Would/did anybody pick TJ over a private school?

[Anonymous]

Live in a great house in a great neighborhood in DC. I'd never give that up and I'd never send my child to TJ. I value having well rounded socially engaging children. THat's why I shell out $30k a year per child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone care to answer the original question?

12:30 Thought I answered: If it turns out we have a math/science phenom, we may consider TJ over private schools. And move to VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Live in a great house in a great neighborhood in DC. I'd never give that up and I'd never send my child to TJ. I value having well rounded socially engaging children. THat's why I shell out $30k a year per child.

The inference that TJ cannot result in well rounded socially engaging children is a little offensive. There are certainly many of both among students at TJ. Just because they are a subset of math/science phenoms doesn't mean they can't carry on a conversation. I live in a great neighborhood in VA and would send my DC to TJ without hesitation if that is the direction they wanted to go. It's not, btw, and one is happy in public (gr 7) and one will try private in 10th gr after being quite successful in the public system (but wants to try smaller class size with more individual/personal attention).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Live in a great house in a great neighborhood in DC. I'd never give that up and I'd never send my child to TJ. I value having well rounded socially engaging children. THat's why I shell out $30k a year per child.

The inference that TJ cannot result in well rounded socially engaging children is a little offensive. There are certainly many of both among students at TJ. Just because they are a subset of math/science phenoms doesn't mean they can't carry on a conversation. I live in a great neighborhood in VA and would send my DC to TJ without hesitation if that is the direction they wanted to go. It's not, btw, and one is happy in public (gr 7) and one will try private in 10th gr after being quite successful in the public system (but wants to try smaller class size with more individual/personal attention).

I agree with the first person you quoted. I have known many TJ kids and would never want my kids to be like them. TJ is wayyyyy to narrowly focused and does not teach children to be socially engaging, a skill just as crucial to success in life as graduating from a top school. I will take my children's private over TJ any day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone care to answer the original question?

12:30 Thought I answered: If it turns out we have a math/science phenom, we may consider TJ over private schools. And move to VA.

Some people may consider TJ over private schools b/c their kid got accepted at TJ. I'm not that familiar with TJ but am familiar with NYC private schools and magnets like Stuy and many kids who attend elite private schools in NYC take the entrance exam for Stuy, Bronx Science, etc. Many don't get in.

[Anonymous]

I am simply answering the OP - yes, I would send my DC to TJ (over a private) if they were high achievers in math/science. I know kids that are there and have gone there, and they were/are articulate, socially engaging and well-rounded, so I don't share the other posters concerns about that. TJ would be virtually free and has been ranked 1 or 2 among over 20,000 public high schools in the U.S. for many years. The school has a reasonable teacher/student ratio, would not be logistically inconvenient for me, and delivers a high level of academics that results in national merit finalists, Rhodes scholars, and many other achievements. I realize not everyone shares my view, but to answer the question, yes, I would choose TJ over a private under the circumstances I gave.

[Anonymous]

No, I would not consider TJ. Social issues aside, I agree with PP's sentiments about wanting a more well-rounded educational experience for my kids.

[Anonymous]

TJ receives about 3,000-4,000 applications a year for about 450 slots. Many of those turned down had a perfect score on the entrance exam. It's not really something you can just choose... and you need to reside in VA to apply, not move to VA after acceptance.

[Anonymous]

^ITA. It's funny that the parents here take it as a given that their kid will be accepted into TJ and that it's a choice between private school and TJ. Unless your kid is a top student at any private school, it's doubtful they will get into TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am simply answering the OP - yes, I would send my DC to TJ (over a private) if they were high achievers in math/science. I know kids that are there and have gone there, and they were/are articulate, socially engaging and well-rounded, so I don't share the other posters concerns about that. TJ would be virtually free and has been ranked 1 or 2 among over 20,000 public high schools in the U.S. for many years. The school has a reasonable teacher/student ratio, would not be logistically inconvenient for me, and delivers a high level of academics that results in national merit finalists, Rhodes scholars, and many other achievements. I realize not everyone shares my view, but to answer the question, yes, I would choose TJ over a private under the circumstances I gave.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ITA. It's funny that the parents here take it as a given that their kid will be accepted into TJ and that it's a choice between private school and TJ. Unless your kid is a top student at any private school, it's doubtful they will get into TJ.

Yes, but the question suggests that one has a choice. Perhaps OP should have phrased it, "If your child were accepted at TJ would you choose that over a private?" I though it was implied. Assuming my child was accepted, I would still choose private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ITA. It's funny that the parents here take it as a given that their kid will be accepted into TJ and that it's a choice between private school and TJ. Unless your kid is a top student at any private school, it's doubtful they will get into TJ.

Yes, but the question suggests that one has a choice. Perhaps OP should have phrased it, "If your child were accepted at TJ would you choose that over a private?" I though it was implied. Assuming my child was accepted, I would still choose private.

My child chose TJ--it has been awesome.

[Anonymous]

TJ graduate here. Feeling a bit awkward though, so I won't say anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Live in a great house in a great neighborhood in DC. I'd never give that up and I'd never send my child to TJ. I value having well rounded socially engaging children. THat's why I shell out $30k a year per child.

Well , aren't you the bees knees?

[Anonymous]

Keep making yourself feel better by believing that the kids who go to a free public high school will beat out your kid and attend Harvard, MIT, Stanford, etc, Oh, they are all so awkward with no social skills. NOT! Have you ever met the kids that go to TJ? They are an exceptionally well rounded, brilliant group as is obvious by their college admissions.