use the lowest standard as racial proxy to achieve equity, as expected it emboldens the board to rapidly apply this template downstream. Template: Out with the objective merit criteria, in with the subjective criteria, use proxies to adjust racial quota limits, achieve diversity.

AAP is the next target... or already is. Use HOPE cultural grouping based selections at the entry point, and Severely limit the advanced math acceleration options for 6th to 8th grades.

So they’re raising the bar?

you wish. Severely limit advanced students learning by placing a ton of barriers to access algebra 1 in 6h grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This part is true.

"Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students”

If you didn’t enroll Algebra 1 in 7th grade, then it tells us that you failed to meet the benchmark score on the Iowa test and failed to achieve an advanced pass on the SOL. One thing FPCS knows for sure is that most of those students who enrolled in entry level math 7 honors are definitely non-Asian. Therefore, even without knowing your background, they do know where your background excels. They can recruit from just about any school across the county and be certain that those applicants who present Geometry HN or higher at the time of application are mostly likely Asians. So, skim from the bottom and not from the top. No need to rely exclusively on the applicants zip code. They can just look at the math course in 7th grade.

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

You seem to be equating URM with Algebra 1 and Asian with not-Algebra 1. Actually, the admissions process was designed to select for location - and not all middle schools push Algebra in 7th grade. Many highly discourage it, in Fairfax and other districts. The new admissions process does not select for race, it selects for location, for all the middle schools in Nova.

Ask yourself this question: Would the location have been selected if that criterion resulted in Asian representation increasing from 70+ percent to say 85+ percent?

If it included more diverse SES, site. DP.

“ After the revisions to the admissions policy went into effect, the percentage of economically disadvantaged students increased from 0.62% to 25.09%, with Asian Americans being the largest racial group benefiting from this increase. ”

https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/press-release/supreme-court-declines-review-federal-appellate-courts-decision-rejecting-legal

[Anonymous]

^ “site” should be “sure”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This part is true.

"Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students”

If you didn’t enroll Algebra 1 in 7th grade, then it tells us that you failed to meet the benchmark score on the Iowa test and failed to achieve an advanced pass on the SOL. One thing FPCS knows for sure is that most of those students who enrolled in entry level math 7 honors are definitely non-Asian. Therefore, even without knowing your background, they do know where your background excels. They can recruit from just about any school across the county and be certain that those applicants who present Geometry HN or higher at the time of application are mostly likely Asians. So, skim from the bottom and not from the top. No need to rely exclusively on the applicants zip code. They can just look at the math course in 7th grade.

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

I don't have any kids in FCPS; I'm not Asian. I was only a lowly Algebra I in 8th grade kid; my strengths are in language arts. As a taxpayer, however, I am shocked that the average math education level at our flagship STEM high school has been so impacted by the new admissions change. Diversity is a noble goal, but it must also result in the best STEM students getting into our magnet STEM school. Lowering the standard will prove to be a huge mistake for the school and FCPS. Yes, it will take a few years to fully manifest, but it will happen. If fewer kids are qualified for those advanced math classes, the classes will be reduced or eliminated. As an earlier post implied, the school's national ranking, reputation, and qualify of STEM education will decline unless other highly reputed STEM schools elsewhere follow the same wrongheaded path to mediocrity.

Now that parents have allowed school board to eliminate TJ merit standard and use the lowest standard as racial proxy to achieve equity, as expected it emboldens the board to rapidly apply this template downstream. Template: Out with the objective merit criteria, in with the subjective criteria, use proxies to adjust racial quota limits, achieve diversity.

AAP is the next target... or already is. Use HOPE cultural grouping based selections at the entry point, and Severely limit the advanced math acceleration options for 6th to 8th grades.

So they’re raising the bar?

you wish. Severely limit advanced students learning by placing a ton of barriers to access algebra 1 in 6h grade.

And by barriers, you mean “bar”.

They are raising the bar for multi-year acceleration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The average number of Asian students per admitted class for the 10 years prior to the change was 330. The average since the change was 321.

So, on average, there are 9 fewer Asian kids per class after the change.

Nine.

However the overall Asian student percent has gone done. The total number of seats were expanded, but Asian students were solely excluded from participating in the expanded seat assignment. Why wilfully exclude the 1000+ declined Asian applicants from not receiving a single seat from the expanded seat quota?

You're making up fake data to be outraged about. The admissions roughly track the applicant pool. The admissions change was supposed to change interest in the school and increase the underrepresented applicants by geographic as well as racial and SES demographic. And it did. More underrepresented applicants applied and were admitted. That doesn't mean that the represented demographic was excluded.

+1
They were expanded the size of the class to minimize the impact on groups sending a lot of kids already while creating space for new groups to also go. That’s a positive thing.

Exactly.

They expanded the class to include more students from across the county. The “impact” to Asian students was almost negligent.

Nine fewer students on average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The average number of Asian students per admitted class for the 10 years prior to the change was 330. The average since the change was 321.

So, on average, there are 9 fewer Asian kids per class after the change.

Nine.

However the overall Asian student percent has gone done. The total number of seats were expanded, but Asian students were solely excluded from participating in the expanded seat assignment. Why wilfully exclude the 1000+ declined Asian applicants from not receiving a single seat from the expanded seat quota?

You're making up fake data to be outraged about. The admissions roughly track the applicant pool. The admissions change was supposed to change interest in the school and increase the underrepresented applicants by geographic as well as racial and SES demographic. And it did. More underrepresented applicants applied and were admitted. That doesn't mean that the represented demographic was excluded.

+1
They were expanded the size of the class to minimize the impact on groups sending a lot of kids already while creating space for new groups to also go. That’s a positive thing.

Exactly.

They expanded the class to include more students from across the county. The “impact” to Asian students was almost negligent.

Nine fewer students on average.

Very true also the old system was anything but merit since it rewarded those who could afford to buy the test answers which is hardly merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The average number of Asian students per admitted class for the 10 years prior to the change was 330. The average since the change was 321.

So, on average, there are 9 fewer Asian kids per class after the change.

Nine.

However the overall Asian student percent has gone done. The total number of seats were expanded, but Asian students were solely excluded from participating in the expanded seat assignment. Why wilfully exclude the 1000+ declined Asian applicants from not receiving a single seat from the expanded seat quota?

You're making up fake data to be outraged about. The admissions roughly track the applicant pool. The admissions change was supposed to change interest in the school and increase the underrepresented applicants by geographic as well as racial and SES demographic. And it did. More underrepresented applicants applied and were admitted. That doesn't mean that the represented demographic was excluded.

+1
They were expanded the size of the class to minimize the impact on groups sending a lot of kids already while creating space for new groups to also go. That’s a positive thing.

Exactly.

They expanded the class to include more students from across the county. The “impact” to Asian students was almost negligent.

Nine fewer students on average.

Very true also the old system was anything but merit since it rewarded those who could afford to buy the test answers which is hardly merit.

??

[Anonymous]

Wait until the kids are 25 and parents find out that job promotions aren’t based on test scores either. But “merit”??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait until the kids are 25 and parents find out that job promotions aren’t based on test scores either. But “merit”??

At our company that's totally committed to dei, diversity is accomplished using non-merit criteria but for non-critical roles. Everyone understands that, including those who get hired into those roles