Older TJ kids: is there regret w/college app results

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ONLY for the class of 2025 the bonus points given for experience factors was way too high, after that the FARMS rate dropped from 20% to 10% or lower. If you look at the actual students enrolled at TJ I believe there were 2 language learners in the school out of the more than 2,000 kids.

Class of 2026 and later (especially since Mukai took over) will have better college results. Students are being sent back to their base schools even after 11th grade if they don’t have the minimum required GPA. The school fills the slots with very qualified 10th graders.

Free/reduced lunch:

Class of 2025:25.09%
Class of 2026: 20.73%
Class of 2027: 11.64%
Class of 2028: 16.36%
Class of 2029: 10.5%

The class of 2025 had 13 special education kids and 39 English language learners. https://www.fcag.org/TJHSSTClassof2025AdmissionsPressRelease.pdf

The fact that there are only 2 actual english language learners should tip you off about whether these kids that put english language learner on their application were actually english language learners.
Same with special ed and free lunch.

I think Mukai deserves a chance but ultimately we have to plug the hole. He is letting kids return to their base schools and backfilling with high quality froshmores, like 50 of them. But when you are replacing 10% or more of your students because they are flunking out after their freshman year, perhaps your admissions process needs to be adjusted.

Just fiddling with the dials on the various preferences is not going to fix this. Those dials shouldn't exist. If you are not prepared for TJ by 8th grade, even very smart kids will have a hard time catching up at an exceedingly competitive high school like TJ. My kid took algebra 2 in 9th and it was pretty clear that a lot (not all, but a lot) of the kids taking pre-calc or calculus in 9th grade were qualitatively better at math and it was a long hard struggle to catch up with the calculus kids because they're not standing still. The whole school is built for and geared towards those kids. TJ is not geared towards the back of the pack like other public high schools.

[Anonymous]

"My kid took algebra 2 in 9th and it was pretty clear that a lot (not all, but a lot) of the kids taking pre-calc or calculus in 9th grade were qualitatively better at math and it was a long hard struggle to catch up with the calculus kids because they're not standing still. "

meh. My kid (sr now at TJ) also took Alg 2 in 9th and while yes there are some crazy genious kids at TJ there is also a big swath that simply was able to do Alg 1 in 6th at their ES whereas at the vast majority of ESs across the county that's not an option. DC would have done fine with Alg 1 in 6th but it wasn't a route really even at our AAP center. She didn't struggle to keep up with those kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"My kid took algebra 2 in 9th and it was pretty clear that a lot (not all, but a lot) of the kids taking pre-calc or calculus in 9th grade were qualitatively better at math and it was a long hard struggle to catch up with the calculus kids because they're not standing still. "

meh. My kid (sr now at TJ) also took Alg 2 in 9th and while yes there are some crazy genious kids at TJ there is also a big swath that simply was able to do Alg 1 in 6th at their ES whereas at the vast majority of ESs across the county that's not an option. DC would have done fine with Alg 1 in 6th but it wasn't a route really even at our AAP center. She didn't struggle to keep up with those kids.

How did she do on the math team?

[Anonymous]

My kid got into TJ and when he asked around and talked to a few seniors he did hear some regrets about going and the college process and also how going to to TJ made it harder to do time consuming activities outside of high school. But then again these were seniors so they were at exactly the age when they might have regrets - now that they are in college then may feel differently and see how well prepared they are and how they have a great high school network. In the end my kid decided not to go for a variety of reasons include college prospects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"My kid took algebra 2 in 9th and it was pretty clear that a lot (not all, but a lot) of the kids taking pre-calc or calculus in 9th grade were qualitatively better at math and it was a long hard struggle to catch up with the calculus kids because they're not standing still. "

meh. My kid (sr now at TJ) also took Alg 2 in 9th and while yes there are some crazy genious kids at TJ there is also a big swath that simply was able to do Alg 1 in 6th at their ES whereas at the vast majority of ESs across the county that's not an option. DC would have done fine with Alg 1 in 6th but it wasn't a route really even at our AAP center. She didn't struggle to keep up with those kids.

How did she do on the math team?

? She had zero interest in the math team. She does do other ECs at TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"My kid took algebra 2 in 9th and it was pretty clear that a lot (not all, but a lot) of the kids taking pre-calc or calculus in 9th grade were qualitatively better at math and it was a long hard struggle to catch up with the calculus kids because they're not standing still. "

meh. My kid (sr now at TJ) also took Alg 2 in 9th and while yes there are some crazy genious kids at TJ there is also a big swath that simply was able to do Alg 1 in 6th at their ES whereas at the vast majority of ESs across the county that's not an option. DC would have done fine with Alg 1 in 6th but it wasn't a route really even at our AAP center. She didn't struggle to keep up with those kids.

