Freshman TJ Applicant process

[Anonymous]

So the last day to start the app is tomorrow, then it closes on 11/15.

Does TJ then go and vet all the applicants? Will they vet for grades and also if they really are FARMs?

[Anonymous]

Yes. They will determine eligibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. They will determine eligibility.

Do they rank by GPA (with percentile)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. They will determine eligibility.

Do they rank by GPA (with percentile)?

They will screen the GPA to throw out those who doesn't meet minimum requirement.

Student will later participate in essy/problem solving test, it's a holistic review.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. They will determine eligibility.

Do they rank by GPA (with percentile)?

They will screen the GPA to throw out those who doesn't meet minimum requirement.

Student will later participate in essy/problem solving test, it's a holistic review.

How is the GPA calculated? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. They will determine eligibility.

Do they rank by GPA (with percentile)?

GPA is meaningless. Last year, average applicant had the inflated GPA 3.911, and students offered had GPA 3.96. Bottom quarter of the class suffers with Cs and Ds after entering TJ, further validating that the middle school inflated GPA is a bogus admission criteria.

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. They will determine eligibility.

Do they rank by GPA (with percentile)?

GPA is meaningless. Last year, average applicant had the inflated GPA 3.911, and students offered had GPA 3.96. Bottom quarter of the class suffers with Cs and Ds after entering TJ, further validating that the middle school inflated GPA is a bogus admission criteria.

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

citation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. They will determine eligibility.

Do they rank by GPA (with percentile)?

GPA is meaningless. Last year, average applicant had the inflated GPA 3.911, and students offered had GPA 3.96. Bottom quarter of the class suffers with Cs and Ds after entering TJ, further validating that the middle school inflated GPA is a bogus admission criteria.

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

citation?

DP I don't know about C's and D's but a significant portion of the class is doing far worse than they have ever done before.
The math department sent out an email to Math 4 students, (these were mostly students that had taken algebra 2 before coming to TJ and they were not prepared).
https://fairfaxgop.org/tj-math-teachers-note-lowering-of-standards/

A much larger number of students are dropping out of TJ to return to their base school than previously.

The pros of attending TJ are:

A high degree of rigor that will prepare you for college like no other high school in FCPS.
A peer group with a critical mass of highly driven academically gifted students.
After school activities that are unmatched anywhere else in FCPS.

There is at least one high school sports team each season, your child can join.
We're here for the sports!

The cons of attending TJ are:

Your grades are likely going to suffer a bit and for the Virginia state scshools, the GPA seems to be pretty important.
Your peer group will be very academically focused so if you are not then you might not have a lot in common with them.
The "office hours" for classes you need help in are also in the same after school activity period so if you're struggling academically, you are not going to be able to take advantage of the extracurricular after school activities as much.

While you will probably be able to participate in high school sports, TJ is much more likely to win state science bowl and debate than state championships in football or basketball.