TJ Admissions

[Anonymous]

“ FCPS acknowledges that the same four top middle schools are where advanced STEM talent is nurtured to not just meet the TJ rigor but enroll in advanced courses there.”

DC has been doing great at TJ but still won’t have as much schedule space as others because she “only” started at Math 3 level (Alg 2). She could definitely have skipped a year and done Alg 1 in 6th but not all the centers do that - she would have had to go to the secondary school for that and no clue how transpiration for that would have worked. Not all centers have the same opportunity for the full acceleration spectrum that the “feeder” schools offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a healthy level of parental engagement at Carson and Longfellow that helps students excel in STEM subjects, and we can also include Cooper and Rocky Run in this category. FCPS appears to be dependent on these schools to fill a significant number of top-tier TJ class slots even after admissions change. It would be great if other FCPS schools could foster this kind of parental involvement (or "pressure", as few grudgingly term it) so that they too can produce highly qualified applicants for TJ.

Frost sent more kids than cooper or rocky run for at least a few years now.
Rocky Run kids don't apply as much anymore and Frost (18%) has a lot more FARM kids than Cooper (5%)

What’s the purpose of admitting students into the bottom tier, letting them struggle with Cs and Ds, and then saying that remedial help is being provided to keep them from falling further behind? On the other end, FCPS acknowledges that the same four top middle schools are where advanced STEM talent is nurtured to not just meet the TJ rigor but enroll in advanced courses there. How does the bottom tier benefit from TJ when they’re constantly playing catch-up with the bare minimum courses while having to live with a low GPA and never get to experience the true TJ Science and Tech education?

Citations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“ FCPS acknowledges that the same four top middle schools are where advanced STEM talent is nurtured to not just meet the TJ rigor but enroll in advanced courses there.”

DC has been doing great at TJ but still won’t have as much schedule space as others because she “only” started at Math 3 level (Alg 2). She could definitely have skipped a year and done Alg 1 in 6th but not all the centers do that - she would have had to go to the secondary school for that and no clue how transpiration for that would have worked. Not all centers have the same opportunity for the full acceleration spectrum that the “feeder” schools offer.

Meanwhile, were you aware your daughter shares her freshman class with a 10 year-old girl? There is a thread on it.

Whining about the enrichment of other kids (including those her age is really unbecoming and does not demonstrate your daughter was somehow oppressed / underprivileged.

We all make choices for our kids. Now take some personal responsibility and live with the choices you made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a healthy level of parental engagement at Carson and Longfellow that helps students excel in STEM subjects, and we can also include Cooper and Rocky Run in this category. FCPS appears to be dependent on these schools to fill a significant number of top-tier TJ class slots even after admissions change. It would be great if other FCPS schools could foster this kind of parental involvement (or "pressure", as few grudgingly term it) so that they too can produce highly qualified applicants for TJ.

Frost sent more kids than cooper or rocky run for at least a few years now.
Rocky Run kids don't apply as much anymore and Frost (18%) has a lot more FARM kids than Cooper (5%)

What’s the purpose of admitting students into the bottom tier, letting them struggle with Cs and Ds, and then saying that remedial help is being provided to keep them from falling further behind? On the other end, FCPS acknowledges that the same four top middle schools are where advanced STEM talent is nurtured to not just meet the TJ rigor but enroll in advanced courses there. How does the bottom tier benefit from TJ when they’re constantly playing catch-up with the bare minimum courses while having to live with a low GPA and never get to experience the true TJ Science and Tech education?

Citations?

From TJ Principal's email, and feedback from parents and students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ FCPS acknowledges that the same four top middle schools are where advanced STEM talent is nurtured to not just meet the TJ rigor but enroll in advanced courses there.”

DC has been doing great at TJ but still won’t have as much schedule space as others because she “only” started at Math 3 level (Alg 2). She could definitely have skipped a year and done Alg 1 in 6th but not all the centers do that - she would have had to go to the secondary school for that and no clue how transpiration for that would have worked. Not all centers have the same opportunity for the full acceleration spectrum that the “feeder” schools offer.

