Washington Post Article On Freshmen Admitted Under New Admissions Process

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Unless the top math kid at a middle school can’t write an essay then they are at TJ.

Why would you think that? The process is not designed to ensure that top math kids get admitted.

Only the top kids who have exceptional essays and portraits - which include math. It’s just not the *only* thing they are looking for.

FCPS is ahead of the game. They are modeling future TJ graduates on Elon Musk - you have to be a provocateur, an expert at tweeting and creating a furor among other things. Focusing on math is passé- totally old-fashioned. Braband will soon author a book on the amazing pathway from essay writing to STEM success.

Call me old fashioned - but I’d rather be with the party that champions old fashioned values when it comes to STEM education (and it starts with M and is not a bad word)

Success in STEM isn’t 100% math. There are also other important qualities.

- STEM person who’s taken more math & science than almost everyone here

Nobody is saying it is 100% Math. But you cannot devalue math the way it has been done.

- STEM person who wrote the books you relied on growing up

Dang. I’m old so you must be ancient.

STEM is more than “focusing on math”.

We can agree that STEM is more than “focusing on math”. We can also agree that essay-writing should have less emphasis than Math in demonstrating STEM aptitude.

Perhaps we can meet up when the Eagles are playing in town. 😉

I’ll put the pink champagne on ice.

In addition to the profile & essay, I would support adding a math/science test component to the application. Ideally, a standardized test so kids could all have access to prep materials (not just those who pay to have unethical access to previous test questions on a supposedly confidential test).

Regardless of what happens with TJ admissions, the GOP will not help public education. On the contrary. They want to devalue and defund it.

I think all kids should have access to math and we should explore new ways to make it more accessible to everyone.

You do know there would not be a TJ but for Republicans, who came up with the idea of turning under-enrolled Jefferson High into TJHSST rather than closing the school.

Hmmm…what was their objective? Oh right - attracting tech companies.

Money. Not education.

BINGO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Unless the top math kid at a middle school can’t write an essay then they are at TJ.

Why would you think that? The process is not designed to ensure that top math kids get admitted.

Only the top kids who have exceptional essays and portraits - which include math. It’s just not the *only* thing they are looking for.

FCPS is ahead of the game. They are modeling future TJ graduates on Elon Musk - you have to be a provocateur, an expert at tweeting and creating a furor among other things. Focusing on math is passé- totally old-fashioned. Braband will soon author a book on the amazing pathway from essay writing to STEM success.

Call me old fashioned - but I’d rather be with the party that champions old fashioned values when it comes to STEM education (and it starts with M and is not a bad word)

Success in STEM isn’t 100% math. There are also other important qualities.

- STEM person who’s taken more math & science than almost everyone here

Nobody is saying it is 100% Math. But you cannot devalue math the way it has been done.

- STEM person who wrote the books you relied on growing up

Dang. I’m old so you must be ancient.

STEM is more than “focusing on math”.

We can agree that STEM is more than “focusing on math”. We can also agree that essay-writing should have less emphasis than Math in demonstrating STEM aptitude.

Perhaps we can meet up when the Eagles are playing in town. 😉

I’ll put the pink champagne on ice.

In addition to the profile & essay, I would support adding a math/science test component to the application. Ideally, a standardized test so kids could all have access to prep materials (not just those who pay to have unethical access to previous test questions on a supposedly confidential test).

Regardless of what happens with TJ admissions, the GOP will not help public education. On the contrary. They want to devalue and defund it.

I think all kids should have access to math and we should explore new ways to make it more accessible to everyone.

The old admissions process used a standardized math and science test! This process eliminated the test in favor of extra points for demographics.

Yes. After folks were caught cheating by having access to the questions. Not sure what the answer is, but I don't think you can say the "smartest" kids were getting in before when prep centers were literally giving kids the questions and answers in advance. That's not intelligence. It's cheating.

[Anonymous]

If you think TJHSST was such a bad idea why are you so obsessed with who goes there 35 years later?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Unless the top math kid at a middle school can’t write an essay then they are at TJ.

Why would you think that? The process is not designed to ensure that top math kids get admitted.

Only the top kids who have exceptional essays and portraits - which include math. It’s just not the *only* thing they are looking for.

FCPS is ahead of the game. They are modeling future TJ graduates on Elon Musk - you have to be a provocateur, an expert at tweeting and creating a furor among other things. Focusing on math is passé- totally old-fashioned. Braband will soon author a book on the amazing pathway from essay writing to STEM success.

