Fairness of TJHSST admission assessment

[Anonymous]

For Pete’s sake, didn’t FCPS allocate $$$ for technology upgrades during COVID? And now, kids didn’t have internet connectivity during the TJ test FCPS were administering. How is FCPS going to administer digital SATs in a couple of years?

I’m so sick of the incompetence of FCPS admin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the end of the day, there are more students in the region who are qualified for and would benefit from a TJ education than there are available seats. No matter what admissions process they use, someone will not get in and that person will feel aggrieved as a result.

Yep. The best use of the time for the loud, resourced, aggrieved individuals is either to advocate for their taxes to be used to build another STEM magnet school in the western part of the county or perhaps to de-allocate seats to the non-FCPS jurisdictions and force them to compete for the unallocated slots.

And then it would be disbanded as a governors school, with loss of all of its additional funding as such.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For Pete’s sake, didn’t FCPS allocate $$$ for technology upgrades during COVID? And now, kids didn’t have internet connectivity during the TJ test FCPS were administering. How is FCPS going to administer digital SATs in a couple of years?

I’m so sick of the incompetence of FCPS admin.

It sometimes happens at schools that the internet goes out. But this appears to have happened at multiple schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question is how the admission evaluate the student's academic standing within school? So students have already finished pre-calculus and even higher, but they are having same GPA as other students, and some might get lower GPA like A- because they did not turn in homework on time. How did the students are being identified as top 1.5% rank? I am sure TJ admission won't know the student well, and now the recommendation letter is not required.

If your child is getting lower grades than they otherwise might because they aren’t keeping up with a middle school workload, that does not bode well for their ability to manage the rigors of a TJ course load.

And how many applicants have already finished pre-calculus by 8th grade?

It wasn't a middle school workload if they are taking precalculus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question is how the admission evaluate the student's academic standing within school? So students have already finished pre-calculus and even higher, but they are having same GPA as other students, and some might get lower GPA like A- because they did not turn in homework on time. How did the students are being identified as top 1.5% rank? I am sure TJ admission won't know the student well, and now the recommendation letter is not required.

If your child is getting lower grades than they otherwise might because they aren’t keeping up with a middle school workload, that does not bode well for their ability to manage the rigors of a TJ course load.

And how many applicants have already finished pre-calculus by 8th grade?

It wasn't a middle school workload if they are taking precalculus.

If they are taking pre-calculus in middle school, they probably aren’t doing that through FCPS in the first place so it wouldn’t turn up in the FCPS report cards.

But regardless of where they are taking classes, a student who hasn’t leaned to manage their workload to avoid getting grade deductions for late work will struggle at TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question is how the admission evaluate the student's academic standing within school? So students have already finished pre-calculus and even higher, but they are having same GPA as other students, and some might get lower GPA like A- because they did not turn in homework on time. How did the students are being identified as top 1.5% rank? I am sure TJ admission won't know the student well, and now the recommendation letter is not required.

If your child is getting lower grades than they otherwise might because they aren’t keeping up with a middle school workload, that does not bode well for their ability to manage the rigors of a TJ course load.

And how many applicants have already finished pre-calculus by 8th grade?

It wasn't a middle school workload if they are taking precalculus.

If they are taking pre-calculus in middle school, they probably aren’t doing that through FCPS in the first place so it wouldn’t turn up in the FCPS report cards.

But regardless of where they are taking classes, a student who hasn’t leaned to manage their workload to avoid getting grade deductions for late work will struggle at TJ.

This is mainly 7th grade gpa. Lots of growing happens in 1-2 years at this age, especially for boys. You’re punishing for past behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question is how the admission evaluate the student's academic standing within school? So students have already finished pre-calculus and even higher, but they are having same GPA as other students, and some might get lower GPA like A- because they did not turn in homework on time. How did the students are being identified as top 1.5% rank? I am sure TJ admission won't know the student well, and now the recommendation letter is not required.

If your child is getting lower grades than they otherwise might because they aren’t keeping up with a middle school workload, that does not bode well for their ability to manage the rigors of a TJ course load.

And how many applicants have already finished pre-calculus by 8th grade?