How did she do on the math team?

? She had zero interest in the math team. She does do other ECs at TJ.

Then she's not keeping up with those kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"My kid took algebra 2 in 9th and it was pretty clear that a lot (not all, but a lot) of the kids taking pre-calc or calculus in 9th grade were qualitatively better at math and it was a long hard struggle to catch up with the calculus kids because they're not standing still. "

meh. My kid (sr now at TJ) also took Alg 2 in 9th and while yes there are some crazy genious kids at TJ there is also a big swath that simply was able to do Alg 1 in 6th at their ES whereas at the vast majority of ESs across the county that's not an option. DC would have done fine with Alg 1 in 6th but it wasn't a route really even at our AAP center. She didn't struggle to keep up with those kids.

How did she do on the math team?

? She had zero interest in the math team. She does do other ECs at TJ.

Then she's not keeping up with those kids.

Cuz yep all kids’ goals are the same for their ECs and having had the route to take Alg 1 in 6th when virtually all other schools do not offer this permanent makes every one of those kids geniuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why you’d want a “great” HS experience but a lower named/ranked school unless it was the kid’s choice (turned down an ivy for a full ride at uva).

Because a job might care about what college you attend, they won’t care about what HS you attend. Most people have no clue about TJ but they know Harvard or MIT.

Buahaha, that's what you think. TJ got me every job I ever had. I know lawyers who got clerkships based on TJ (yes, layered on top of whatever law school). Yeah maybe TJ's reach is more geographically limited, but lots of people know TJ.

It's really amazing how many people think coming here to trash TJ or going to the private school forum to trash specific top tier privates will make other kids turn these schools down and give their kids a better chance. People - not enough applicants read your DCUM post, then think, "Huh, maybe I won't go there after all" for your kid to get in.

Did those people go to TJ and then the University of Alabama? No, I imagine that TJ was a hook, but they probably also went to very competitive colleges. Also that only works if you stay in the DC area. Quite frankly, I look down on applicants who put their high school on their resumes. If you peaked in high school, you have no place on my team. I expect you to be on your way to peaking 10 years from now, not having already peaked 10 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"My kid took algebra 2 in 9th and it was pretty clear that a lot (not all, but a lot) of the kids taking pre-calc or calculus in 9th grade were qualitatively better at math and it was a long hard struggle to catch up with the calculus kids because they're not standing still. "

meh. My kid (sr now at TJ) also took Alg 2 in 9th and while yes there are some crazy genious kids at TJ there is also a big swath that simply was able to do Alg 1 in 6th at their ES whereas at the vast majority of ESs across the county that's not an option. DC would have done fine with Alg 1 in 6th but it wasn't a route really even at our AAP center. She didn't struggle to keep up with those kids.

How did she do on the math team?

? She had zero interest in the math team. She does do other ECs at TJ.

Then she's not keeping up with those kids.

Those kids have done nothing with their education except enrich themselves. Going to TJ and HPSYM was wasted on them but their tiger parents like their salaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No matter what the TJ admissions process happens to be, no matter how "rigorous", half of the students will be in the bottom half. Same is true for Stuy and always has been. It is just math.

And for all of these magnets, the top 20-30% always will have better college admissions than the bottom 50%.

And for virtually all if these magnets, many in the bottom 50% would have better college admissions from their base HS (even if they might get a better education at their magnet).

Life is about choices and tradeoffs. TJ is a big choice.

The bottom half of the graduating class pre-2024 has different results than the most recent graduating class.

Like?

Look at the class of 2024 instagram vs the class of 2025 instagram

Why would there be such a big difference in one year and what are you saying is the cause of the difference year over year?

don't get sucked in by this person. It's just someone who probably doesn't even have kids at TJ presently that's still pissed off about the TJ admission process changes made 5 years ago. Time to get over it but some remain obsessed with it.

NP: so there aren’t changes in college results from that year to the next - I think they said ‘24 compared to ‘25? I am confused if there were changes or if it is more someone is making stuff up.

The differences are pretty significant.
Class of 2024 was the last graduating class that was admitted under the old system that used GPA, a standardized test, teacher recommendations and essays
https://www.instagram.com/tj2024destinations
Class of 2025 destinations was the first class that used the new system which allocated spots to very middle school and selected kids based on their GPA and essays. Eliminating standardized tests, teacher recommendations and a application fee.
https://www.instagram.com/tj2025destinations

Eliminating the application fee was the only good thing about the reform.