Call me old fashioned - but I’d rather be with the party that champions old fashioned values when it comes to STEM education (and it starts with M and is not a bad word)

Success in STEM isn’t 100% math. There are also other important qualities.

- STEM person who’s taken more math & science than almost everyone here

Nobody is saying it is 100% Math. But you cannot devalue math the way it has been done.

- STEM person who wrote the books you relied on growing up

Dang. I’m old so you must be ancient.

STEM is more than “focusing on math”.

We can agree that STEM is more than “focusing on math”. We can also agree that essay-writing should have less emphasis than Math in demonstrating STEM aptitude.

Perhaps we can meet up when the Eagles are playing in town. 😉

I’ll put the pink champagne on ice.

In addition to the profile & essay, I would support adding a math/science test component to the application. Ideally, a standardized test so kids could all have access to prep materials (not just those who pay to have unethical access to previous test questions on a supposedly confidential test).

Regardless of what happens with TJ admissions, the GOP will not help public education. On the contrary. They want to devalue and defund it.

I think all kids should have access to math and we should explore new ways to make it more accessible to everyone.

You do know there would not be a TJ but for Republicans, who came up with the idea of turning under-enrolled Jefferson High into TJHSST rather than closing the school.

Hmmm…what was their objective? Oh right - attracting tech companies.

Money. Not education.

BINGO

I wonder who the people are who make such comments

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Unless the top math kid at a middle school can’t write an essay then they are at TJ.

Why would you think that? The process is not designed to ensure that top math kids get admitted.

Only the top kids who have exceptional essays and portraits - which include math. It’s just not the *only* thing they are looking for.

FCPS is ahead of the game. They are modeling future TJ graduates on Elon Musk - you have to be a provocateur, an expert at tweeting and creating a furor among other things. Focusing on math is passé- totally old-fashioned. Braband will soon author a book on the amazing pathway from essay writing to STEM success.

Call me old fashioned - but I’d rather be with the party that champions old fashioned values when it comes to STEM education (and it starts with M and is not a bad word)

Success in STEM isn’t 100% math. There are also other important qualities.

- STEM person who’s taken more math & science than almost everyone here

Nobody is saying it is 100% Math. But you cannot devalue math the way it has been done.

- STEM person who wrote the books you relied on growing up

Dang. I’m old so you must be ancient.

STEM is more than “focusing on math”.

We can agree that STEM is more than “focusing on math”. We can also agree that essay-writing should have less emphasis than Math in demonstrating STEM aptitude.

Perhaps we can meet up when the Eagles are playing in town. 😉

I’ll put the pink champagne on ice.

In addition to the profile & essay, I would support adding a math/science test component to the application. Ideally, a standardized test so kids could all have access to prep materials (not just those who pay to have unethical access to previous test questions on a supposedly confidential test).

Regardless of what happens with TJ admissions, the GOP will not help public education. On the contrary. They want to devalue and defund it.

I think all kids should have access to math and we should explore new ways to make it more accessible to everyone.

The old admissions process used a standardized math and science test! This process eliminated the test in favor of extra points for demographics.

It wasn’t a test available to all though. Only the privileged few had access to previous questions illegally obtained by test prep businesses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Unless the top math kid at a middle school can’t write an essay then they are at TJ.

Why would you think that? The process is not designed to ensure that top math kids get admitted.

Only the top kids who have exceptional essays and portraits - which include math. It’s just not the *only* thing they are looking for.

FCPS is ahead of the game. They are modeling future TJ graduates on Elon Musk - you have to be a provocateur, an expert at tweeting and creating a furor among other things. Focusing on math is passé- totally old-fashioned. Braband will soon author a book on the amazing pathway from essay writing to STEM success.

Call me old fashioned - but I’d rather be with the party that champions old fashioned values when it comes to STEM education (and it starts with M and is not a bad word)

Success in STEM isn’t 100% math. There are also other important qualities.

- STEM person who’s taken more math & science than almost everyone here

Nobody is saying it is 100% Math. But you cannot devalue math the way it has been done.

- STEM person who wrote the books you relied on growing up

Dang. I’m old so you must be ancient.

STEM is more than “focusing on math”.

We can agree that STEM is more than “focusing on math”. We can also agree that essay-writing should have less emphasis than Math in demonstrating STEM aptitude.

Perhaps we can meet up when the Eagles are playing in town. 😉

I’ll put the pink champagne on ice.