It wasn't a middle school workload if they are taking precalculus.

If they are taking pre-calculus in middle school, they probably aren’t doing that through FCPS in the first place so it wouldn’t turn up in the FCPS report cards.

But regardless of where they are taking classes, a student who hasn’t leaned to manage their workload to avoid getting grade deductions for late work will struggle at TJ.

This is mainly 7th grade gpa. Lots of growing happens in 1-2 years at this age, especially for boys. You’re punishing for past behavior.

See the post above about there being more capable/qualified students than there are seats. No matter how they make the selections, someone who did not get in will think it is unfair. That alone is not a compelling argument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question is how the admission evaluate the student's academic standing within school? So students have already finished pre-calculus and even higher, but they are having same GPA as other students, and some might get lower GPA like A- because they did not turn in homework on time. How did the students are being identified as top 1.5% rank? I am sure TJ admission won't know the student well, and now the recommendation letter is not required.

If your child is getting lower grades than they otherwise might because they aren’t keeping up with a middle school workload, that does not bode well for their ability to manage the rigors of a TJ course load.

And how many applicants have already finished pre-calculus by 8th grade?

It wasn't a middle school workload if they are taking precalculus.

If they are taking pre-calculus in middle school, they probably aren’t doing that through FCPS in the first place so it wouldn’t turn up in the FCPS report cards.

But regardless of where they are taking classes, a student who hasn’t leaned to manage their workload to avoid getting grade deductions for late work will struggle at TJ.

There are 8th graders that take precalculus at the high school - they travel over for that period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question is how the admission evaluate the student's academic standing within school? So students have already finished pre-calculus and even higher, but they are having same GPA as other students, and some might get lower GPA like A- because they did not turn in homework on time. How did the students are being identified as top 1.5% rank? I am sure TJ admission won't know the student well, and now the recommendation letter is not required.

If your child is getting lower grades than they otherwise might because they aren’t keeping up with a middle school workload, that does not bode well for their ability to manage the rigors of a TJ course load.

And how many applicants have already finished pre-calculus by 8th grade?

It wasn't a middle school workload if they are taking precalculus.

If they are taking pre-calculus in middle school, they probably aren’t doing that through FCPS in the first place so it wouldn’t turn up in the FCPS report cards.

But regardless of where they are taking classes, a student who hasn’t leaned to manage their workload to avoid getting grade deductions for late work will struggle at TJ.

This is mainly 7th grade gpa. Lots of growing happens in 1-2 years at this age, especially for boys. You’re punishing for past behavior.

See the post above about there being more capable/qualified students than there are seats. No matter how they make the selections, someone who did not get in will think it is unfair. That alone is not a compelling argument.

I didn’t draw any conclusions, just stated a few facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question is how the admission evaluate the student's academic standing within school? So students have already finished pre-calculus and even higher, but they are having same GPA as other students, and some might get lower GPA like A- because they did not turn in homework on time. How did the students are being identified as top 1.5% rank? I am sure TJ admission won't know the student well, and now the recommendation letter is not required.

If your child is getting lower grades than they otherwise might because they aren’t keeping up with a middle school workload, that does not bode well for their ability to manage the rigors of a TJ course load.

And how many applicants have already finished pre-calculus by 8th grade?

It wasn't a middle school workload if they are taking precalculus.

If they are taking pre-calculus in middle school, they probably aren’t doing that through FCPS in the first place so it wouldn’t turn up in the FCPS report cards.

But regardless of where they are taking classes, a student who hasn’t leaned to manage their workload to avoid getting grade deductions for late work will struggle at TJ.

This is mainly 7th grade gpa. Lots of growing happens in 1-2 years at this age, especially for boys. You’re punishing for past behavior.

See the post above about there being more capable/qualified students than there are seats. No matter how they make the selections, someone who did not get in will think it is unfair. That alone is not a compelling argument.

I didn’t draw any conclusions, just stated a few facts.