They were able to eliminate the application fee because they eliminated the battery of standardized exams.

I agree with you that no fee is a positive - and should never be compromised - but remain clear-eyed about the correlation between the two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"My kid took algebra 2 in 9th and it was pretty clear that a lot (not all, but a lot) of the kids taking pre-calc or calculus in 9th grade were qualitatively better at math and it was a long hard struggle to catch up with the calculus kids because they're not standing still. "

meh. My kid (sr now at TJ) also took Alg 2 in 9th and while yes there are some crazy genious kids at TJ there is also a big swath that simply was able to do Alg 1 in 6th at their ES whereas at the vast majority of ESs across the county that's not an option. DC would have done fine with Alg 1 in 6th but it wasn't a route really even at our AAP center. She didn't struggle to keep up with those kids.

How did she do on the math team?

? She had zero interest in the math team. She does do other ECs at TJ.

Then she's not keeping up with those kids.

Cuz yep all kids’ goals are the same for their ECs and having had the route to take Alg 1 in 6th when virtually all other schools do not offer this permanent makes every one of those kids geniuses.

Can you clarify your post? This is word salad.
We are only talking about math.
My point is that a lot of kids that were accelerated in math were better at math. They weren't born that way but the early acceleration made them that way and it took a lot to catch up to them.
The reason I bring up math team is because at TJ the top math students are not measured by standardized tests like the SATs, everyone is getting 800 on that. They are measured by their performance on the competitive math exams. If you don't really care about that then that's fine but that is where the math comeptition is at TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"My kid took algebra 2 in 9th and it was pretty clear that a lot (not all, but a lot) of the kids taking pre-calc or calculus in 9th grade were qualitatively better at math and it was a long hard struggle to catch up with the calculus kids because they're not standing still. "

meh. My kid (sr now at TJ) also took Alg 2 in 9th and while yes there are some crazy genious kids at TJ there is also a big swath that simply was able to do Alg 1 in 6th at their ES whereas at the vast majority of ESs across the county that's not an option. DC would have done fine with Alg 1 in 6th but it wasn't a route really even at our AAP center. She didn't struggle to keep up with those kids.

How did she do on the math team?

? She had zero interest in the math team. She does do other ECs at TJ.

Then she's not keeping up with those kids.

Those kids have done nothing with their education except enrich themselves. Going to TJ and HPSYM was wasted on them but their tiger parents like their salaries.

That's a different argument that you will lose at a later date. The argument you are losing now is whether the highly accelerated math kids are better at math than the algebra 2 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No matter what the TJ admissions process happens to be, no matter how "rigorous", half of the students will be in the bottom half. Same is true for Stuy and always has been. It is just math.

And for all of these magnets, the top 20-30% always will have better college admissions than the bottom 50%.

And for virtually all if these magnets, many in the bottom 50% would have better college admissions from their base HS (even if they might get a better education at their magnet).

Life is about choices and tradeoffs. TJ is a big choice.

The bottom half of the graduating class pre-2024 has different results than the most recent graduating class.

Like?

Look at the class of 2024 instagram vs the class of 2025 instagram

Why would there be such a big difference in one year and what are you saying is the cause of the difference year over year?

don't get sucked in by this person. It's just someone who probably doesn't even have kids at TJ presently that's still pissed off about the TJ admission process changes made 5 years ago. Time to get over it but some remain obsessed with it.

NP: so there aren’t changes in college results from that year to the next - I think they said ‘24 compared to ‘25? I am confused if there were changes or if it is more someone is making stuff up.

The differences are pretty significant.
Class of 2024 was the last graduating class that was admitted under the old system that used GPA, a standardized test, teacher recommendations and essays
https://www.instagram.com/tj2024destinations
Class of 2025 destinations was the first class that used the new system which allocated spots to very middle school and selected kids based on their GPA and essays. Eliminating standardized tests, teacher recommendations and a application fee.
https://www.instagram.com/tj2025destinations

Eliminating the application fee was the only good thing about the reform.

They were able to eliminate the application fee because they eliminated the battery of standardized exams.

I agree with you that no fee is a positive - and should never be compromised - but remain clear-eyed about the correlation between the two.

There is no necessary no connection between the two. None. You can eliminate the fee without eliminating the test. Total revenues from the TJ application fee was something like $250,000.