Alexandria's ban on Thomas Jefferson magnet school

[Anonymous]

I moved to Alexandria years ago before I had a child and remember the old superintendant being very against allowing City of Alexandria residents of being allow to have their children apply for admission to Thomas Jefferson, the prestigious public magnet school in Fairfax County.

Her public stance was it would drain too many of the best students from TC Williams, to the detriment of the student body at large. I remember a teacher telling me that was all B.S., it was more like she was afraid all of Alexandria's slots would go to private school middle students on the City's dime. I think the City had to pay, back then, about $12K per TJ student. That superindent later was forced out because of a DUI or something like that.

Has anyone rethought this policy since it was implement a long time ago and whether it is still relevent? The City is much different from when I first moved here, so I wonder if there would be political support to allow a moderate number of City residents a chance at TJ. I know some far flung counties grant a handful of spots and TJ seems more than willing to allow City residents go to TJ if the City was willing. Every new resident I talk to about it is always very surprised of the TJ ban.

I was going to bring this up to my neighborhood association, but before I did, I wanted to know what others thought about it. Or if anyone had any ideas to make it more palatable to the powers that be.

[Anonymous]

Will never happen.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP.

The "bright and white" brain drain at TC is pronounced enough, and the school has sequestered the ones who remain in a bubble as best it can. Last thing this "persistently lowest achieving school" needs is to have its test scores drop.

Mort Sherman has made it crystal clear he has no intention of trying to compete with privates. He also has no interest in letting his most-prized anomalies venture to another district.

[Anonymous]

Good for Alexandria. The jury is still out on whether TJ has had a positive or negative impact on other NoVa schools.

[Anonymous]

I thought there were two spots for Alexandria kids, no? That's the word on the street among my neighbors.

[Anonymous]

No, ACPS does not participate. Ultimately, it's the school board's decision, not the Superintendent's. If you want the chance for your kids to go to TJ, pressure your school board members to change the policy, or vote those folks out in favor of someone who will allow it.

I think it would actually help the district's overall quailty if we participated. Lots of parents with very bright students (especially high achieving Asian/Indian immigrant families that don't have money for private school) will not even consider living in Alexandria, because they expect/believe/hope (whether they are right or not) that their kids will likely be candidates for TJ when they hit high school.

The school board focuses on the 5-7 smart kids we'd lose to TJ if we allowed participation. But we lose even more smart kids in the current situation, where the families most focused on educational achievement refuse to live in Alexandria b/c we're denying their kids the option to even compete for admission to TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, ACPS does not participate. Ultimately, it's the school board's decision, not the Superintendent's. If you want the chance for your kids to go to TJ, pressure your school board members to change the policy, or vote those folks out in favor of someone who will allow it.

I think it would actually help the district's overall quailty if we participated. Lots of parents with very bright students (especially high achieving Asian/Indian immigrant families that don't have money for private school) will not even consider living in Alexandria, because they expect/believe/hope (whether they are right or not) that their kids will likely be candidates for TJ when they hit high school.

The school board focuses on the 5-7 smart kids we'd lose to TJ if we allowed participation. But we lose even more smart kids in the current situation, where the families most focused on educational achievement refuse to live in Alexandria b/c we're denying their kids the option to even compete for admission to TJ.

Unfortunately, this superintendent leads this school board around on a leash. It will take a regime change to affect change. Too bad Sherman's contract is good for another three years.

[Anonymous]

But the school board members are up for vote in November. If they know their positions are at stake, you'd be surprised how much backbone they would find.

[Anonymous]

We are in Alexandria, and my kids do well academically. I don't see why how 2 kids per year going to TJ would really decimate the scores at TC Williams, but getting ACPS to change their policy is not a top priority for me. In some ways, I think it's kind of a relief. The DC Metro area is already so competitive. It sounds like people in Fairfax County start grooming their kids for TJ when they are in diapers. I'd rather spare my kids that added pressure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in Alexandria, and my kids do well academically. I don't see why how 2 kids per year going to TJ would really decimate the scores at TC Williams, but getting ACPS to change their policy is not a top priority for me. In some ways, I think it's kind of a relief. The DC Metro area is already so competitive. It sounds like people in Fairfax County start grooming their kids for TJ when they are in diapers. I'd rather spare my kids that added pressure.

I'm the OP, and I don't think my DC will get into TJ. I have no idea, it's just that I have noticed that many families move to Fairfax County around the middle school years, and TJ is not the main reason, but one reason. Honestly, I would really like the board to justify or actually provide statistics are studies that it will lead to a brain drain from TC Williams or the school system. The option of TJ may entice more residents to stay in the school system and find out it isn't the terrible place they fear.

Also, isn't it likely that some private school kids would get those spots, so the impact on TJ wouldn't necessarily be 5-7 kids, it might only be a few. If the private schools kids test in, let their parents pay the tuition.

But seriously who cares if there is a brain drain from TJ, if we the parents of the school system, taxpayers, and voters want access to TJ, why shouldn't the school board give us what we want. If they get a lot of pushback from voters, I just don't see this is a type of issue they'll fight tooth and nail over if they need support for more overall funding or zoning for JH or whatever. That whole JH redevelopment died because a handful of owners organized to stop them building a high rise building across from their rowhouses.

Just rambling, I just think the whole brain drain reason is so stupid.

[Anonymous]

I am in Alexandria and do believe the policy needs to be changed.

[Anonymous]

If the private schools kids test in, let their parents pay the tuition.

I think Virginia law prohibits that. I'm in Arlington, and not paying for kids to attend TJ was once offered as a way to save money. It turned out that the county couldn't send kids there unless it paid for it -- you can't push the cost onto the students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I think it would actually help the district's overall quailty if we participated. Lots of parents with very bright students (especially high achieving Asian/Indian immigrant families that don't have money for private school) will not even consider living in Alexandria, because they expect/believe/hope (whether they are right or not) that their kids will likely be candidates for TJ when they hit high school.

Not disagreeing with you, but Asian/Indian immigrant families also tend to end up in Fairfax and Loudoun because that's where more of the high-tech jobs are located.

As long as TJ is around, preventing students who live in Alexandria from attending just sends a message that APS is insecure. Allowing them to attend should have a positive impact on the middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Bumping this old thread - ACPS residents, is this likely to change?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, ACPS does not participate. Ultimately, it's the school board's decision, not the Superintendent's. If you want the chance for your kids to go to TJ, pressure your school board members to change the policy, or vote those folks out in favor of someone who will allow it.

I think it would actually help the district's overall quailty if we participated. Lots of parents with very bright students (especially high achieving Asian/Indian immigrant families that don't have money for private school) will not even consider living in Alexandria, because they expect/believe/hope (whether they are right or not) that their kids will likely be candidates for TJ when they hit high school.

The school board focuses on the 5-7 smart kids we'd lose to TJ if we allowed participation. But we lose even more smart kids in the current situation, where the families most focused on educational achievement refuse to live in Alexandria b/c we're denying their kids the option to even compete for admission to TJ.

Very interesting point. I agree!