In addition to the profile & essay, I would support adding a math/science test component to the application. Ideally, a standardized test so kids could all have access to prep materials (not just those who pay to have unethical access to previous test questions on a supposedly confidential test).

Regardless of what happens with TJ admissions, the GOP will not help public education. On the contrary. They want to devalue and defund it.

I think all kids should have access to math and we should explore new ways to make it more accessible to everyone.

You do know there would not be a TJ but for Republicans, who came up with the idea of turning under-enrolled Jefferson High into TJHSST rather than closing the school.

Hmmm…what was their objective? Oh right - attracting tech companies.

Money. Not education.

Tech companies = private sector jobs. and yes money to feed your kids. not everyone can have government jobs funded by tax payer.

I work in tech (financial services).

All of our kids should have an excellent education. We need to invest more in our schools - like areas that value education. Not defund it for vouchers and charters for the privileged few.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Unless the top math kid at a middle school can’t write an essay then they are at TJ.

Why would you think that? The process is not designed to ensure that top math kids get admitted.

Only the top kids who have exceptional essays and portraits - which include math. It’s just not the *only* thing they are looking for.

FCPS is ahead of the game. They are modeling future TJ graduates on Elon Musk - you have to be a provocateur, an expert at tweeting and creating a furor among other things. Focusing on math is passé- totally old-fashioned. Braband will soon author a book on the amazing pathway from essay writing to STEM success.

Call me old fashioned - but I’d rather be with the party that champions old fashioned values when it comes to STEM education (and it starts with M and is not a bad word)

Success in STEM isn’t 100% math. There are also other important qualities.

- STEM person who’s taken more math & science than almost everyone here

Nobody is saying it is 100% Math. But you cannot devalue math the way it has been done.

- STEM person who wrote the books you relied on growing up

Dang. I’m old so you must be ancient.

STEM is more than “focusing on math”.

We can agree that STEM is more than “focusing on math”. We can also agree that essay-writing should have less emphasis than Math in demonstrating STEM aptitude.

Perhaps we can meet up when the Eagles are playing in town. 😉

I’ll put the pink champagne on ice.

In addition to the profile & essay, I would support adding a math/science test component to the application. Ideally, a standardized test so kids could all have access to prep materials (not just those who pay to have unethical access to previous test questions on a supposedly confidential test).

Regardless of what happens with TJ admissions, the GOP will not help public education. On the contrary. They want to devalue and defund it.

I think all kids should have access to math and we should explore new ways to make it more accessible to everyone.

You do know there would not be a TJ but for Republicans, who came up with the idea of turning under-enrolled Jefferson High into TJHSST rather than closing the school.

Hmmm…what was their objective? Oh right - attracting tech companies.

Money. Not education.

BINGO

I wonder who the people are who make such comments

DP but I also say “bingo”. What do you want to know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Unless the top math kid at a middle school can’t write an essay then they are at TJ.

Why would you think that? The process is not designed to ensure that top math kids get admitted.

Only the top kids who have exceptional essays and portraits - which include math. It’s just not the *only* thing they are looking for.

FCPS is ahead of the game. They are modeling future TJ graduates on Elon Musk - you have to be a provocateur, an expert at tweeting and creating a furor among other things. Focusing on math is passé- totally old-fashioned. Braband will soon author a book on the amazing pathway from essay writing to STEM success.

Call me old fashioned - but I’d rather be with the party that champions old fashioned values when it comes to STEM education (and it starts with M and is not a bad word)

Success in STEM isn’t 100% math. There are also other important qualities.

- STEM person who’s taken more math & science than almost everyone here

Nobody is saying it is 100% Math. But you cannot devalue math the way it has been done.

- STEM person who wrote the books you relied on growing up

Dang. I’m old so you must be ancient.

STEM is more than “focusing on math”.

We can agree that STEM is more than “focusing on math”. We can also agree that essay-writing should have less emphasis than Math in demonstrating STEM aptitude.

Perhaps we can meet up when the Eagles are playing in town. 😉

I’ll put the pink champagne on ice.

In addition to the profile & essay, I would support adding a math/science test component to the application. Ideally, a standardized test so kids could all have access to prep materials (not just those who pay to have unethical access to previous test questions on a supposedly confidential test).

Regardless of what happens with TJ admissions, the GOP will not help public education. On the contrary. They want to devalue and defund it.

I think all kids should have access to math and we should explore new ways to make it more accessible to everyone.