Um, yes you did. Assuming that students who were docked for late assignments would grow out of it by 9th grade and that it therefore is an unfair punishment for middle school grades to factor into the admissions process is absolutely a conclusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question is how the admission evaluate the student's academic standing within school? So students have already finished pre-calculus and even higher, but they are having same GPA as other students, and some might get lower GPA like A- because they did not turn in homework on time. How did the students are being identified as top 1.5% rank? I am sure TJ admission won't know the student well, and now the recommendation letter is not required.

If your child is getting lower grades than they otherwise might because they aren’t keeping up with a middle school workload, that does not bode well for their ability to manage the rigors of a TJ course load.

And how many applicants have already finished pre-calculus by 8th grade?

It wasn't a middle school workload if they are taking precalculus.

If they are taking pre-calculus in middle school, they probably aren’t doing that through FCPS in the first place so it wouldn’t turn up in the FCPS report cards.

But regardless of where they are taking classes, a student who hasn’t leaned to manage their workload to avoid getting grade deductions for late work will struggle at TJ.

This is mainly 7th grade gpa. Lots of growing happens in 1-2 years at this age, especially for boys. You’re punishing for past behavior.

See the post above about there being more capable/qualified students than there are seats. No matter how they make the selections, someone who did not get in will think it is unfair. That alone is not a compelling argument.

I didn’t draw any conclusions, just stated a few facts.

Um, yes you did. Assuming that students who were docked for late assignments would grow out of it by 9th grade and that it therefore is an unfair punishment for middle school grades to factor into the admissions process is absolutely a conclusion.

That is your conclusion. You’re projecting. All I said was “ This is mainly 7th grade gpa. Lots of growing happens in 1-2 years at this age, especially for boys. You’re punishing for past behavior.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question is how the admission evaluate the student's academic standing within school? So students have already finished pre-calculus and even higher, but they are having same GPA as other students, and some might get lower GPA like A- because they did not turn in homework on time. How did the students are being identified as top 1.5% rank? I am sure TJ admission won't know the student well, and now the recommendation letter is not required.

If your child is getting lower grades than they otherwise might because they aren’t keeping up with a middle school workload, that does not bode well for their ability to manage the rigors of a TJ course load.

And how many applicants have already finished pre-calculus by 8th grade?

It wasn't a middle school workload if they are taking precalculus.

If they are taking pre-calculus in middle school, they probably aren’t doing that through FCPS in the first place so it wouldn’t turn up in the FCPS report cards.

But regardless of where they are taking classes, a student who hasn’t leaned to manage their workload to avoid getting grade deductions for late work will struggle at TJ.

This is mainly 7th grade gpa. Lots of growing happens in 1-2 years at this age, especially for boys. You’re punishing for past behavior.

See the post above about there being more capable/qualified students than there are seats. No matter how they make the selections, someone who did not get in will think it is unfair. That alone is not a compelling argument.

I didn’t draw any conclusions, just stated a few facts.

Um, yes you did. Assuming that students who were docked for late assignments would grow out of it by 9th grade and that it therefore is an unfair punishment for middle school grades to factor into the admissions process is absolutely a conclusion.

That is your conclusion. You’re projecting. All I said was “ This is mainly 7th grade gpa. Lots of growing happens in 1-2 years at this age, especially for boys. You’re punishing for past behavior.”

The bolded is a conclusion.

That aside, if you’re saying no one should have their past acts/performance held against them, you are basically arguing for totally random lottery with no consideration of academic qualifications at all. Is that really what you’re looking for here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question is how the admission evaluate the student's academic standing within school? So students have already finished pre-calculus and even higher, but they are having same GPA as other students, and some might get lower GPA like A- because they did not turn in homework on time. How did the students are being identified as top 1.5% rank? I am sure TJ admission won't know the student well, and now the recommendation letter is not required.

If your child is getting lower grades than they otherwise might because they aren’t keeping up with a middle school workload, that does not bode well for their ability to manage the rigors of a TJ course load.

And how many applicants have already finished pre-calculus by 8th grade?

It wasn't a middle school workload if they are taking precalculus.

If they are taking pre-calculus in middle school, they probably aren’t doing that through FCPS in the first place so it wouldn’t turn up in the FCPS report cards.

But regardless of where they are taking classes, a student who hasn’t leaned to manage their workload to avoid getting grade deductions for late work will struggle at TJ.

