TJ Vents (FB)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The total admitted per class is more like 450 plus a handful of froshmores. About 425 or so graduate. So over 4 years about 25 leave. Several move with their families. Perhaps max of 20 go back to base school. Less than 5%.

Unless they've reduced the incoming class number very recently, each class begins with 480, not 450. Then they add maybe 10 froshmores the next year. If roughly 425 graduate, then each class loses about 65 for one reason or another.

Nope-- check TJs printed about us info. They say they aim for a class of 480. But kids do turn them down. They usually start a year with 450 to 460. This year was dead average and I have seen 451 and 453 as the starting class size. Probably because 2 kids got out fast (or enrolled and didn't start). There is what says (we aim for 480) and what they do (start with 450-460). That happen A LOT with TJ. But pull up the numbers and check if you don't believe. They are published in the two page about TJ form every year.

My child graduated last year and the information I saw each year about the incoming freshman class was that they were at 480 or very close to it. They accept 480 and then have 50 kids on a wait list to fill in any who decline the acceptance.

The information below is from the 2014-2015 school profile. As you can see the Class of 2018, the current juniors, had 477 students at the time the profile was published. Class of 2017 had 476, probably due to losing some students during the 9th grade year and then adding froshmores.


"Each year, approximately 480 students are offered admission to the incoming 9th grade class. The enrollment for the 2014-2015 school year is 1842.
The Class of 2018 admissions cycle offered enrollment to approximately 16.8 percent of all applicants.

Currently, our grade distribution and enrollment is as follows:

9th grade (Class of 2018) - 477 students
10th grade (Class of 2017) - 476 students
11th grade (Class of 2016) - 465 students
12th grade (Class of 2015) - 424 students"

https://www.tjhsst.edu/abouttj/schoolprofile/docs/2014-15TJHSST%20Profile.pdf

The 2015-2016 profile shows the Class of 2019 with 470 students.
https://fcps.tjhsst.edu/coursemgmt/media/300/resource/TJ%20Profile%202015-16%20online%20hq.pdf

Interesting changes over a short time.


So this is where the class sizes stood as of last year. I'm surprised that the school has roughly 30 fewer kids coming in as 9th graders now. This year's profile shows only 453 in the entering class. As you can see, that's a big change from just the past few years. It will be interesting to see if they add more froshmores to this class and how many end up graduating.

Here's the link to the latest profile that shows the low numbers:
https://fcps.tjhsst.edu/coursemgmt/media/300/resource/TJ%20Profile%202016-17%20online.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The total admitted per class is more like 450 plus a handful of froshmores. About 425 or so graduate. So over 4 years about 25 leave. Several move with their families. Perhaps max of 20 go back to base school. Less than 5%.

Unless they've reduced the incoming class number very recently, each class begins with 480, not 450. Then they add maybe 10 froshmores the next year. If roughly 425 graduate, then each class loses about 65 for one reason or another.

Nope-- check TJs printed about us info. They say they aim for a class of 480. But kids do turn them down. They usually start a year with 450 to 460. This year was dead average and I have seen 451 and 453 as the starting class size. Probably because 2 kids got out fast (or enrolled and didn't start). There is what says (we aim for 480) and what they do (start with 450-460). That happen A LOT with TJ. But pull up the numbers and check if you don't believe. They are published in the two page about TJ form every year.

My child graduated last year and the information I saw each year about the incoming freshman class was that they were at 480 or very close to it. They accept 480 and then have 50 kids on a wait list to fill in any who decline the acceptance.

The information below is from the 2014-2015 school profile. As you can see the Class of 2018, the current juniors, had 477 students at the time the profile was published. Class of 2017 had 476, probably due to losing some students during the 9th grade year and then adding froshmores.


"Each year, approximately 480 students are offered admission to the incoming 9th grade class. The enrollment for the 2014-2015 school year is 1842.
The Class of 2018 admissions cycle offered enrollment to approximately 16.8 percent of all applicants.

Currently, our grade distribution and enrollment is as follows:

9th grade (Class of 2018) - 477 students
10th grade (Class of 2017) - 476 students
11th grade (Class of 2016) - 465 students
12th grade (Class of 2015) - 424 students"

https://www.tjhsst.edu/abouttj/schoolprofile/docs/2014-15TJHSST%20Profile.pdf

The 2015-2016 profile shows the Class of 2019 with 470 students.
https://fcps.tjhsst.edu/coursemgmt/media/300/resource/TJ%20Profile%202015-16%20online%20hq.pdf

So this is where the class sizes stood as of last year. I'm surprised that the school has roughly 30 fewer kids coming in as 9th graders now. This year's profile shows only 453 in the entering class. As you can see, that's a big change from just the past few years. It will be interesting to see if they add more froshmores to this class and how many end up graduating.