The old admissions process used a standardized math and science test! This process eliminated the test in favor of extra points for demographics.

Yes. After folks were caught cheating by having access to the questions. Not sure what the answer is, but I don't think you can say the "smartest" kids were getting in before when prep centers were literally giving kids the questions and answers in advance. That's not intelligence. It's cheating.

The vast majority of kids didn’t cheat and many didn’t even prep. It’s ridiculous for you to make such a broad statement and it suggests all you know about Tj admissions is what you read on this board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Unless the top math kid at a middle school can’t write an essay then they are at TJ.

Why would you think that? The process is not designed to ensure that top math kids get admitted.

Only the top kids who have exceptional essays and portraits - which include math. It’s just not the *only* thing they are looking for.

FCPS is ahead of the game. They are modeling future TJ graduates on Elon Musk - you have to be a provocateur, an expert at tweeting and creating a furor among other things. Focusing on math is passé- totally old-fashioned. Braband will soon author a book on the amazing pathway from essay writing to STEM success.

Call me old fashioned - but I’d rather be with the party that champions old fashioned values when it comes to STEM education (and it starts with M and is not a bad word)

Success in STEM isn’t 100% math. There are also other important qualities.

- STEM person who’s taken more math & science than almost everyone here

Nobody is saying it is 100% Math. But you cannot devalue math the way it has been done.

- STEM person who wrote the books you relied on growing up

Dang. I’m old so you must be ancient.

STEM is more than “focusing on math”.

We can agree that STEM is more than “focusing on math”. We can also agree that essay-writing should have less emphasis than Math in demonstrating STEM aptitude.

Perhaps we can meet up when the Eagles are playing in town. 😉

I’ll put the pink champagne on ice.

In addition to the profile & essay, I would support adding a math/science test component to the application. Ideally, a standardized test so kids could all have access to prep materials (not just those who pay to have unethical access to previous test questions on a supposedly confidential test).

Regardless of what happens with TJ admissions, the GOP will not help public education. On the contrary. They want to devalue and defund it.

I think all kids should have access to math and we should explore new ways to make it more accessible to everyone.

The old admissions process used a standardized math and science test! This process eliminated the test in favor of extra points for demographics.

Yes. After folks were caught cheating by having access to the questions. Not sure what the answer is, but I don't think you can say the "smartest" kids were getting in before when prep centers were literally giving kids the questions and answers in advance. That's not intelligence. It's cheating.

You mean buying the answers isn't an indication of merit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Unless the top math kid at a middle school can’t write an essay then they are at TJ.

Why would you think that? The process is not designed to ensure that top math kids get admitted.

Only the top kids who have exceptional essays and portraits - which include math. It’s just not the *only* thing they are looking for.

FCPS is ahead of the game. They are modeling future TJ graduates on Elon Musk - you have to be a provocateur, an expert at tweeting and creating a furor among other things. Focusing on math is passé- totally old-fashioned. Braband will soon author a book on the amazing pathway from essay writing to STEM success.

Call me old fashioned - but I’d rather be with the party that champions old fashioned values when it comes to STEM education (and it starts with M and is not a bad word)

Success in STEM isn’t 100% math. There are also other important qualities.

- STEM person who’s taken more math & science than almost everyone here

Nobody is saying it is 100% Math. But you cannot devalue math the way it has been done.

- STEM person who wrote the books you relied on growing up

Dang. I’m old so you must be ancient.

STEM is more than “focusing on math”.

We can agree that STEM is more than “focusing on math”. We can also agree that essay-writing should have less emphasis than Math in demonstrating STEM aptitude.

Perhaps we can meet up when the Eagles are playing in town. 😉

I’ll put the pink champagne on ice.

In addition to the profile & essay, I would support adding a math/science test component to the application. Ideally, a standardized test so kids could all have access to prep materials (not just those who pay to have unethical access to previous test questions on a supposedly confidential test).

Regardless of what happens with TJ admissions, the GOP will not help public education. On the contrary. They want to devalue and defund it.

I think all kids should have access to math and we should explore new ways to make it more accessible to everyone.

The old admissions process used a standardized math and science test! This process eliminated the test in favor of extra points for demographics.

Yes. After folks were caught cheating by having access to the questions. Not sure what the answer is, but I don't think you can say the "smartest" kids were getting in before when prep centers were literally giving kids the questions and answers in advance. That's not intelligence. It's cheating.

The vast majority of kids didn’t cheat and many didn’t even prep. It’s ridiculous for you to make such a broad statement and it suggests all you know about Tj admissions is what you read on this board.

