Washington Post Article On Freshmen Admitted Under New Admissions Process

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My take is that TJ is a Governor's School with a mission of educating kids whose learning levels are remarkably different than their age level peers. If a kid is rejected from TJ, FCPS is stating that the kid's needs can be met at the base school.

Given that, FCPS is obligated to meet the needs of kids at the base school who have exceeded the base school's offerings. So, they need to provide additional dual enrollment math courses for the kids who take Calculus in 8th-10th grade. They likewise need to provide additional post AP science classes for the kids who complete AP levels and need additional content. If there aren't enough kids at the base school, then FCPS needs to pay for the kids to take equivalent college level classes at GMU.

FCPS can't have it both ways. They can't decide that your kid can have their needs met at the base school, and then refuse to provide advanced enough content at the base school to meet your kid's needs. Granted, the easiest and cheapest solution would be to admit kids like that to TJ, where they honestly belong.

Citation?

Intellectual laziness? I mean, all you have to do is google search VA Governor's schools.

Since you seem to need a lot of handholding, I'll post the second paragraph on the VA Governor's School website.

VA Governor's Schools wrote:The Virginia Governor's School Program has been designed to assist divisions as they meet the needs of a small population of students whose learning levels are remarkably different from their age-level peers. The foundation of the Virginia Governor's School Program centers on best practices in the field of gifted education and the presentation of advanced content to able learners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My take is that TJ is a Governor's School with a mission of educating kids whose learning levels are remarkably different than their age level peers. If a kid is rejected from TJ, FCPS is stating that the kid's needs can be met at the base school.

Given that, FCPS is obligated to meet the needs of kids at the base school who have exceeded the base school's offerings. So, they need to provide additional dual enrollment math courses for the kids who take Calculus in 8th-10th grade. They likewise need to provide additional post AP science classes for the kids who complete AP levels and need additional content. If there aren't enough kids at the base school, then FCPS needs to pay for the kids to take equivalent college level classes at GMU.

FCPS can't have it both ways. They can't decide that your kid can have their needs met at the base school, and then refuse to provide advanced enough content at the base school to meet your kid's needs. Granted, the easiest and cheapest solution would be to admit kids like that to TJ, where they honestly belong.

Citation?

Intellectual laziness? I mean, all you have to do is google search VA Governor's schools.

Since you seem to need a lot of handholding, I'll post the second paragraph on the VA Governor's School website.

VA Governor's Schools wrote:The Virginia Governor's School Program has been designed to assist divisions as they meet the needs of a small population of students whose learning levels are remarkably different from their age-level peers. The foundation of the Virginia Governor's School Program centers on best practices in the field of gifted education and the presentation of advanced content to able learners.

Guess you were too lazy to look at TJ’s actual mission:
The mission of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is to provide students with a challenging learning environment focused on math, science, and technology, to inspire joy at the prospect of discovery, and to foster a culture of innovation based on ethical behavior and the shared interests of humanity.

Every single applicant is advanced. Just not all of them have been groomed by their parents for TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No process will be universally popular but this one has absolutely divided the community. But that is the nature of the current political game.

I agree that we should push for a better admissions process, but this process is at least a step in the right direction.

And the admissions change was *not* politically driven. The Rs have politicized it.

Of course it was politically driven. Its main proponent was Scott Brabrand, who specifically said he was moved to act by George Floyd’s murder. It wasn’t

You either have a selective or a narrow view of what is political, or you lie on purpose.

That’s not a “political” motivation - it wasn’t to garner votes.

It was to try and improve Brabrand’s standing with the far-left School Board, which is the most transparently political (and unconcerned with actual education) of any School Board in recent memory.

That was also a political move, but it failed and Brabrand was only given a one-year contract extension, which is soon to expire.

So he did it for professional reasons?

Still not political.

You're a total dolt. The School Board is deeply political. Brabrand wanted to suck up to a group of overtly political School Board members.

His actions were political, as were theirs. They weren't about attracting the most qualified students to TJ, but enabling School Board members to go out next year and tell people in the Lee, Mason, and Mount Vernon Districts that they've opened up more TJ seats to students in those districts.

It was classic retail, pork-barrel politics, just like a bunch of Congress members fighting over an appropriations bill.

No, possible internal positioning about an individual’s job isn’t political.

Rs pushed this as a political wedge issue to get Youngkin elected. He, and his MAGA supporters like Asra, pushed the TJ issue - and other educational issues - hard to garner votes.

Rs politicized the sh1t out of educational “issues”. TJ, “advanced math”, CRT, masks, etc.

And the idiots fell for it.

I wouldn’t be calling other people “idiots” when your only talent appears to be recycling - badly at that - FCDC talking points.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No process will be universally popular but this one has absolutely divided the community. But that is the nature of the current political game.

I agree that we should push for a better admissions process, but this process is at least a step in the right direction.

And the admissions change was *not* politically driven. The Rs have politicized it.

Of course it was politically driven. Its main proponent was Scott Brabrand, who specifically said he was moved to act by George Floyd’s murder. It wasn’t

You either have a selective or a narrow view of what is political, or you lie on purpose.