Here's the link to the latest profile that shows the low numbers:
https://fcps.tjhsst.edu/coursemgmt/media/300/resource/TJ%20Profile%202016-17%20online.pdf

Interesting changes over a short time.

Fixed a sentence that ended up out of place above.

Also, I don't have time to post the links, but I looked at TJ profiles going back to 2010-2011 and the incoming classes were all just below 480, except one that was 473. The 473 was the lowest I've seen before this years 453. That is a pretty substantial change considering how many students want to go there. I wonder why they didn't fill in more from the wait list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The total admitted per class is more like 450 plus a handful of froshmores. About 425 or so graduate. So over 4 years about 25 leave. Several move with their families. Perhaps max of 20 go back to base school. Less than 5%.

Unless they've reduced the incoming class number very recently, each class begins with 480, not 450. Then they add maybe 10 froshmores the next year. If roughly 425 graduate, then each class loses about 65 for one reason or another.

Nope-- check TJs printed about us info. They say they aim for a class of 480. But kids do turn them down. They usually start a year with 450 to 460. This year was dead average and I have seen 451 and 453 as the starting class size. Probably because 2 kids got out fast (or enrolled and didn't start). There is what says (we aim for 480) and what they do (start with 450-460). That happen A LOT with TJ. But pull up the numbers and check if you don't believe. They are published in the two page about TJ form every year.

My child graduated last year and the information I saw each year about the incoming freshman class was that they were at 480 or very close to it. They accept 480 and then have 50 kids on a wait list to fill in any who decline the acceptance.

The information below is from the 2014-2015 school profile. As you can see the Class of 2018, the current juniors, had 477 students at the time the profile was published. Class of 2017 had 476, probably due to losing some students during the 9th grade year and then adding froshmores.


"Each year, approximately 480 students are offered admission to the incoming 9th grade class. The enrollment for the 2014-2015 school year is 1842.
The Class of 2018 admissions cycle offered enrollment to approximately 16.8 percent of all applicants.

Currently, our grade distribution and enrollment is as follows:

9th grade (Class of 2018) - 477 students
10th grade (Class of 2017) - 476 students
11th grade (Class of 2016) - 465 students
12th grade (Class of 2015) - 424 students"

https://www.tjhsst.edu/abouttj/schoolprofile/docs/2014-15TJHSST%20Profile.pdf

The 2015-2016 profile shows the Class of 2019 with 470 students.
https://fcps.tjhsst.edu/coursemgmt/media/300/resource/TJ%20Profile%202015-16%20online%20hq.pdf

So this is where the class sizes stood as of last year. I'm surprised that the school has roughly 30 fewer kids coming in as 9th graders now. This year's profile shows only 453 in the entering class. As you can see, that's a big change from just the past few years. It will be interesting to see if they add more froshmores to this class and how many end up graduating.

Here's the link to the latest profile that shows the low numbers:
https://fcps.tjhsst.edu/coursemgmt/media/300/resource/TJ%20Profile%202016-17%20online.pdf

Interesting changes over a short time.

Fixed a sentence that ended up out of place above.

Also, I don't have time to post the links, but I looked at TJ profiles going back to 2010-2011 and the incoming classes were all just below 480, except one that was 473. The 473 was the lowest I've seen before this years 453. That is a pretty substantial change considering how many students want to go there. I wonder why they didn't fill in more from the wait list.

Just saw your question. My kid was admitted off the class of 2020 waitlist. And I have heard they took the whole waitlist this year-- or every kid eligible (some jurisdictions have caps, so a PWCS kid can't get admission unless another PWCS kid turns them down). Honestly not sure why the class number is so down this year.

Where things get interesting is the class of 2022. Which is the AAP bulge year. So a huge number of applicants. But a new test with the QuantQ math-- which is a new test with no published examples and a first every science section, plus completely redone verbal with dropped logic and scrambled paragraphs. In other words, pieces are unprepable. You have a ton of kids trying to get in or pure merit. So, it has all the makings of a wildcard year.