This is mainly 7th grade gpa. Lots of growing happens in 1-2 years at this age, especially for boys. You’re punishing for past behavior.

See the post above about there being more capable/qualified students than there are seats. No matter how they make the selections, someone who did not get in will think it is unfair. That alone is not a compelling argument.

I didn’t draw any conclusions, just stated a few facts.

Um, yes you did. Assuming that students who were docked for late assignments would grow out of it by 9th grade and that it therefore is an unfair punishment for middle school grades to factor into the admissions process is absolutely a conclusion.

That is your conclusion. You’re projecting. All I said was “ This is mainly 7th grade gpa. Lots of growing happens in 1-2 years at this age, especially for boys. You’re punishing for past behavior.”

The bolded is a conclusion.

That aside, if you’re saying no one should have their past acts/performance held against them, you are basically arguing for totally random lottery with no consideration of academic qualifications at all. Is that really what you’re looking for here?

Sorry, you said that it was an unfair punishment. It’s a fact that that if gpa is taken into account, some are rewarded for good gpa while others are punished for a lesser one. That is a fact. No conclusion there. In the TJ case, this gpa/reward is happening at an age that a lot of growth is happening. If middle school should represent a person, then middle school gpa should be reported for college admissions as well, but it’s not.

Whether that is fair or not, it’s not something I’d like to get into. But that’s the way it is. I’m not arguing for any method of selection. If you think your case is stronger by omitting the facts then you need to rethink your premises.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question is how the admission evaluate the student's academic standing within school? So students have already finished pre-calculus and even higher, but they are having same GPA as other students, and some might get lower GPA like A- because they did not turn in homework on time. How did the students are being identified as top 1.5% rank? I am sure TJ admission won't know the student well, and now the recommendation letter is not required.

If your child is getting lower grades than they otherwise might because they aren’t keeping up with a middle school workload, that does not bode well for their ability to manage the rigors of a TJ course load.

And how many applicants have already finished pre-calculus by 8th grade?

It wasn't a middle school workload if they are taking precalculus.

If they are taking pre-calculus in middle school, they probably aren’t doing that through FCPS in the first place so it wouldn’t turn up in the FCPS report cards.

But regardless of where they are taking classes, a student who hasn’t leaned to manage their workload to avoid getting grade deductions for late work will struggle at TJ.

This is mainly 7th grade gpa. Lots of growing happens in 1-2 years at this age, especially for boys. You’re punishing for past behavior.

See the post above about there being more capable/qualified students than there are seats. No matter how they make the selections, someone who did not get in will think it is unfair. That alone is not a compelling argument.

I didn’t draw any conclusions, just stated a few facts.

Um, yes you did. Assuming that students who were docked for late assignments would grow out of it by 9th grade and that it therefore is an unfair punishment for middle school grades to factor into the admissions process is absolutely a conclusion.

That is your conclusion. You’re projecting. All I said was “ This is mainly 7th grade gpa. Lots of growing happens in 1-2 years at this age, especially for boys. You’re punishing for past behavior.”

The bolded is a conclusion.

That aside, if you’re saying no one should have their past acts/performance held against them, you are basically arguing for totally random lottery with no consideration of academic qualifications at all. Is that really what you’re looking for here?

Sorry, you said that it was an unfair punishment. It’s a fact that that if gpa is taken into account, some are rewarded for good gpa while others are punished for a lesser one. That is a fact. No conclusion there. In the TJ case, this gpa/reward is happening at an age that a lot of growth is happening. If middle school should represent a person, then middle school gpa should be reported for college admissions as well, but it’s not.

Whether that is fair or not, it’s not something I’d like to get into. But that’s the way it is. I’m not arguing for any method of selection. If you think your case is stronger by omitting the facts then you need to rethink your premises.

This is a strange post, because I am not omitting any facts. If the selection committee is going to get into that level of detail as to why someone received the grades they did, then you’re essentially asking that they do a holistic evaluation of every candidate to understand why they earned the grades they did, took the classes they did, etc., to make sure that no one is penalized for factors beyond their control.