Class 2025 TJHSST Results

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have read most of this thread, have no kid applying to TJ this year, and really no dog in this fight.

My thoughts, this all reminds me of the college applications to UVA. Fairfax county seniors could fill the entire freshman class, but UVA is not the U of Fairfax. It is a public school which has a mission to educate the entire state. TJ has a mission to educate all of NOVA, not just McLean and Falls Church.

Perhaps some will game the system by renting a house in a lower performing area, but not many.

TJs mission is to educate and give opportunity, not to be rated #1 in the nation. Please move on to private school or stay at your base school.

I agree with you except that I don't honestly believe the kids from Fairfax or specific middle schools are more deserving or able than kids from other schools or parts of the state. Sure, they may be better prepped but that doesn't mean they will make better students or alumni either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Spoken like someone who has no clue at all how truly elite such achievements are. These kids are among the top 100 in the entire nation in mathematics, yet they can't get a seat at a school taking 550 local kids? Kids who make USAMO, especially in middle school, are beyond brilliant in math.

Also, perhaps you should inform MIT and other elite colleges that they're not doing a good job of selecting their incoming freshmen. All of the elite schools want USAMO index to decide if you're worthy of being in their math, science, or engineering programs. I'm sure they'd find more talent if they simply used GPA and an essay rather than a rigorous math competition.

I have a BS in EE from Stanford. No it's not MIT, but it is an elite school for engineering. I'm not clueless about what elite colleges look for. Thanks, though.

And yet you still are acting as if it's right and proper to select kids who couldn't even qualify for Algebra in 7th grade over kids who are elite mathematicians???

Isn't this a false choice? It's likely those students were selected and you're just making up stuff to suit your desired narrative.

[Anonymous]

I was talking about this with my class of 2020 kid today. White kid, and thus a minority for his 4 years. Also, 2e and had a 504. He was sick sophomore year and needed surgery and came within an inch of having to drop back to his base school.

Here’s his take: the new admissions process is evil. It’s the SB and Dr. B (whom he really dislikes) taking kids who don’t have the background or skills to succeed and throwing to the wolves in order to make themselves look good. There will be a very high drop back rate, and every kid who drops back is a kid who then believes they can’t hack it in STEM. Thus, it does more harm than good to URMs.

He also says that if TJ wanted real reform, they would start in the Title I ESs, make sure opportunities like science Olympiad are evenly distributed, set up Math Counts, Science Olympiad, FIRST, Odyssey of the Mind, advanced math and similar in Titke 1 schools and create a pipeline.

And, they would have budgeted for enhanced tutoring, for late buses everyday, for buses to pick kids up in neighborhoods again instead of depots, be creating a robust mentoring program for FARMs students, and require all students to enter with at least geometry— even if that meant offering free, in person geometry classes at TJ for summer school.

His point: this is a cosmetic change only, and the most vulnerable kids will pay the highest price. He thinks FCPS is doing it this way so that they can point to the high fail rates in a couple years, say it doesn’t work, and go back to the status quo.

Having watched the SB this year, I disagreed with him on this last point. I think the SB loves quick, cosmetic fixes and didn’t want to put the effort into meaningful reform. And by the time the sh*t hits the fan, they will be past the election.

[Anonymous]

We still don't know how many people will accept. This class will likely have a stigma attached to it for a long time. The problems seems widespread enough that they didn't balance excellence from within the pool with their desire to broaden the applicant pool. If they didn't admit several high-performing students that normally would have been shoo-ins, then no matter how wonderful the rest of the class members are, they will always be tainted by the admission process. Many students won't want to be attached to that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I'm wondering is:
Did the 4 kids in FCPS who made it to National Mathcounts get in?
Did any of the kids who earned high placement in Science Olympiad get in?
Did the kids who either qualified or nearly qualified for USAMO get in?

If not, the selection process is deeply flawed.

Or maybe they got the problem solving essay answer completely wrong ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We still don't know how many people will accept. This class will likely have a stigma attached to it for a long time. The problems seems widespread enough that they didn't balance excellence from within the pool with their desire to broaden the applicant pool. If they didn't admit several high-performing students that normally would have been shoo-ins, then no matter how wonderful the rest of the class members are, they will always be tainted by the admission process. Many students won't want to be attached to that.

We go through this every year - trying to figure out why some of the highest scorers on the objective test didn't get in. There is no such thing as a shoo-in when it comes to TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We still don't know how many people will accept. This class will likely have a stigma attached to it for a long time. The problems seems widespread enough that they didn't balance excellence from within the pool with their desire to broaden the applicant pool. If they didn't admit several high-performing students that normally would have been shoo-ins, then no matter how wonderful the rest of the class members are, they will always be tainted by the admission process. Many students won't want to be attached to that.