Meanwhile, were you aware your daughter shares her freshman class with a 10 year-old girl? There is a thread on it.

Whining about the enrichment of other kids (including those her age is really unbecoming and does not demonstrate your daughter was somehow oppressed / underprivileged.

We all make choices for our kids. Now take some personal responsibility and live with the choices you made.

🙄
Dc is a junior but thanks.
And sure I take “personal responsibility” for not buying a house in Great Falls or McLean in order to ensure my kid who ended up ready for Alg in 6th would have access to it.

Do you hear yourself?

My point is DC - who started on the “normal” level of Alg 2 at TJ came from a MS that - like MOST MSs in the county - does not advance kids past the standard AAP track. The fact that those classes aren’t available to all kids does not mean they aren’t TJ material.

[Anonymous]

Many TJ students begin with a standard math level but still progress to the highest courses offered, such as differential equations. Discuss math course options with your counselor. Apparently, the most advanced students are not those who had access to higher math in middle school, but rather those who participated in competitive math activities like MathCounts, AMC, Olympiads, etc from their upper elementary grades. Math-oriented extracurriculars and club involvement at TJ helps as well. Not sure how much of a difference afterschool enrichment really makes, unless the real passion exists to learn advanced math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a healthy level of parental engagement at Carson and Longfellow that helps students excel in STEM subjects, and we can also include Cooper and Rocky Run in this category. FCPS appears to be dependent on these schools to fill a significant number of top-tier TJ class slots even after admissions change. It would be great if other FCPS schools could foster this kind of parental involvement (or "pressure", as few grudgingly term it) so that they too can produce highly qualified applicants for TJ.

Frost sent more kids than cooper or rocky run for at least a few years now.
Rocky Run kids don't apply as much anymore and Frost (18%) has a lot more FARM kids than Cooper (5%)

What’s the purpose of admitting students into the bottom tier, letting them struggle with Cs and Ds, and then saying that remedial help is being provided to keep them from falling further behind? On the other end, FCPS acknowledges that the same four top middle schools are where advanced STEM talent is nurtured to not just meet the TJ rigor but enroll in advanced courses there. How does the bottom tier benefit from TJ when they’re constantly playing catch-up with the bare minimum courses while having to live with a low GPA and never get to experience the true TJ Science and Tech education?

Citations?

From TJ Principal's email, and feedback from parents and students

What was the text of the email?

Which parents/students?

[Anonymous]

“ MathCounts, AMC, Olympiads, ”

And those also aren’t offered everywhere. We aren’t in a “bad” pyramid either. Just a middle of the road one for FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“ MathCounts, AMC, Olympiads, ”

And those also aren’t offered everywhere. We aren’t in a “bad” pyramid either. Just a middle of the road one for FCPS.

Schools dont offer them by default, parents need to volunteer their time to make them happen, work with PTSA, etc.. Some competitions student can participate individually and online, or register through math league, etc. For math passionate students, there are year round competitions. Did you talk to your elementary or middle school math teacher to get guidance on how your student can start participating?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a healthy level of parental engagement at Carson and Longfellow that helps students excel in STEM subjects, and we can also include Cooper and Rocky Run in this category. FCPS appears to be dependent on these schools to fill a significant number of top-tier TJ class slots even after admissions change. It would be great if other FCPS schools could foster this kind of parental involvement (or "pressure", as few grudgingly term it) so that they too can produce highly qualified applicants for TJ.

Frost sent more kids than cooper or rocky run for at least a few years now.
Rocky Run kids don't apply as much anymore and Frost (18%) has a lot more FARM kids than Cooper (5%)

What’s the purpose of admitting students into the bottom tier, letting them struggle with Cs and Ds, and then saying that remedial help is being provided to keep them from falling further behind? On the other end, FCPS acknowledges that the same four top middle schools are where advanced STEM talent is nurtured to not just meet the TJ rigor but enroll in advanced courses there. How does the bottom tier benefit from TJ when they’re constantly playing catch-up with the bare minimum courses while having to live with a low GPA and never get to experience the true TJ Science and Tech education?

