TJ. vs the privates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, what is TJ?

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/fairfax-county-public-schools/thomas-jefferson-high-school-for-science-and-technology-20461

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of opinions here from people who appear not to have any first-hand experience.

+1.

The PP who described TJ has no idea how the school is and even admits to just basing it on rumors and gossip. Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you can get into tj you can crush sidwell. Not vice versa

I agree with this. It’s the getting into Sidwell part that’s the challenge. Not the work itself.

There are fewer spots at Sidwell, and they are not looking for grades/scores only, so lots of kids who would get into TJ will not get in to Sidwell, but similarly, some of the kids who get into Sidwell will not have the grades and scores to get into TJ. They are looking for different things in students.

+1. Sidwell is looking for bold faced names, donor admits and racial balancing, mirroring the college admissions process as it stands today. TJ is pure merit based on academics.

So sidwell is another affluent white privilege or black minority PC privilege environment vs tj which is academic and not race based . Hmmmmm which had more merit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you can get into tj you can crush sidwell. Not vice versa

I agree with this. It’s the getting into Sidwell part that’s the challenge. Not the work itself.

There are fewer spots at Sidwell, and they are not looking for grades/scores only, so lots of kids who would get into TJ will not get in to Sidwell, but similarly, some of the kids who get into Sidwell will not have the grades and scores to get into TJ. They are looking for different things in students.

+1. Sidwell is looking for bold faced names, donor admits and racial balancing, mirroring the college admissions process as it stands today. TJ is pure merit based on academics.

This statement is false: “TJ is pure merit based on academics.” Their self-described “holistic” admissions process allows them leeway to select students based on race and sex and other criteria du jour. It is not necessarily THE best applicants.

[Anonymous]

I'm convinced that my kid who is rocking it in a tough and well respected private here would not cut it at TJ.

[Anonymous]

TJ does not take race or sex into account.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of opinions here from people who appear not to have any first-hand experience.

That would be 95% of DCUM threads on schools.

99% on any DCUM topic

[Anonymous]

Tj is not a heathy environment. Not healthy at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tj is not a heathy environment. Not healthy at all.

I know plenty of kids who are thriving there. It's a great education. Or you can pay $40K a year for something almost as good, with a weaker peer group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tj is not a heathy environment. Not healthy at all.

I know plenty of kids who are thriving there. It's a great education. Or you can pay $40K a year for something almost as good, with a weaker peer group.

My spouse, a TJ alum, insisted on sending our kids to a top private because of the terrible environment.

But, we can afford the privates, and some people might say TJ made that possible.

[Anonymous]

I wrote this on the other TJ/private thread. If your kid is a math/compsci genius, then send to TJ. Otherwise, send to private.

I've had a DC at TJ and a DC at a big 3. The level of homework is equivalent - about 4 hours/school night. Extracurricular opportunities are also equivalent and my DCs were very involved in numerous activities.

TJ does offer more pure STEM classes than the big 3 - especially in math and computer science - so if your DC is brilliant and loves those subjects then TJ would be the better choice.

But generally the big 3 is a better school - better teachers, smaller classes, better college counseling. I also hear that some of the things that made TJ more appealing in the past - ie, a greater level of freedom - have been restricted. A many of the better teachers are no longer there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wrote this on the other TJ/private thread. If your kid is a math/compsci genius, then send to TJ. Otherwise, send to private.

I've had a DC at TJ and a DC at a big 3. The level of homework is equivalent - about 4 hours/school night. Extracurricular opportunities are also equivalent and my DCs were very involved in numerous activities.

TJ does offer more pure STEM classes than the big 3 - especially in math and computer science - so if your DC is brilliant and loves those subjects then TJ would be the better choice.

But generally the big 3 is a better school - better teachers, smaller classes, better college counseling. I also hear that some of the things that made TJ more appealing in the past - ie, a greater level of freedom - have been restricted. A many of the better teachers are no longer there.

If you have 170k to pay for 4 years of a big 3, great. It will be a more fun environment for your child. If you don’t, TJ wil probably make them more equipped to succeed in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wrote this on the other TJ/private thread. If your kid is a math/compsci genius, then send to TJ. Otherwise, send to private.

Perhaps, but they also have to be hungry.

Our friend's DS loved math. Was happy and thriving in the advanced classes such that they decided to send her to TJ, where her love of math was destroyed by the spirit-crushing competitive nature of the student body who treated every homework, quiz and test like the Hunger Games. The girl will now head to university and swears to take as little math as possible to get her degree in anything but STEM.

[Anonymous]

Why do people keep posting about TJ on the private school forum? Why not go over to the public school forum and sell it there. We get it...you love it. OK...great. People choosing private are looking for something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people keep posting about TJ on the private school forum? Why not go over to the public school forum and sell it there. We get it...you love it. OK...great. People choosing private are looking for something else.

Because not everyone is looking at only private, some are considering both privates and TJ and/or similar. If you read the original question, it was asking for the pros and cons of either choice. If you don't want to read about TJ the you can skip the thread no one is forcing you to read or contribute.