They had that crappy class a few years ago when they tweaked admission standards lost a ton of kids to drop backs (like twice as many as normal) and so many kids needed math remediation. That’s when they added the math word problem. They were leaving as my kid started and only had about 400 kids make it. The class had a terrible reputation and the college admissions were weak. But TJ realized they ad a problem as soon as the did math placement testing amd course corrected. Hopefully that will happen here, and the damage will be limited to one class. Then they will. Have an excuse to go. Back to race blind admissions.

Feel bad for the kids this year who missed out due to the social experiment. And for VA as a whole, because Asians are another group Dems will lose in the November election.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We still don't know how many people will accept. This class will likely have a stigma attached to it for a long time. The problems seems widespread enough that they didn't balance excellence from within the pool with their desire to broaden the applicant pool. If they didn't admit several high-performing students that normally would have been shoo-ins, then no matter how wonderful the rest of the class members are, they will always be tainted by the admission process. Many students won't want to be attached to that.

They had that crappy class a few years ago when they tweaked admission standards lost a ton of kids to drop backs (like twice as many as normal) and so many kids needed math remediation. That’s when they added the math word problem. They were leaving as my kid started and only had about 400 kids make it. The class had a terrible reputation and the college admissions were weak. But TJ realized they ad a problem as soon as the did math placement testing amd course corrected. Hopefully that will happen here, and the damage will be limited to one class. Then they will. Have an excuse to go. Back to race blind admissions.

Feel bad for the kids this year who missed out due to the social experiment. And for VA as a whole, because Asians are another group Dems will lose in the November election.

The lawsuit will decide the future of the admissions process. I believe the geographic allotment per middle school is here to stay. Whether there is an objective entrance exam or not, we will find out. Whether you can add weight for "experience factors," will also be addressed. I am prepared to live with and respect the outcome, but have no problem admitting that all of these changes were due to Asians far outperforming every other demographic by a mile. I personally do not like having to penalize effort and success, but appear to be in the minority view point on this issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We still don't know how many people will accept. This class will likely have a stigma attached to it for a long time. The problems seems widespread enough that they didn't balance excellence from within the pool with their desire to broaden the applicant pool. If they didn't admit several high-performing students that normally would have been shoo-ins, then no matter how wonderful the rest of the class members are, they will always be tainted by the admission process. Many students won't want to be attached to that.

They had that crappy class a few years ago when they tweaked admission standards lost a ton of kids to drop backs (like twice as many as normal) and so many kids needed math remediation. That’s when they added the math word problem. They were leaving as my kid started and only had about 400 kids make it. The class had a terrible reputation and the college admissions were weak. But TJ realized they ad a problem as soon as the did math placement testing amd course corrected. Hopefully that will happen here, and the damage will be limited to one class. Then they will. Have an excuse to go. Back to race blind admissions.

Feel bad for the kids this year who missed out due to the social experiment. And for VA as a whole, because Asians are another group Dems will lose in the November election.

The lawsuit will decide the future of the admissions process. I believe the geographic allotment per middle school is here to stay. Whether there is an objective entrance exam or not, we will find out. Whether you can add weight for "experience factors," will also be addressed. I am prepared to live with and respect the outcome, but have no problem admitting that all of these changes were due to Asians far outperforming every other demographic by a mile. I personally do not like having to penalize effort and success, but appear to be in the minority view point on this issue.

White men have to keep minority groups like Asians down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We still don't know how many people will accept. This class will likely have a stigma attached to it for a long time. The problems seems widespread enough that they didn't balance excellence from within the pool with their desire to broaden the applicant pool. If they didn't admit several high-performing students that normally would have been shoo-ins, then no matter how wonderful the rest of the class members are, they will always be tainted by the admission process. Many students won't want to be attached to that.

They had that crappy class a few years ago when they tweaked admission standards lost a ton of kids to drop backs (like twice as many as normal) and so many kids needed math remediation. That’s when they added the math word problem. They were leaving as my kid started and only had about 400 kids make it. The class had a terrible reputation and the college admissions were weak. But TJ realized they ad a problem as soon as the did math placement testing amd course corrected. Hopefully that will happen here, and the damage will be limited to one class. Then they will. Have an excuse to go. Back to race blind admissions.

Feel bad for the kids this year who missed out due to the social experiment. And for VA as a whole, because Asians are another group Dems will lose in the November election.

This social experiment is happening on virtually every college campus in the U.S.

