TJ vs SLHS

[Anonymous]

DS is deciding between TJ and SLHS. Anyone else who have had to make this choice?

All his friends are accepting admission at TJ and he wants to attend due to peer pressure.

I worry that it is a high pressure environment compared to SLHS, which we are zoned for.

Would love to hear personal experiences with with either school. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I would say let him try TJ if he wants to. He can return to SLHS if he feels that overwhelmed. I would also say that the IB Math and Science classes are not as rigorous as AP Math and Science, leaving TJ out of the picture. If he is interested in STEM classes, the classes at TJ are going to be a better fit and more of a challenge than anything offered at IB. There is a thread in the FCPS forum on IB HL Physics not being offered at at least one of the IB High School because there are not enough interested kids. That thread also points out the IB HL Physics is an Algebra based Physics, not a Calculus based physics.

[Anonymous]

If he really wants to go, that factor should carry the most weight, IMO.

I have a child at TJ and another at our local HS. Both qualified for TJ. Both are thriving at their respective HS. One child really did not want to go to TJ and we respected her decision.

A few other thoughts:

- commute/ bus rider to TJ?
- sports? (this wasn’t not a factor for us, but could be for some)
- motivation? (does your child love stem?)
- organizational skills? (it takes more than intelligence to succeed at TJ; it requires hard work)

But again, your child’s desire to attend should carry the most weight

[Anonymous]

Know the time/place may change next year but where is current bus stop for SL to TJ and time? How much time on buses?

[Anonymous]

Know of 2 kids that started Tj but went back to SL pretty quickly- don’t know why left, but they are thriving now. Assuming ones that didn’t leave TJ are thriving too, no kid should make decision based on what others doing, but that’s hard concept to grasp as a teen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say let him try TJ if he wants to. He can return to SLHS if he feels that overwhelmed. I would also say that the IB Math and Science classes are not as rigorous as AP Math and Science, leaving TJ out of the picture. If he is interested in STEM classes, the classes at TJ are going to be a better fit and more of a challenge than anything offered at IB. There is a thread in the FCPS forum on IB HL Physics not being offered at at least one of the IB High School because there are not enough interested kids. That thread also points out the IB HL Physics is an Algebra based Physics, not a Calculus based physics.

the “try it out and leave” plan is a happy gamble if kids end up liking, but for some is mentally hard if see not liking/wanting to leave as failure (especially for kids who to date have always excelled with ease)- so as parent have plan to support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Know of 2 kids that started Tj but went back to SL pretty quickly- don’t know why left, but they are thriving now. Assuming ones that didn’t leave TJ are thriving too, no kid should make decision based on what others doing, but that’s hard concept to grasp as a teen.

What MS did the kids come from, Carson or Hughes? The competition at Carson is probably closer to the competition at TJ then the competition at Hughes. A student accepted from Carson who would attend SLHS has likely participated in some of the STEM clubs after school and has been in class with kids who are very TJ focused. Carson is a feeder and TJ is a popular topic of conversation. Hughes has a different profile. TJ would be more of a shock to the system to a kid coming from Hughes then a kid coming from Carson.

[Anonymous]

If he wants to attend I would let him.

[Anonymous]

Both Carson and Hughes are AAP Center schools, but the math students demonstrate the difference in the type of student attending each school. A kid from Carson is coming out of a different STEM environment then a kid from Hughes. I can see a kid coming out of Hughes being shellshocked at TJ because the students at TJ different. Carson has a Mathcounts, Science Okympiad, and Science Bowl Club. About 120 kids try out to make the 30 person Mathcounts and Science Olympiad Clubs. Hughes offers a club for Mathletes and a STEM Lab but not Mathcounts or Science Olympiad or Science Bowl.

Carson students will find TJ challenging but they are more likely used to that type of environment. They have been surrounded by a good number of high achieving STEM kids who are interested in TJ. Hughes students are smart and have the skills to do well at TJ but are less likely to have been involved with STEM kids who are as competitive and motivated by attending TJ.