[Anonymous]

When you say "this year," are you referring to 2020? 2021 class results have not yet been declared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you say "this year," are you referring to 2020? 2021 class results have not yet been declared.

Hard to know who means what. But, "this year" should mean class of 2020. The kids who started this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say "this year," are you referring to 2020? 2021 class results have not yet been declared.

Hard to know who means what. But, "this year" should mean class of 2020. The kids who started this year.

Yes, "this year" refers to the kids who are freshmen this school year, 2016-17.

I do wonder why this class is so much smaller, even after going through the entire wait list, apparently. There are so many kids who want to go to TJ, it's a shame to have spaces go unfilled.

[Anonymous]

TJ Kid here, I can say that TJ vents is written on by only a small amount of TJ's population, but a lot of what is written there is felt by a majority of the students. A large majority of the kids at TJ are unhappy with TJ, but even though most of us are unhappy we all think that we would be even less satisfied at another school. It seems like the new principal is making things better so in general the school aspect of TJ should be less frustrating and depressing to deal with in a year, but a lot of what made TJ unique is getting taken away too because of stricter FCPS regulations. We used to be able to go outside (not off campus) during lunch and eighth periods but now we're locked inside the school and the courtyards for our whole school day which contributes a lot to the negative feelings that TJ brings.

A lot of things that were put in place to make TJ more tolerable to its students like student advocacy are completely ignored by most teachers too, so we often end up with 3 tests on the same day or whole projects to do over break that the teachers loophole in by making them due the day after break ends. Another things that looks good to outsiders but is more or less useless to us is the PTSA system. It's called PTSA instead of PTA because it supposedly involves the students, but us students really feel powerless a lot of the time. There's a lot of hate directed at a lot of the admin at TJ and also at FCPS because we know that if they decide to do something terrible like lengthening the school year or removing eighth periods we'll be able to do nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say "this year," are you referring to 2020? 2021 class results have not yet been declared.

Hard to know who means what. But, "this year" should mean class of 2020. The kids who started this year.

Yes, "this year" refers to the kids who are freshmen this school year, 2016-17.

I do wonder why this class is so much smaller, even after going through the entire wait list, apparently. There are so many kids who want to go to TJ, it's a shame to have spaces go unfilled.

Following the bouncing ball guys

Current sophomores are class of 2020- but we’re fredhman when this thread started
Current freshman are 2021
8th graders in the selection process now (12/2017) are class of 2022.

Carry on!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say "this year," are you referring to 2020? 2021 class results have not yet been declared.

Hard to know who means what. But, "this year" should mean class of 2020. The kids who started this year.

Yes, "this year" refers to the kids who are freshmen this school year, 2016-17.

I do wonder why this class is so much smaller, even after going through the entire wait list, apparently. There are so many kids who want to go to TJ, it's a shame to have spaces go unfilled.

Following the bouncing ball guys

Current sophomores are class of 2020- but we’re fredhman when this thread started
Current freshman are 2021
8th graders in the selection process now (12/2017) are class of 2022.

Carry on!

The post you've quoted is from February 2017, so the classes listed are correct for that time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: There's a lot of hate directed at a lot of the admin at TJ and also at FCPS because we know that if they decide to do something terrible like lengthening the school year or removing eighth periods we'll be able to do nothing.

8th period is a staggering luxury. Other high schools have a late bus only once a week, which forces most clubs to meet on that day, causing conflicts and limiting the number of activities kids can participate in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: There's a lot of hate directed at a lot of the admin at TJ and also at FCPS because we know that if they decide to do something terrible like lengthening the school year or removing eighth periods we'll be able to do nothing.

8th period is a staggering luxury. Other high schools have a late bus only once a week, which forces most clubs to meet on that day, causing conflicts and limiting the number of activities kids can participate in.

8th period is only 2 blocks a week. And it is a necessity at TJ because it is a governor’s school. With kids commuting an hour and a half or more, from Western Fairfax, PW County, Loudoun, etc., after school just isn’t an option for a lot of kids. You can’t bring in kids from 5 jurisdictions and expect extracurriculars work the same way they do at the base school.