That’s not a “political” motivation - it wasn’t to garner votes.

It was to try and improve Brabrand’s standing with the far-left School Board, which is the most transparently political (and unconcerned with actual education) of any School Board in recent memory.

That was also a political move, but it failed and Brabrand was only given a one-year contract extension, which is soon to expire.

So he did it for professional reasons?

Still not political.

You're a total dolt. The School Board is deeply political. Brabrand wanted to suck up to a group of overtly political School Board members.

His actions were political, as were theirs. They weren't about attracting the most qualified students to TJ, but enabling School Board members to go out next year and tell people in the Lee, Mason, and Mount Vernon Districts that they've opened up more TJ seats to students in those districts.

It was classic retail, pork-barrel politics, just like a bunch of Congress members fighting over an appropriations bill.

No, possible internal positioning about an individual’s job isn’t political.

Rs pushed this as a political wedge issue to get Youngkin elected. He, and his MAGA supporters like Asra, pushed the TJ issue - and other educational issues - hard to garner votes.

Rs politicized the sh1t out of educational “issues”. TJ, “advanced math”, CRT, masks, etc.

And the idiots fell for it.

I wouldn’t be calling other people “idiots” when your only talent appears to be recycling - badly at that - FCDC talking points.

I don’t follow FCDC.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the MAGAs frenetically pushing their lies to garner votes.

And to see the idiots who fell for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My take is that TJ is a Governor's School with a mission of educating kids whose learning levels are remarkably different than their age level peers. If a kid is rejected from TJ, FCPS is stating that the kid's needs can be met at the base school.

Given that, FCPS is obligated to meet the needs of kids at the base school who have exceeded the base school's offerings. So, they need to provide additional dual enrollment math courses for the kids who take Calculus in 8th-10th grade. They likewise need to provide additional post AP science classes for the kids who complete AP levels and need additional content. If there aren't enough kids at the base school, then FCPS needs to pay for the kids to take equivalent college level classes at GMU.

FCPS can't have it both ways. They can't decide that your kid can have their needs met at the base school, and then refuse to provide advanced enough content at the base school to meet your kid's needs. Granted, the easiest and cheapest solution would be to admit kids like that to TJ, where they honestly belong.

We'll see some of the base schools add to their offerings as an increasing number and percentage of top students attend schools in those pyramids. But it would be fascinating if the parents of some top kids turned away from TJ end up bringing an action against FCPS alleging a denial of FAPE.

I wonder this as well. One of the solidly middle class AAP centers with a very low TJ admission rate had 5 kids get rejected with 4.0s and in Algebra II after taking Algebra I in 6th grade. The parents didn't push them ahead, and they didn't do summer geometry. FCPS pushed them ahead based on their test scores. Now, they won't have any math classes to take during their senior year at their very middle of the road high school. FCPS needs to find a solution for kids like that. They can't just shrug their shoulders and expect those kids to take remedial math or not take math at all senior year.

How can anyone with a straight face say kids taking Algebra 1 in 8th should be getting in over these kids.

Highly accelerated in math <> slam dunk

Kids also need to know how to engage with other people (profile) and write (essay).

4.0 GPA + AAP + highly accelerated in math should be close to a slam dunk for a magnet STEM school that is intended to meet the needs of kids whose needs can't be met at their zoned school.

The essays are even more vulnerable to prep centers than the testing in the old process. This is especially true when the essays aren't even proctored, and motivated parents could have easily helped their kids.

Essays are so much more easier to be prepped for. Maybe that was the point. Explains the 26% increase in whites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No process will be universally popular but this one has absolutely divided the community. But that is the nature of the current political game.

I agree that we should push for a better admissions process, but this process is at least a step in the right direction.

And the admissions change was *not* politically driven. The Rs have politicized it.

Of course it was politically driven. Its main proponent was Scott Brabrand, who specifically said he was moved to act by George Floyd’s murder. It wasn’t

You either have a selective or a narrow view of what is political, or you lie on purpose.

That’s not a “political” motivation - it wasn’t to garner votes.

It was to try and improve Brabrand’s standing with the far-left School Board, which is the most transparently political (and unconcerned with actual education) of any School Board in recent memory.

That was also a political move, but it failed and Brabrand was only given a one-year contract extension, which is soon to expire.

So he did it for professional reasons?

Still not political.

You're a total dolt. The School Board is deeply political. Brabrand wanted to suck up to a group of overtly political School Board members.

His actions were political, as were theirs. They weren't about attracting the most qualified students to TJ, but enabling School Board members to go out next year and tell people in the Lee, Mason, and Mount Vernon Districts that they've opened up more TJ seats to students in those districts.

It was classic retail, pork-barrel politics, just like a bunch of Congress members fighting over an appropriations bill.

No, possible internal positioning about an individual’s job isn’t political.

Rs pushed this as a political wedge issue to get Youngkin elected. He, and his MAGA supporters like Asra, pushed the TJ issue - and other educational issues - hard to garner votes.

Rs politicized the sh1t out of educational “issues”. TJ, “advanced math”, CRT, masks, etc.