Sure, a small number of kids didn't, but when one single prep center in a remote corner of TJ's "boundary" accounts for 30% alone you can bet the actual number of preppers is closer to 90%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Unless the top math kid at a middle school can’t write an essay then they are at TJ.

Why would you think that? The process is not designed to ensure that top math kids get admitted.

Only the top kids who have exceptional essays and portraits - which include math. It’s just not the *only* thing they are looking for.

FCPS is ahead of the game. They are modeling future TJ graduates on Elon Musk - you have to be a provocateur, an expert at tweeting and creating a furor among other things. Focusing on math is passé- totally old-fashioned. Braband will soon author a book on the amazing pathway from essay writing to STEM success.

Call me old fashioned - but I’d rather be with the party that champions old fashioned values when it comes to STEM education (and it starts with M and is not a bad word)

Success in STEM isn’t 100% math. There are also other important qualities.

- STEM person who’s taken more math & science than almost everyone here

Nobody is saying it is 100% Math. But you cannot devalue math the way it has been done.

- STEM person who wrote the books you relied on growing up

Dang. I’m old so you must be ancient.

STEM is more than “focusing on math”.

We can agree that STEM is more than “focusing on math”. We can also agree that essay-writing should have less emphasis than Math in demonstrating STEM aptitude.

Perhaps we can meet up when the Eagles are playing in town. 😉

I’ll put the pink champagne on ice.

In addition to the profile & essay, I would support adding a math/science test component to the application. Ideally, a standardized test so kids could all have access to prep materials (not just those who pay to have unethical access to previous test questions on a supposedly confidential test).

Regardless of what happens with TJ admissions, the GOP will not help public education. On the contrary. They want to devalue and defund it.

I think all kids should have access to math and we should explore new ways to make it more accessible to everyone.

The old admissions process used a standardized math and science test! This process eliminated the test in favor of extra points for demographics.

Yes. After folks were caught cheating by having access to the questions. Not sure what the answer is, but I don't think you can say the "smartest" kids were getting in before when prep centers were literally giving kids the questions and answers in advance. That's not intelligence. It's cheating.

The vast majority of kids didn’t cheat and many didn’t even prep. It’s ridiculous for you to make such a broad statement and it suggests all you know about Tj admissions is what you read on this board.

Sure, a small number of kids didn't, but when one single prep center in a remote corner of TJ's "boundary" accounts for 30% alone you can bet the actual number of preppers is closer to 90%.

One single prep center did not account for 30% of the TJ kids. This has been explained ad nauseam on this forum, but you either are pushing an agenda or you're too stupid to comprehend simple facts. Curie counted quite a lot of kids as admitted to all of TJ, AOS, and AET. Many of these LCPS kids opted to attend AOS/AET, but you're still counting them as TJ attendees. Then, after those kids declined their TJ spots, new LCPS kids from Curie were offered admission and included by Curie in their list. You're counting these kids, too, as attending TJ.

You can't include both the kids who declined admissions and the kids who were then offered admissions from the waitlist, and then go zOMG!!! 133 kids from Curie are attending TJ.

I'd love to see the demographics of LCPS TJ applicants. I bet that not many kids outside the South Asian community are even interested in commuting all the way from Loudoun just for high school. I also would bet that pretty much every single above average South Asian kid in Loudoun is taking classes at Curie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Unless the top math kid at a middle school can’t write an essay then they are at TJ.

Why would you think that? The process is not designed to ensure that top math kids get admitted.

Only the top kids who have exceptional essays and portraits - which include math. It’s just not the *only* thing they are looking for.

FCPS is ahead of the game. They are modeling future TJ graduates on Elon Musk - you have to be a provocateur, an expert at tweeting and creating a furor among other things. Focusing on math is passé- totally old-fashioned. Braband will soon author a book on the amazing pathway from essay writing to STEM success.

Call me old fashioned - but I’d rather be with the party that champions old fashioned values when it comes to STEM education (and it starts with M and is not a bad word)

Success in STEM isn’t 100% math. There are also other important qualities.

- STEM person who’s taken more math & science than almost everyone here

Nobody is saying it is 100% Math. But you cannot devalue math the way it has been done.

- STEM person who wrote the books you relied on growing up

Dang. I’m old so you must be ancient.

STEM is more than “focusing on math”.

We can agree that STEM is more than “focusing on math”. We can also agree that essay-writing should have less emphasis than Math in demonstrating STEM aptitude.