That said, I think 8th period is a really great thing, and I wish FCPS would start piloting it at the base schools. Kids don’t only do clubs and activities. They also meet with teachers for extra help, retakes, and especially math, which moves super fast. I would love to see base schools roll this out, adapted to the needs of the school. But realize it makes the school day longer. 8:30 to about 4:00. I have a feeeling a lot of parents would riot if their school put in 8th period, because it cuts into sports, band, etc. During band season, my kid leave at 7:15, stars band at 4:30 three days a week (plus Friday games some nights) marches until 7:30, and gets home about 8:30. Then hits the homework. So there is a downside.

Still, if you like the idea, push you base school to put in a pilot program.

[Anonymous]

As of October 2017, TJ was at 433 (Class of 2018), 429 (Class of 2019), 459 (Class of 2020) and 465 (Class of 2021). Seems like there continues to be students leaving with their seats unfilled, and it's crazy that FCPS allows a school with fewer than 1800 students while other schools are bursting at the seams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As of October 2017, TJ was at 433 (Class of 2018), 429 (Class of 2019), 459 (Class of 2020) and 465 (Class of 2021). Seems like there continues to be students leaving with their seats unfilled, and it's crazy that FCPS allows a school with fewer than 1800 students while other schools are bursting at the seams.

Well, some kids drop, and should drop. Not because they can’t hack the academic most can. But because some kids just hate it. They can take in some froshmores— but that’s a tough road because off all they have missed freshman RS and DT, which aren’t offered at the base school. And getting all the classes you need in for the senior lab and extra diploma classes is tight even if yo start freshman year. After sophomore year, kids can technically transfer in if they have moved here and never applied. But it almost never happens.

Reality is that the TJ Curriculum is very different than the standard currrculum, and has a goal of a major senior research project, so requires RS, DT, and CS as extra classes the first two years, plus putting a 4th history somewhere, since it won’t fit in freshman year, etc., etc. no matter how smart a kid is, you can’t fill seats junior and senior year with kids who are prepared for the junior and senior classes that are required. They lack the prerecs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As of October 2017, TJ was at 433 (Class of 2018), 429 (Class of 2019), 459 (Class of 2020) and 465 (Class of 2021). Seems like there continues to be students leaving with their seats unfilled, and it's crazy that FCPS allows a school with fewer than 1800 students while other schools are bursting at the seams.

Well, some kids drop, and should drop. Not because they can’t hack the academic most can. But because some kids just hate it. They can take in some froshmores— but that’s a tough road because off all they have missed freshman RS and DT, which aren’t offered at the base school. And getting all the classes you need in for the senior lab and extra diploma classes is tight even if yo start freshman year. After sophomore year, kids can technically transfer in if they have moved here and never applied. But it almost never happens.

Reality is that the TJ Curriculum is very different than the standard currrculum, and has a goal of a major senior research project, so requires RS, DT, and CS as extra classes the first two years, plus putting a 4th history somewhere, since it won’t fit in freshman year, etc., etc. no matter how smart a kid is, you can’t fill seats junior and senior year with kids who are prepared for the junior and senior classes that are required. They lack the prerecs.

In that case they should admit more freshmen. It’s a travesty and waste of county resources that TJ has such small graduating classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As of October 2017, TJ was at 433 (Class of 2018), 429 (Class of 2019), 459 (Class of 2020) and 465 (Class of 2021). Seems like there continues to be students leaving with their seats unfilled, and it's crazy that FCPS allows a school with fewer than 1800 students while other schools are bursting at the seams.

Well, some kids drop, and should drop. Not because they can’t hack the academic most can. But because some kids just hate it. They can take in some froshmores— but that’s a tough road because off all they have missed freshman RS and DT, which aren’t offered at the base school. And getting all the classes you need in for the senior lab and extra diploma classes is tight even if yo start freshman year. After sophomore year, kids can technically transfer in if they have moved here and never applied. But it almost never happens.

Reality is that the TJ Curriculum is very different than the standard currrculum, and has a goal of a major senior research project, so requires RS, DT, and CS as extra classes the first two years, plus putting a 4th history somewhere, since it won’t fit in freshman year, etc., etc. no matter how smart a kid is, you can’t fill seats junior and senior year with kids who are prepared for the junior and senior classes that are required. They lack the prerecs.

In that case they should admit more freshmen. It’s a travesty and waste of county resources that TJ has such small graduating classes.

Kinda defeats the point of TJ. Every senior needs to do a large scale lab based research project senior year, many with lab based pre-Recs junior year. TJ class size is limited by lab space, freshman IBET design tech classrooms, etc.