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: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.

+1

Only in Fairfax county does buying the test answers equate to studying and practice.

[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: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.

+1

Only in Fairfax county does buying the test answers equate to studying and practice.

You just keep lying.

[Anonymous]

So we have a white girl whose mom is an immigrant from Bolivia. (I am a dark-skinned Asian immigrant).
We have a middle eastern fair skinned Asian kid.
We have a girl from Egypt who lives in a very white part of Arlington whose sister had applied for TJ.
We have another dark skinned possibly Asian kid who lives in a a white Prince William neighbourhood (as per article).

I am a little mystified how this is helping right American historic wrongs.

As I look around most of the beneficiaries of proxy equity and anto asian quotas are fairly prosperous immigrants from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mexico etc. Even Spain! Not many people from oppressed American black communities or undocumented south americans are benefiting.

what's happening? is this just white people getting back at Asians who they think are now in their place? or just good intentions not really serving their purpose?

[Anonymous]

Shh don't spill the beans

First gen immigrants are loving the new rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shh don't spill the beans

First gen immigrants are loving the new rules.

It is all just nuts. When you try to slice and dice equity. No one wants to make the tough problems central to the solution - criminal justice reform, early childhood education. Just focus on easy problems, pitting one minority against the other, and declare victory which doesn't help the intended population. Or maybe the intended population is not what is being advertised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shh don't spill the beans

First gen immigrants are loving the new rules.

It is all just nuts. When you try to slice and dice equity. No one wants to make the tough problems central to the solution - criminal justice reform, early childhood education. Just focus on easy problems, pitting one minority against the other, and declare victory which doesn't help the intended population. Or maybe the intended population is not what is being advertised.

I don't know about any of that but I do think providing a level playing field for all students in the county not just those who can afford prep makes perfect sense.

[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: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.

+1

Only in Fairfax county does buying the test answers equate to studying and practice.

So true!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shh don't spill the beans

First gen immigrants are loving the new rules.

It is all just nuts. When you try to slice and dice equity. No one wants to make the tough problems central to the solution - criminal justice reform, early childhood education. Just focus on easy problems, pitting one minority against the other, and declare victory which doesn't help the intended population. Or maybe the intended population is not what is being advertised.

It is pretty hilarious, the whole reform push came from the NAACP and their allies, the school board got caught saying they wanted less asians and the end result is there are still barely any blacks and it's majority asian. It is nuts, neither side is getting what they actually want.

[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: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.

+1

Only in Fairfax county does buying the test answers equate to studying and practice.

So true!

Only in Fairfax county - if you cannot compete, shame the successful and change the rules. Your kids must be proud of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shh don't spill the beans

First gen immigrants are loving the new rules.

It is all just nuts. When you try to slice and dice equity. No one wants to make the tough problems central to the solution - criminal justice reform, early childhood education. Just focus on easy problems, pitting one minority against the other, and declare victory which doesn't help the intended population. Or maybe the intended population is not what is being advertised.

I don't know about any of that but I do think providing a level playing field for all students in the county not just those who can afford prep makes perfect sense.

Yes. You don't know about any of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So we have a white girl whose mom is an immigrant from Bolivia. (I am a dark-skinned Asian immigrant).
We have a middle eastern fair skinned Asian kid.
We have a girl from Egypt who lives in a very white part of Arlington whose sister had applied for TJ.
We have another dark skinned possibly Asian kid who lives in a a white Prince William neighbourhood (as per article).

I am a little mystified how this is helping right American historic wrongs.

As I look around most of the beneficiaries of proxy equity and anto asian quotas are fairly prosperous immigrants from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mexico etc. Even Spain! Not many people from oppressed American black communities or undocumented south americans are benefiting.

what's happening? is this just white people getting back at Asians who they think are now in their place? or just good intentions not really serving their purpose?

It is giving gifts to the wrong people. Even in the workplace the diversity hires are now African immigrants. Whites get to beat some Asians. And someone who looks Black is given a token. while real problems of US blacks are forgotten. Just a pointless scam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shh don't spill the beans

First gen immigrants are loving the new rules.

It is all just nuts. When you try to slice and dice equity. No one wants to make the tough problems central to the solution - criminal justice reform, early childhood education. Just focus on easy problems, pitting one minority against the other, and declare victory which doesn't help the intended population. Or maybe the intended population is not what is being advertised.

I don't know about any of that but I do think providing a level playing field for all students in the county not just those who can afford prep makes perfect sense.

Yes. You don't know about any of that.

That was PP’s nice way of saying you are full of crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/05/31/thomas-jefferson-high-school-freshmen-admissions/

I get that these are just four kids and may not represent all the new admits under the new systems, but it was really nice to hear. They are working hard and generally enjoying the experience. They had zero shot of getting in with the old system and seem to be doing more than fine academically at TJ. I am really proud of them. I love that they are not paying attention to all the hate, they are just doing their thing. Go on, Ms. Rocket Scientist! Love that gal!

Good luck to the new class: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/05/25/tj-class-of-2026-data/. Head up. We believe in you.

I agree, BUT I don't think it ever was in question that these kids couldn't do "fine academically" at TJ. Even before the change, there were many, many students who were denied admissions who clearly could have handled the work as well. The problem isn't with the students being admitted; it's the ones being denied who clearly would also benefit from the education, regardless of their race and SE status.

Agree, the problem isn't admission criteria which is fine but there are fewer spots than capable students. Some people feel turning this into the hunger games makes it exclusive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shh don't spill the beans

First gen immigrants are loving the new rules.

It is all just nuts. When you try to slice and dice equity. No one wants to make the tough problems central to the solution - criminal justice reform, early childhood education. Just focus on easy problems, pitting one minority against the other, and declare victory which doesn't help the intended population. Or maybe the intended population is not what is being advertised.

I don't know about any of that but I do think providing a level playing field for all students in the county not just those who can afford prep makes perfect sense.

Yes you're right~ The PP was just prattling on about their crazy conspiracy theories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shh don't spill the beans

First gen immigrants are loving the new rules.

It is all just nuts. When you try to slice and dice equity. No one wants to make the tough problems central to the solution - criminal justice reform, early childhood education. Just focus on easy problems, pitting one minority against the other, and declare victory which doesn't help the intended population. Or maybe the intended population is not what is being advertised.

I don't know about any of that but I do think providing a level playing field for all students in the county not just those who can afford prep makes perfect sense.

Yes you're right~ The PP was just prattling on about their crazy conspiracy theories.

Stop agreeing with your own posts. We are talking about the Wash Post article here. Plain facts.