Perhaps we can meet up when the Eagles are playing in town. 😉

I’ll put the pink champagne on ice.

In addition to the profile & essay, I would support adding a math/science test component to the application. Ideally, a standardized test so kids could all have access to prep materials (not just those who pay to have unethical access to previous test questions on a supposedly confidential test).

Regardless of what happens with TJ admissions, the GOP will not help public education. On the contrary. They want to devalue and defund it.

I think all kids should have access to math and we should explore new ways to make it more accessible to everyone.

The old admissions process used a standardized math and science test! This process eliminated the test in favor of extra points for demographics.

Yes. After folks were caught cheating by having access to the questions. Not sure what the answer is, but I don't think you can say the "smartest" kids were getting in before when prep centers were literally giving kids the questions and answers in advance. That's not intelligence. It's cheating.

The vast majority of kids didn’t cheat and many didn’t even prep. It’s ridiculous for you to make such a broad statement and it suggests all you know about Tj admissions is what you read on this board.

Sure, a small number of kids didn't, but when one single prep center in a remote corner of TJ's "boundary" accounts for 30% alone you can bet the actual number of preppers is closer to 90%.

One single prep center did not account for 30% of the TJ kids. This has been explained ad nauseam on this forum, but you either are pushing an agenda or you're too stupid to comprehend simple facts. Curie counted quite a lot of kids as admitted to all of TJ, AOS, and AET. Many of these LCPS kids opted to attend AOS/AET, but you're still counting them as TJ attendees. Then, after those kids declined their TJ spots, new LCPS kids from Curie were offered admission and included by Curie in their list. You're counting these kids, too, as attending TJ.

You can't include both the kids who declined admissions and the kids who were then offered admissions from the waitlist, and then go zOMG!!! 133 kids from Curie are attending TJ.

I'd love to see the demographics of LCPS TJ applicants. I bet that not many kids outside the South Asian community are even interested in commuting all the way from Loudoun just for high school. I also would bet that pretty much every single above average South Asian kid in Loudoun is taking classes at Curie.

I saw the ad even. Curie alone accounted for 30% of those admitted the year that was published.

[Anonymous]

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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.

Unless the top math kid at a middle school can’t write an essay then they are at TJ.

Why would you think that? The process is not designed to ensure that top math kids get admitted.

Only the top kids who have exceptional essays and portraits - which include math. It’s just not the *only* thing they are looking for.

Lot of kids attend Curie not just to get into TJ but parents want their children a strong foundation so they can be successful in HS and College. Curie makes you work very hard and learn stuff. It is not just TJ prep. They do focus on TJ prep essay practices towards the end but that is not the main goal. The reason you see so many kids from Curie is because of the quality of teaching they provide and the hard work they expect from kids. The teachers at Curie are very hardworking...they work nights, weekends with Curie kids. Just signing up for Curie doesn't guarantee TJ admission....there are kids who cannot handle Curie workload expectations and don't do well in Curie too. If you know of any family in low income bracket and kid needs help, reach out to Curie and they will sign him up for free....not many people know or don't take advantage of this offer. BTW, I don't work for Curie. I had a child who went to Curie and got into TJ so I am saying these for a fact. Again, main focus of Curie is to help kids to be successful in whatever school they go to and the goal is not to prep them for a TJ written test. If you know stuff, you can answer any kind of question....that is the goal.

FCPS is ahead of the game. They are modeling future TJ graduates on Elon Musk - you have to be a provocateur, an expert at tweeting and creating a furor among other things. Focusing on math is passé- totally old-fashioned. Braband will soon author a book on the amazing pathway from essay writing to STEM success.

Call me old fashioned - but I’d rather be with the party that champions old fashioned values when it comes to STEM education (and it starts with M and is not a bad word)

Success in STEM isn’t 100% math. There are also other important qualities.

- STEM person who’s taken more math & science than almost everyone here

Nobody is saying it is 100% Math. But you cannot devalue math the way it has been done.

- STEM person who wrote the books you relied on growing up

Dang. I’m old so you must be ancient.

STEM is more than “focusing on math”.

We can agree that STEM is more than “focusing on math”. We can also agree that essay-writing should have less emphasis than Math in demonstrating STEM aptitude.

Perhaps we can meet up when the Eagles are playing in town. 😉

I’ll put the pink champagne on ice.