Citations?

It's fiction to sell their false narrative. They want to go back to the system where only students from wealthy feeders where parents were able to afford elite prep could get into TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a healthy level of parental engagement at Carson and Longfellow that helps students excel in STEM subjects, and we can also include Cooper and Rocky Run in this category. FCPS appears to be dependent on these schools to fill a significant number of top-tier TJ class slots even after admissions change. It would be great if other FCPS schools could foster this kind of parental involvement (or "pressure", as few grudgingly term it) so that they too can produce highly qualified applicants for TJ.

Frost sent more kids than cooper or rocky run for at least a few years now.
Rocky Run kids don't apply as much anymore and Frost (18%) has a lot more FARM kids than Cooper (5%)

What’s the purpose of admitting students into the bottom tier, letting them struggle with Cs and Ds, and then saying that remedial help is being provided to keep them from falling further behind? On the other end, FCPS acknowledges that the same four top middle schools are where advanced STEM talent is nurtured to not just meet the TJ rigor but enroll in advanced courses there. How does the bottom tier benefit from TJ when they’re constantly playing catch-up with the bare minimum courses while having to live with a low GPA and never get to experience the true TJ Science and Tech education?

Citations?

It's fiction to sell their false narrative. They want to go back to the system where only students from wealthy feeders where parents were able to afford elite prep could get into TJ.

Not fiction, but reality. TJ continues to be overwhelmingly dependent on top talent from academically wealthy feeder schools. Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“ MathCounts, AMC, Olympiads, ”

And those also aren’t offered everywhere. We aren’t in a “bad” pyramid either. Just a middle of the road one for FCPS.

Mathcounts allows students to sign up as non school competitors if their school isn't competing.
AMCs are offered by Fairfax math circle, FCAG, AoPS, and a number of other places.
Any motivated kid should be able to participate in both of these, even if it's not offered by their school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ MathCounts, AMC, Olympiads, ”

And those also aren’t offered everywhere. We aren’t in a “bad” pyramid either. Just a middle of the road one for FCPS.

Mathcounts allows students to sign up as non school competitors if their school isn't competing.
AMCs are offered by Fairfax math circle, FCAG, AoPS, and a number of other places.
Any motivated kid should be able to participate in both of these, even if it's not offered by their school.

But what if they can’t participate because they have to take care of their younger brother because both parents work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ MathCounts, AMC, Olympiads, ”

And those also aren’t offered everywhere. We aren’t in a “bad” pyramid either. Just a middle of the road one for FCPS.

Mathcounts allows students to sign up as non school competitors if their school isn't competing.
AMCs are offered by Fairfax math circle, FCAG, AoPS, and a number of other places.
Any motivated kid should be able to participate in both of these, even if it's not offered by their school.

But what if they can’t participate because they have to take care of their younger brother because both parents work?

They could use the free fcps issued laptop get on free khan academy, et., , and also be a good role model to the younger brother, and help him learn finger math.

Want more tips how I and millions of immigrants raised ourself from similar situation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ MathCounts, AMC, Olympiads, ”

And those also aren’t offered everywhere. We aren’t in a “bad” pyramid either. Just a middle of the road one for FCPS.

Mathcounts allows students to sign up as non school competitors if their school isn't competing.
AMCs are offered by Fairfax math circle, FCAG, AoPS, and a number of other places.
Any motivated kid should be able to participate in both of these, even if it's not offered by their school.

But what if they can’t participate because they have to take care of their younger brother because both parents work?

- or if they have only one parent?

- or if the parents don’t have a car and they can’t drive the child to enrichment?

- or they can’t afford science Olympiad?


Or, or, or . . .

You quickly see the foolishness of the left’s goal of “equity of outcomes.” It simply is not, and will never be, reality. Not everyone in life has the same outcome and we need to stop pretending it will ever be otherwise.