[Anonymous]

I used to grade AP exams. It was amazing how many kids wrote about their proms, their plans for summer vacation, how they were only taking the exam because their parents made them, and some rather unsavory topics. We had to read everything the kids wrote, just in case they actually started answering the question. Lots of kids taking the exams were not there because they wanted to be. There is no way that their parents knew why their kid flunked the exam.

I sometimes wonder how many of the kids who appear to be shoo ins for TJ write similar essays. Their parents won’t know that the kids wrote “I don’t want to go to TJ” and the kids know that the parents will blame the process and not the kid. Easiest way out.

I know, none of the kids of the parents posting here would ever do that because the kids are totally devoted to STEM in 8th grade. It is 100% their passion.

Or maybe some of them did because they don’t really want to attend TJ and want to have a regular high school experience but knew that their parents could not accept that.

Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to grade AP exams. It was amazing how many kids wrote about their proms, their plans for summer vacation, how they were only taking the exam because their parents made them, and some rather unsavory topics. We had to read everything the kids wrote, just in case they actually started answering the question. Lots of kids taking the exams were not there because they wanted to be. There is no way that their parents knew why their kid flunked the exam.

I sometimes wonder how many of the kids who appear to be shoo ins for TJ write similar essays. Their parents won’t know that the kids wrote “I don’t want to go to TJ” and the kids know that the parents will blame the process and not the kid. Easiest way out.

I know, none of the kids of the parents posting here would ever do that because the kids are totally devoted to STEM in 8th grade. It is 100% their passion.

Or maybe some of them did because they don’t really want to attend TJ and want to have a regular high school experience but knew that their parents could not accept that.

Just a thought.

Or maybe the little green Martians made them do it. Who knows right?

Interesting fantasy and might be true for a kid or two in a year. If you think this is a large number, then it is utter nonsense!

[Anonymous]

Because you have graded lots of exams like these over your life and so you have seen this type of thing? Easily 1/3 of the AP exams I graded were BSing and comments about the kids not wanting to take them. The kids were at the exam site. They were sitting the exam. They couldn’t be bothered to make an effort.

Are the TJ applicants different? Maybe. But I bet not that much different.

(Shrugs)

Maybe there are kids who know that this is important to Mom and Dad but they don’t want to be there and Mom and Dad are not listening when they say they don’t like it. Or they know Mom and Dad could careless and they expect them to be there. One essay that Mom and Dad never sees is all it takes to end the push and you can blame it on the admissions committee.

Or you could just assume that everyone is out to get your kid because society hates your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We still don't know how many people will accept. This class will likely have a stigma attached to it for a long time. The problems seems widespread enough that they didn't balance excellence from within the pool with their desire to broaden the applicant pool. If they didn't admit several high-performing students that normally would have been shoo-ins, then no matter how wonderful the rest of the class members are, they will always be tainted by the admission process. Many students won't want to be attached to that.

They had that crappy class a few years ago when they tweaked admission standards lost a ton of kids to drop backs (like twice as many as normal) and so many kids needed math remediation. That’s when they added the math word problem. They were leaving as my kid started and only had about 400 kids make it. The class had a terrible reputation and the college admissions were weak. But TJ realized they ad a problem as soon as the did math placement testing amd course corrected. Hopefully that will happen here, and the damage will be limited to one class. Then they will. Have an excuse to go. Back to race blind admissions.

Feel bad for the kids this year who missed out due to the social experiment. And for VA as a whole, because Asians are another group Dems will lose in the November election.

I cannot speak for all Asians. I'm Chinese American. Most people in my community will beg to differ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We still don't know how many people will accept. This class will likely have a stigma attached to it for a long time. The problems seems widespread enough that they didn't balance excellence from within the pool with their desire to broaden the applicant pool. If they didn't admit several high-performing students that normally would have been shoo-ins, then no matter how wonderful the rest of the class members are, they will always be tainted by the admission process. Many students won't want to be attached to that.

They had that crappy class a few years ago when they tweaked admission standards lost a ton of kids to drop backs (like twice as many as normal) and so many kids needed math remediation. That’s when they added the math word problem. They were leaving as my kid started and only had about 400 kids make it. The class had a terrible reputation and the college admissions were weak. But TJ realized they ad a problem as soon as the did math placement testing amd course corrected. Hopefully that will happen here, and the damage will be limited to one class. Then they will. Have an excuse to go. Back to race blind admissions.

Feel bad for the kids this year who missed out due to the social experiment. And for VA as a whole, because Asians are another group Dems will lose in the November election.

I cannot speak for all Asians. I'm Chinese American. Most people in my community will beg to differ.

I'm Chinese too and I disagree. This, along with the violence against our community by certain groups will definitely cause Chinese to vote Republican next year. Lesser evil at this point.