Does TJ counsel freshmen out?

[Anonymous]

I read on another forum a message by a parent talking about her TJ frosh needing help in a not particularly difficult math class. Given the stories that circulate every year about brilliant kids being turned away because the school only has 400 some spots, I found that very surprising. So I was just curious--if kids are struggling after getting there, do they get counseled out? Is this why they have a few additional spots in 10th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read on another forum a message by a parent talking about her TJ frosh needing help in a not particularly difficult math class. Given the stories that circulate every year about brilliant kids being turned away because the school only has 400 some spots, I found that very surprising. So I was just curious--if kids are struggling after getting there, do they get counseled out? Is this why they have a few additional spots in 10th grade?

Kids who don't maintain a 3.0 GPA each year are reassigned to their base schools. And some kids move or just decide TJ isn't for them. That's what tends to open up about 15-20 spots for sophomores.

[Anonymous]

How common is it for kids at TJ to need tutors?

[Anonymous]

I needed one for Physics when I was there.

[Anonymous]

I see posts requesting tutors for TJ students at least twice a week. I would guess it's quite common. This is why we are not considering TJ for our AAP kids. If one begs us to go there, we might consider it, but the high school years are so important in the grand scheme of life, both academically and socially. I don't want those 4 years spent entirely focused on schoolwork and tutoring and I don't want the threat of being sent off to another school hanging over their heads.

[Anonymous]

My guess is a kid at TJ that need heavy tutoring are the victim of a tiger mom.

[Anonymous]

I thought part of the point of TJ is to bring together very bright students who are interested in math and science fields to create an atmosphere of learning and inquiry. How is that atmosphere affected if there are many students in need of tutoring?
I would have thought tutoring would be rarely needed by students selected by such a rigorous process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see posts requesting tutors for TJ students at least twice a week.

Where? I don't see them on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought part of the point of TJ is to bring together very bright students who are interested in math and science fields to create an atmosphere of learning and inquiry. How is that atmosphere affected if there are many students in need of tutoring?
I would have thought tutoring would be rarely needed by students selected by such a rigorous process.

Well the 15 yo neighbor we carpool with has the same Biology textbook as my college age daughter in premed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see posts requesting tutors for TJ students at least twice a week.

Where? I don't see them on DCUM.

craigslist and a local gt listserv

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought part of the point of TJ is to bring together very bright students who are interested in math and science fields to create an atmosphere of learning and inquiry. How is that atmosphere affected if there are many students in need of tutoring?
I would have thought tutoring would be rarely needed by students selected by such a rigorous process.

Well the 15 yo neighbor we carpool with has the same Biology textbook as my college age daughter in premed.

That's because he's taking AP Biology. AP classes use college textbooks. But there are lots of high school kids who take AP and post-AP classes, do extremely well, and don't need a tutor. So it seems like the resources of the school are not being put to good use if it has to accomodate kids who have to make tons of extra effort to keep up. Conversely, those kids would be better served in an environment that isn't over-accelerated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
That's because he's taking AP Biology. AP classes use college textbooks. But there are lots of high school kids who take AP and post-AP classes, do extremely well, and don't need a tutor. So it seems like the resources of the school are not being put to good use if it has to accomodate kids who have to make tons of extra effort to keep up. Conversely, those kids would be better served in an environment that isn't over-accelerated.

Right, I am surprised that a TJ student would need a tutor. Shouldn't these be the kids that don't need tutors?

[Anonymous]

But in northern VA it is becoming increasingly common to hyper-school kids to get them into TJ, whether they posess the inherent ability to handle the workload or not. The kids who naturally have the internal drive and ability do not need tutors and are happy to have the extra rigor and extra work, the ones who were hothoused into it are the ones who end up miserable and needing tutors.

[Anonymous]

DH graduated from TJ in the '90s. He remembers a large percentage of kids having tutors in multiple subjects. It was not unusual. He also recalls the 3.0 grade cut off--but says that because grade inflation was rampant at TJ, not many kids ever fell below a 3.0. You had to basically not show up or really not be able to do the work to be counseled out.

He says he also remembers a few kids leaving because they could not take the stress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH graduated from TJ in the '90s. He remembers a large percentage of kids having tutors in multiple subjects. It was not unusual. He also recalls the 3.0 grade cut off--but says that because grade inflation was rampant at TJ, not many kids ever fell below a 3.0. You had to basically not show up or really not be able to do the work to be counseled out.

He says he also remembers a few kids leaving because they could not take the stress.

I'm the PP who needed the Physics tutor and I also graduated from TJ in the '90s (I may know your son!). The 3.0 GPA requirement did not go into effect until 2007.