What changes in the TJ admissions procedure do you predict this year ?

Anonymous
I submitted the following questions to FCPS Superintendent office via https://www.fcps.edu/department/superintendents-office. I opted for a reply, but I am not hopeful of receiving one. Lets see..
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Thank you for taking initiative to address the concerns regarding lack of racial diversity in TJ High School. I read the proposal and attended the 7PM town hall with a plan to see answers to some of my questions. However, town hall ended without answering a single question from any of the parents even after 90 min and it was frustrating for all the attendees who carved this time out of their personal schedule.

I personally do not agree with selection based on lottery, but I understand that it is difficult to achieve diversity without it. However, I am worried that TJ will lose its reputation as no.1 STEM school in the country over time. Having said, I am wondering if you could answer the following hypothetical questions to explain the new TJ selection process.  

1. Is the process to get into the initial pool and subsequent lottery completely gender and race neutral? 
2. Do a hispanic female student and asian male student, both with same GPA 3.5 and enrolled into Algebra I in 8th grade (and answered questionnaire etc) have equal probability of getting into the initial selection pool in region 1 with traditionally higher asian population?
3. Do two students from initial selection pool i) A hispanic student with GPA 3.5 (min) who enrolled into Algebra I in 8th grade ii) An asian male Level IV student with GPA 4.5 who completed Algebra I in 7th grade, have equal probability of getting admitted and/or rejected by TJ lottery without racial or gender bias in the lottery? 
4. Can a region 1 family 'temporarily' relocate to region 3 or 4 during middle school to increase their kid's (assume the kid will make cut off in both regions) chances of being selected by the lottery? 
Anonymous
I am so glad that those who kept declaring change would never come to TJ, simply because of a ranking, will soon be proven wrong. Most in FCPS despise what TJ has become and the unbridled arrogance of the school community.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Right. So essentially what people are saying is this: who cares if the incoming crop of kids can't hack the current curriculum. Who needs a challenging curriculum anyway? If you want a super-challenging curriculum, go private.


You don't go private for a challenging curriculum or for STEM. Either you forgot that in the heat of the moment or ... your kids are 5 and under.


Yes, agreed. You won't get challenging STEM in the top area privates. I have a kid at one. They are light years behind TJ.


But now with a watered down TJ, private schools may step up and offer challenging courses for the strong STEM kids that would have gotten into TJ under the current system. Who knows, neighborhood schools, such as Langley may start offering challenging courses too if it is not blocked by One FairFax.


Your kids are definitely 5 and under.


Do other schools have all these labs and research opportunities?

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Automation and Robotics
Biotechnology and Life Sciences
Chemical Analysis and Nanochemistry
Computer Systems
Energy Systems
Engineering Design
JUMP Lab
Microelectronics
Mobile and Web Application Development
Neuroscience
Oceanography and Geophysical Systems
Prototyping & Engineering Materials
Quantum Physics and Optics
Anonymous
LOL - TJ parent of graduating senior here.

I just pictured the TJ math department being told they will have remedial math sections. Cue the mass staff exodus. Just as well - the bent of many in the department will not be well suited to the more diverse student body.

Anonymous
Instead of a lottery, can't they just tweak the admissions process - the application/paperwork would be purely paperwork- grades, letters, test scores, etc.
Any multiple choice questions about race or gender are eliminated. Even home address, school pyramid, and full name should be done away with. Purely clinical.
You'd be identified solely by your student ID number that all fcps kids have.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is all worth it just to see Asra Nomani having her latest hissy fit.


Cyber bullying is against law.


Tell her that
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Instead of a lottery, can't they just tweak the admissions process - the application/paperwork would be purely paperwork- grades, letters, test scores, etc.
Any multiple choice questions about race or gender are eliminated. Even home address, school pyramid, and full name should be done away with. Purely clinical.
You'd be identified solely by your student ID number that all fcps kids have.


They are looking to focus on race, not make it a blind process.
Anonymous
Goodbye TJ. Merit has had it's day, sacrificed at the altar of race and "equity". Mediocrity is the new standard.

Might as well change TJ's name at the same time so we all know it's not the same as the current standard of excellence.
Anonymous
Their process has been so closed and secretive just like the state’s. It is so disappointing that they plan to wholesaled changes with just 3 weeks of public comment. They did back room negotiations and rolled this out hoping to stifle any dissent. The board members speaking about emails they’ve received from unhappy people — those who are happy didn’t even know this proposal was in the works! Of course all the students and alum who love the place didn’t reach out.

Governor’s Schools have a mandate to serve gifted kids; a 3.5 middle school gpa does not make a child gifted.

What will happen to McLean HS under this plan? The place is way overcrowded already (with no plan to remedy it) and now they will have to take another huge number of kids from Longfellow who normally would have gone to TJ.

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is all worth it just to see Asra Nomani having her latest hissy fit.


Cyber bullying is against law.


Tell her that


When you launch an ad-hominem attack, that just exposes your own vast inadequacies, and your utter inability to defend your position.
Anonymous
What will happen to McLean HS under this plan? The place is way overcrowded already (with no plan to remedy it) and now they will have to take another huge number of kids from Longfellow who normally would have gone to TJ.



Another excuse to do boundary adjustments. Remember, McLean is NOT the most overcrowded school in the county. There is another one that sends many students to TJ.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is all worth it just to see Asra Nomani having her latest hissy fit.


Cyber bullying is against law.


Tell her that


When you launch an ad-hominem attack, that just exposes your own vast inadequacies, and your utter inability to defend your position.


Tell her that - I didn't post the original "hissy fit" piece
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is all worth it just to see Asra Nomani having her latest hissy fit.


Cyber bullying is against law.


Tell her that


When you launch an ad-hominem attack, that just exposes your own vast inadequacies, and your utter inability to defend your position.


Tell her that - I didn't post the original "hissy fit" piece


No "hissy fit" piece here (and I looked), unless you mean the one where she was attacked for being anti-muslim because she fought for women's rights, unlike some SJWs here
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is all worth it just to see Asra Nomani having her latest hissy fit.


Cyber bullying is against law.


Tell her that


When you launch an ad-hominem attack, that just exposes your own vast inadequacies, and your utter inability to defend your position.


Tell her that - I didn't post the original "hissy fit" piece


No "hissy fit" piece here (and I looked), unless you mean the one where she was attacked for being anti-muslim because she fought for women's rights, unlike some SJWs here


Do you mean you aren't the poster who wrote "This is all worth it just to see Asra Nomani having her latest hissy fit.". This is anonymous. There's no way to tell it it isn't you. But you do seem to be defending her. "Hissy fit" is a uniquely derogatory term used to diminish women who have a voice and aren't afraid to use it, when there are no other arguments available.
Anonymous
Fcps needs to get these black and Hispanic kids at an earlier age and support them.

I had one black coworker who had a son who was flagged as gifted at an early age. I remember she did nothing with it. She was pregnant with a different guy and was much for focused on her baby shower. I remember thinking how odd it was that she was so excited for the baby shower and no wedding. I felt bad for her son. He was neglected. She was always going out.
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