And the idiots fell for it.

I wouldn’t be calling other people “idiots” when your only talent appears to be recycling - badly at that - FCDC talking points.

I don’t follow FCDC.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the MAGAs frenetically pushing their lies to garner votes.

And to see the idiots who fell for it.

You're the idiot for not recognizing the opposition to what FCPS and its lunatic School Board have been doing to TJ is a grass-roots response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No process will be universally popular but this one has absolutely divided the community. But that is the nature of the current political game.

I agree that we should push for a better admissions process, but this process is at least a step in the right direction.

And the admissions change was *not* politically driven. The Rs have politicized it.

Of course it was politically driven. Its main proponent was Scott Brabrand, who specifically said he was moved to act by George Floyd’s murder. It wasn’t

You either have a selective or a narrow view of what is political, or you lie on purpose.

That’s not a “political” motivation - it wasn’t to garner votes.

It was to try and improve Brabrand’s standing with the far-left School Board, which is the most transparently political (and unconcerned with actual education) of any School Board in recent memory.

That was also a political move, but it failed and Brabrand was only given a one-year contract extension, which is soon to expire.

So he did it for professional reasons?

Still not political.

You're a total dolt. The School Board is deeply political. Brabrand wanted to suck up to a group of overtly political School Board members.

His actions were political, as were theirs. They weren't about attracting the most qualified students to TJ, but enabling School Board members to go out next year and tell people in the Lee, Mason, and Mount Vernon Districts that they've opened up more TJ seats to students in those districts.

It was classic retail, pork-barrel politics, just like a bunch of Congress members fighting over an appropriations bill.

No, possible internal positioning about an individual’s job isn’t political.

Rs pushed this as a political wedge issue to get Youngkin elected. He, and his MAGA supporters like Asra, pushed the TJ issue - and other educational issues - hard to garner votes.

Rs politicized the sh1t out of educational “issues”. TJ, “advanced math”, CRT, masks, etc.

And the idiots fell for it.

I wouldn’t be calling other people “idiots” when your only talent appears to be recycling - badly at that - FCDC talking points.

I don’t follow FCDC.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the MAGAs frenetically pushing their lies to garner votes.

And to see the idiots who fell for it.

You're the idiot for not recognizing the opposition to what FCPS and its lunatic School Board have been doing to TJ is a grass-roots response.

Bullsh1t.

PDE is full of Koch Bro associates and Trumphumpers. Astroturfing at its best.

https://fedsoc.org/contributors/nicoleneily
https://ij.org/staff/rachel-hannabass/
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/trump-and-devos-announce-new-hires-at-education-department/2017/06
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/the-controversial-couple-heading-trumps-hispanic-education-efforts/2018/09
https://www.npr.org/2016/11/12/501853618/muslim-woman-immigrant-and-trump-supporter

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure I understand. Of the 4 profiles 2 were Middle Eastern. That wasn't really a racial category they were trying to increase was it and why weren't there any Asian students or White students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure I understand. Of the 4 profiles 2 were Middle Eastern. That wasn't really a racial category they were trying to increase was it and why weren't there any Asian students or White students?

Middle Eastern students are, by definition, Asian. They always have been in the context of TJ.

There was a time, not that long ago, when there were slightly more Middle Eastern students at TJ than Indian students. And TJ was just fine then.

[Anonymous]

I think we need to hear the other side. What is the experience for those kids who were the top math kid in their class, unlike the girl in the first profile who says she as not good math? What happened to those kids and how are they doing now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think we need to hear the other side. What is the experience for those kids who were the top math kid in their class, unlike the girl in the first profile who says she as not good math? What happened to those kids and how are they doing now?

Probably the same as they’ve always done?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure I understand. Of the 4 profiles 2 were Middle Eastern. That wasn't really a racial category they were trying to increase was it and why weren't there any Asian students or White students?

Middle Eastern students are, by definition, Asian. They always have been in the context of TJ.

There was a time, not that long ago, when there were slightly more Middle Eastern students at TJ than Indian students. And TJ was just fine then.

Actually they are White under the U.S. Census I think.
So you are saying the Middle Eastern students represent the viewpoint of Asians at TJ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we need to hear the other side. What is the experience for those kids who were the top math kid in their class, unlike the girl in the first profile who says she as not good math? What happened to those kids and how are they doing now?

Probably the same as they’ve always done?

What do you mean by that? Same as they have always done would mean they would be at TJ under the old admissions standards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think we need to hear the other side. What is the experience for those kids who were the top math kid in their class, unlike the girl in the first profile who says she as not good math? What happened to those kids and how are they doing now?

The Washington Post does not care about the other kids.

Whether they are thriving at other schools, or bored, it distracts from the pre-ordained, feel-good narrative than Hannah Natanson was more than happy to be part of ever since Scott Brabrand came up with the idea of lottery admissions for TJ. The Post does not report these days; it merely advocates. Sometimes it does so on its editorial page, but more often it does so through what purport to be news articles and features but are just propaganda.

[Anonymous]

8th grade Algebra is such a low bar, 7th grade should be the requirement