Carson

Algebra 1 in 7th: 230
Algebra 1 in 8th: 239
Geometry in 7th: Not reported. The number of kids in Algebra 2 indicates that there are a decent number of kids in Geometry in 7th grade.
Geometry in 8th: 221
Algebra 2 in 8th: 47

Hughes
Algebra 1 in 7th: 67
Algebra 1 in 8th: 295
Geometry in 8th: 45
Algebra 2 in 8th: 0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both Carson and Hughes are AAP Center schools, but the math students demonstrate the difference in the type of student attending each school. A kid from Carson is coming out of a different STEM environment then a kid from Hughes. I can see a kid coming out of Hughes being shellshocked at TJ because the students at TJ different. Carson has a Mathcounts, Science Okympiad, and Science Bowl Club. About 120 kids try out to make the 30 person Mathcounts and Science Olympiad Clubs. Hughes offers a club for Mathletes and a STEM Lab but not Mathcounts or Science Olympiad or Science Bowl.

Carson students will find TJ challenging but they are more likely used to that type of environment. They have been surrounded by a good number of high achieving STEM kids who are interested in TJ. Hughes students are smart and have the skills to do well at TJ but are less likely to have been involved with STEM kids who are as competitive and motivated by attending TJ.

Carson

Algebra 1 in 7th: 230
Algebra 1 in 8th: 239
Geometry in 7th: Not reported. The number of kids in Algebra 2 indicates that there are a decent number of kids in Geometry in 7th grade.
Geometry in 8th: 221
Algebra 2 in 8th: 47

Hughes
Algebra 1 in 7th: 67
Algebra 1 in 8th: 295
Geometry in 8th: 45
Algebra 2 in 8th: 0

What year are above stats from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both Carson and Hughes are AAP Center schools, but the math students demonstrate the difference in the type of student attending each school. A kid from Carson is coming out of a different STEM environment then a kid from Hughes. I can see a kid coming out of Hughes being shellshocked at TJ because the students at TJ different. Carson has a Mathcounts, Science Okympiad, and Science Bowl Club. About 120 kids try out to make the 30 person Mathcounts and Science Olympiad Clubs. Hughes offers a club for Mathletes and a STEM Lab but not Mathcounts or Science Olympiad or Science Bowl.

Carson students will find TJ challenging but they are more likely used to that type of environment. They have been surrounded by a good number of high achieving STEM kids who are interested in TJ. Hughes students are smart and have the skills to do well at TJ but are less likely to have been involved with STEM kids who are as competitive and motivated by attending TJ.

Carson

Algebra 1 in 7th: 230
Algebra 1 in 8th: 239
Geometry in 7th: Not reported. The number of kids in Algebra 2 indicates that there are a decent number of kids in Geometry in 7th grade.
Geometry in 8th: 221
Algebra 2 in 8th: 47

Hughes
Algebra 1 in 7th: 67
Algebra 1 in 8th: 295
Geometry in 8th: 45
Algebra 2 in 8th: 0

What year are above stats from?

Last year. I would be surprised if the stats were all that different going back any length of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Know the time/place may change next year but where is current bus stop for SL to TJ and time? How much time on buses?

I am interested in this too. Where are the current bus depots for SLHS kids and what time do they start in the morning? Thx

[Anonymous]

I didn’t think the STEM Carson kids went to SLHS. Thought Carson kids that fit the Mathcounts, Science Olym, taking Alg 2 in 8th went to SLHS for IB. Don’t most of those do AP at Oakton? So for that group of Carson kids it’s either TJ or Oakton. Has that changed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t think the STEM Carson kids went to SLHS. Thought Carson kids that fit the Mathcounts, Science Olym, taking Alg 2 in 8th went to SLHS for IB. Don’t most of those do AP at Oakton? So for that group of Carson kids it’s either TJ or Oakton. Has that changed?

The only way to transfer from SLHS to Oakton is to go for AP and Japanese. SLHS students have Herndon HS as their option for AP only or Langley for AP with Russian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t think the STEM Carson kids went to SLHS. Thought Carson kids that fit the Mathcounts, Science Olym, taking Alg 2 in 8th went do AP at Oakton and not IB at SL. So for that group of Carson kids it’s either TJ or Oakton. Has that changed?

The only way to transfer from SLHS to Oakton is to go for AP and Japanese. SLHS students have Herndon HS as their option for AP only or Langley for AP with Russian.

Isn’t Carson MS a split feeder school and kids can choose to go to either Oakton for AP or SLHS for IB. Thought most stem kids at Carson go to Oakton. Are you saying All of Carson is only for SLHS?