7th grade GPA and TJ admissions exam

[Anonymous]

It seems like 300-350 kids at my DC's FCPS MS showed up on the all A list at the end of each quarter. These kids are not all destined for TJ - it's just not that hard to get all A's in 7th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems like 300-350 kids at my DC's FCPS MS showed up on the all A list at the end of each quarter. These kids are not all destined for TJ - it's just not that hard to get all A's in 7th grade.

You are right that not all those kids will end up at TJ, but most of the kids who do end up at TJ will come from that group. Also, the ease of earning all As will vary from school to school. Some teachers do give As more easily than others.
My child at TJ had all As through middle school and so did most of the other kids who came from the same middle school. It never hurts to encourage your child to strive for the best possible grades. Even if he doesn't go to TJ, he will benefit from what he learns in his classes.

[Anonymous]

If 350 kids per middle school on the "straight As" list and 50-75 kids per middle school get into TJ, that's pretty good evidence that an applicant should have straight As. And even despite that you have only 25% chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If 350 kids per middle school on the "straight As" list and 50-75 kids per middle school get into TJ, that's pretty good evidence that an applicant should have straight As. And even despite that you have only 25% chance.

Getting straight As in middle school is relatively easy. Getting straight As at TJ will be very difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no minimum GPA. My son was earning a "C" in 8th grade science when he was accepted to TJ, and he is a perfect fit. The admissions office does a good job there, in spite of The Washington Post's many articles to the contrary.

So how he is he a "perfect fit"? Shouldn't he have a passion for and excel in math and science?

Like many gifted kids, he was bored out of his mind in middle school and did not give his classes adequate attention. It's not an attractive trait but very common for that type of student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt that anyone with a C final grade in 8th grade science got accepted to TJ. Perhaps on one test or for one quarter.

He didn't end up with a C; I said he was earning a C when he was accepted, which occurs around March or April, if I'm remembering correctly. Bottom line is that the admissions process is holistic and done well.