In addition to the profile & essay, I would support adding a math/science test component to the application. Ideally, a standardized test so kids could all have access to prep materials (not just those who pay to have unethical access to previous test questions on a supposedly confidential test).

Regardless of what happens with TJ admissions, the GOP will not help public education. On the contrary. They want to devalue and defund it.

I think all kids should have access to math and we should explore new ways to make it more accessible to everyone.

The old admissions process used a standardized math and science test! This process eliminated the test in favor of extra points for demographics.

Yes. After folks were caught cheating by having access to the questions. Not sure what the answer is, but I don't think you can say the "smartest" kids were getting in before when prep centers were literally giving kids the questions and answers in advance. That's not intelligence. It's cheating.

The vast majority of kids didn’t cheat and many didn’t even prep. It’s ridiculous for you to make such a broad statement and it suggests all you know about Tj admissions is what you read on this board.

Sure, a small number of kids didn't, but when one single prep center in a remote corner of TJ's "boundary" accounts for 30% alone you can bet the actual number of preppers is closer to 90%.

One single prep center did not account for 30% of the TJ kids. This has been explained ad nauseam on this forum, but you either are pushing an agenda or you're too stupid to comprehend simple facts. Curie counted quite a lot of kids as admitted to all of TJ, AOS, and AET. Many of these LCPS kids opted to attend AOS/AET, but you're still counting them as TJ attendees. Then, after those kids declined their TJ spots, new LCPS kids from Curie were offered admission and included by Curie in their list. You're counting these kids, too, as attending TJ.

You can't include both the kids who declined admissions and the kids who were then offered admissions from the waitlist, and then go zOMG!!! 133 kids from Curie are attending TJ.

I'd love to see the demographics of LCPS TJ applicants. I bet that not many kids outside the South Asian community are even interested in commuting all the way from Loudoun just for high school. I also would bet that pretty much every single above average South Asian kid in Loudoun is taking classes at Curie.

I saw the ad even. Curie alone accounted for 30% of those admitted the year that was published.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Unless the top math kid at a middle school can’t write an essay then they are at TJ.

Why would you think that? The process is not designed to ensure that top math kids get admitted.

Only the top kids who have exceptional essays and portraits - which include math. It’s just not the *only* thing they are looking for.

FCPS is ahead of the game. They are modeling future TJ graduates on Elon Musk - you have to be a provocateur, an expert at tweeting and creating a furor among other things. Focusing on math is passé- totally old-fashioned. Braband will soon author a book on the amazing pathway from essay writing to STEM success.

Call me old fashioned - but I’d rather be with the party that champions old fashioned values when it comes to STEM education (and it starts with M and is not a bad word)

Success in STEM isn’t 100% math. There are also other important qualities.

- STEM person who’s taken more math & science than almost everyone here

Nobody is saying it is 100% Math. But you cannot devalue math the way it has been done.

- STEM person who wrote the books you relied on growing up

Dang. I’m old so you must be ancient.

STEM is more than “focusing on math”.

We can agree that STEM is more than “focusing on math”. We can also agree that essay-writing should have less emphasis than Math in demonstrating STEM aptitude.

Perhaps we can meet up when the Eagles are playing in town. 😉

I’ll put the pink champagne on ice.

In addition to the profile & essay, I would support adding a math/science test component to the application. Ideally, a standardized test so kids could all have access to prep materials (not just those who pay to have unethical access to previous test questions on a supposedly confidential test).

Regardless of what happens with TJ admissions, the GOP will not help public education. On the contrary. They want to devalue and defund it.

I think all kids should have access to math and we should explore new ways to make it more accessible to everyone.

The old admissions process used a standardized math and science test! This process eliminated the test in favor of extra points for demographics.

Yes. After folks were caught cheating by having access to the questions. Not sure what the answer is, but I don't think you can say the "smartest" kids were getting in before when prep centers were literally giving kids the questions and answers in advance. That's not intelligence. It's cheating.

The vast majority of kids didn’t cheat and many didn’t even prep. It’s ridiculous for you to make such a broad statement and it suggests all you know about Tj admissions is what you read on this board.

Sure, a small number of kids didn't, but when one single prep center in a remote corner of TJ's "boundary" accounts for 30% alone you can bet the actual number of preppers is closer to 90%.

One single prep center did not account for 30% of the TJ kids. This has been explained ad nauseam on this forum, but you either are pushing an agenda or you're too stupid to comprehend simple facts. Curie counted quite a lot of kids as admitted to all of TJ, AOS, and AET. Many of these LCPS kids opted to attend AOS/AET, but you're still counting them as TJ attendees. Then, after those kids declined their TJ spots, new LCPS kids from Curie were offered admission and included by Curie in their list. You're counting these kids, too, as attending TJ.

You can't include both the kids who declined admissions and the kids who were then offered admissions from the waitlist, and then go zOMG!!! 133 kids from Curie are attending TJ.

I'd love to see the demographics of LCPS TJ applicants. I bet that not many kids outside the South Asian community are even interested in commuting all the way from Loudoun just for high school. I also would bet that pretty much every single above average South Asian kid in Loudoun is taking classes at Curie.

You're right about the South Asian community in Loudoun. It is rare that you get many TJ students who do not belong to that group from Loudoun.

But you are also incorrect that there are hugely significant numbers of Loudoun students from Curie who decline their TJ admission in favor of AOS and AET. It happens, and I'm sure someone will jump in here and say "well, we made that choice" or "my friend made that choice", but by and large South Asian families are motivated by academic prestige and for the time being, TJ still has that going for it.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’ll be fine but it’s really unfair for them.

Why is it unfair? They applied, they did not get in. Someone else's application was deemed more merit worthy. You may not agree with the way admission was determined, but that doesn't make it"unfair."

If you are this up in arms about TJ, just wait until college, when it really is like a lottery at top schools. Honestly, if your kid is that spectacular, they will be top of the class at the base school and have an even better chance at a top college. For your kid's sake, move on.

Colleges are not funded by my tax dollars. TJ is. As a resident of McLean, I pay pay my fair share of taxes (and property taxes per capita are likely the highest where I live).

You want to penalize privilege - go ahead. Make it twice as difficult or thrice as difficult for privileged kids to get in. The admissions formula makes it almost impossible for non-experience factor kids to get in from the feeder schools.

Helping the underprivileged is one thing but class warfare that penalizes young kids is totally different.

This is not about arguing with partisan Ninjas like you on an anonymous board. This will be settled next November. And hopefully for good.

What a disgusting display of entitlement.

Just because McLean has more wealthy families than other areas doesn’t mean it “deserves” more seats.

We all pay taxes to fund this community resource and this resource should be available to the whole community. Not just a privileged few.

What is equally disgusting is the gerrymandering of community resources by the electorally privileged few.

Nobody is asking for more than a fair share of resource.

I bat for my family and not for McLean. It does not matter to me if McLean has 30 or 100 seats. What matters to me is that my kid has a near 0 shot at TJ because of the way the admissions formula is set up. I recognize my privilege and I fully understand that you need to adjust the formula to get more of the underprivileged admitted. But the formula makes it near impossible for a non- experience factor kid from Cooper/Longfellow to get in. And that is absolutely about fairness and equity. Before we are Black or White or Asian or McLean residents or from south County, we are individuals. And this entire process has done wrong to many at an individual level.

So you guys can throw whatever shade you want.

I won’t throw shade, but your kid may have a better experience at Langley or McLean than most of these kids are going to have at TJ in the future. They will be surrounded by highly motivated peers, the course offerings may expand as more STEM-focused kids from Cooper and Longfellow remain at their base schools, and you’ll avoid the in-fighting among parents, School Board members, and community residents over who “belongs” at their school. Many people would love to be in your shoes.

Bingo, now that they are taking less folks from the AAP feeders aka the most qualified and advanced STEM students, the base schools for the AAP feeders are better than the raw talent now going to TJ from across the county via the new equity process.

DP. I don't mind that they're taking fewer kids from the traditional AAP feeders. 50 kids from Carson is plenty. My issue is that their application process doesn't have enough information to find the top 50 Carson kids. Instead, they're offering spots to very privileged, mediocre kids while bypassing the kids who are exceptionally talented. Within Carson or Longfellow, math level absolutely should matter. STEM achievements also should matter. The kid with a 4.0 taking Algebra I and with no STEM ECs or no notable achievements shouldn't be ranked higher than the 4.0 kid in Pre-Calc who qualified for AIME and had a high national ranking in Science Olympiad.

Presumably, the “more qualified” kid would score better on the essay and portrait.

Why? Being elite at STEM and being a strong writer are two not necessarily correlated things. Also, it's not like the prep centers aren't teaching the kids how to write compelling essays. Kids who have practiced or been coached in writing these types of essays are at a big advantage over those who haven't had the training.

Only in Fairfax county public schools does studying and practice equate to a negative.

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