TJ results out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:My 8th grader is in Algebra 1 and thinks Math would be tough at TJ, especially since calculus is required. How to convince them to accept the offer? Is it that difficult from base school?

If you want to convince them, you could point out that they would likely take calculus at their base school. If you have the money, you could agree to pay for tutoring/afterschooling in math.

Don't FCPS base schools allow graduation with just Algebra 2? No need for calculus at base school, but TJ requires it?

TJ is a magnate school with different expectations. When you apply to TJ, you apply understanding that you will be taking math and science classes that are more intense and involved. A look at the math catalog shows that the math class are mainly one semester long and are not labeled Geometry, Algebra 2, and the like. Talking to the students at TJ points to math classes that are compacted and intense.

If you want to take the same classes you would take at yoru base school, don't apply to TJ, go to your base school. If you want to be challenged in math and science, apply for TJ knowing that the standards are different.

You would not apply to attend MIT and get there and go "But why do I have to take different classes that are harder then UVA?" Same for TJ. You apply for TJ to attend TJ with compacted math, Calculus as a bse requirement for graduation, and more challenging science offerings.

But, they changes their admissions. They should also change their expectations and requirements. It's just unfair to expect the same from kids finishing Alg 1 and kids finishing Alg 2.

Kids who finish Alg2 in 8th grade are not expected to finish with Calculus. They are generally expected to finish with Differential Equations, Concrete Math, or Complex Variables.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I don't know this kid but he might have bombed the essays.

And it just happens that TJ's attrition rate has increased 10x despite the new Algebra review sessions and new no-fail policy for freshmen.

This is completely false. In a typical year pre-covid, you would see attrition of 25-35 students in each freshmen class. It's essentially the same under the new admissions policy.

You're just wrong. On average, there was 1 freshman goes back to base school each year pre-covid. Now, it's 15-20 a year.

No, you're just wrong. The admissions office has been admitting 15-20 froshmores per year for over a decade. Do you think the class size was increasing year over year?

Check your facts.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Results were a little better this year at out school. They accepted two of the top math students, but the top few students were waitlisted. Last year the top students were all waitlisted or rejected.

I did not know this until my kid got waitlisted, known top students get rejected, known mediocre kids get accepted at our school. Lesson learned. A word to the parents of top students - DO NOT punish your kids if they got rejected. I know some parents of top students are upset - including me. However, once you know the results, you can speculate what's going on. Talk to your kids about it if they are upset too.

Exact thing happened to my kid and my kid's school. I told my kid not to loose the passion for learning and continue all the projects my kid is doing. No matter what happens with TJ and college applications, no one can take away their talents and passion. When they begin their careers, all it matters is what they can do and the products they can build. This disappointment will help them grow.

If you think someone's talents are all that matters in a career, I'd like to move to your world. Because mine doesn't work that way.

"Passion" you left that out of the previous post. And, I would want to hear what you would say to your children. Talents, passion, and hard work don't matter? If that's the case, I truly feel sorry for your children.

Here is what I tell my passionate kid who got accepted to TJ. It's important to know the material you are studying and follow your passions so that work does not feel like work. But, much of life is about connections and even more of life is unfair. Have contingency plans and listen to the Sunscreen Song. It's pretty much all. you need to know about life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It looks like TJ starts 30 minutes later than the other high schools. Has an extra 10 minutes for lunch and 5 minutes or so more for each class for a total of 20 to 25 minutes longer school day. That's about 30 to 35 minutes more per day but since they start 30 minutes later, they end a full hour later.

Does anyone who attends this school or has a child here know if this is correct for why the school day is a little over 30 minutes longer each day? Do they get a grade for the 8th period class or just for 7 periods and then have a club meet up for the 8th period?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know this kid but he might have bombed the essays.

And it just happens that TJ's attrition rate has increased 10x despite the new Algebra review sessions and new no-fail policy for freshmen.

This is completely false. In a typical year pre-covid, you would see attrition of 25-35 students in each freshmen class. It's essentially the same under the new admissions policy.

You're just wrong. On average, there was 1 freshman goes back to base school each year pre-covid. Now, it's 15-20 a year.

No, you're just wrong. The admissions office has been admitting 15-20 froshmores per year for over a decade. Do you think the class size was increasing year over year?

Check your facts.

More like 40-50

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like TJ starts 30 minutes later than the other high schools. Has an extra 10 minutes for lunch and 5 minutes or so more for each class for a total of 20 to 25 minutes longer school day. That's about 30 to 35 minutes more per day but since they start 30 minutes later, they end a full hour later.

Does anyone who attends this school or has a child here know if this is correct for why the school day is a little over 30 minutes longer each day? Do they get a grade for the 8th period class or just for 7 periods and then have a club meet up for the 8th period?

Hi! I can help you with this as I've been connected with the school continuously for probably longer than anyone else on this forum.

The school day is indeed a little bit longer so that the school can have the 8th period program. It was developed this way on purpose so that students could participate in clubs and activities without necessarily having to stay after school - because the catchment area of the school is so large.

But the 8th period program only happens a couple of times a week, so the average day of school is only a little bit longer.

In a normal week, students will take all seven academic classes for about 45 minutes each on Monday, with a long midday lunch period that partly serves for teachers and departments to do some connected work. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, they have academic classes 1-4 for an hour and a half apiece with a 40 minute lunch period. And on Wednesdays and Fridays, they have academic classes 5-7, plus the 8th period which is split into two 40 minute blocks with passing time in between for clubs and activities.

There are no grades for the 8th period program, but students are required to remain in school during this time. The 8th period program normall encompasses nearly 200 different clubs and activities for students to participate in, and is one of the highlights of the TJ experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know this kid but he might have bombed the essays.

And it just happens that TJ's attrition rate has increased 10x despite the new Algebra review sessions and new no-fail policy for freshmen.

This is completely false. In a typical year pre-covid, you would see attrition of 25-35 students in each freshmen class. It's essentially the same under the new admissions policy.

You're just wrong. On average, there was 1 freshman goes back to base school each year pre-covid. Now, it's 15-20 a year.

No, you're just wrong. The admissions office has been admitting 15-20 froshmores per year for over a decade. Do you think the class size was increasing year over year?

Check your facts.

More like 40-50

OMG. Can you guys stop talking about kids who are unprepared for this school? This is not the case at most middle schools. At many AAP schools there are at least three times the amount of kids that can handle TJ workload that don't get in. Maybe more. If some kids struggle at TJ because of this 1.5 percent allowance for each school, so be it if they want to go. It's still a worthwhile experience for them and they have the option to return. If TJ and TJ interested parents are really that worried about other kids not making it in they can always increase their enrollment or start mini LLIV TJs at the high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like TJ starts 30 minutes later than the other high schools. Has an extra 10 minutes for lunch and 5 minutes or so more for each class for a total of 20 to 25 minutes longer school day. That's about 30 to 35 minutes more per day but since they start 30 minutes later, they end a full hour later.

Does anyone who attends this school or has a child here know if this is correct for why the school day is a little over 30 minutes longer each day? Do they get a grade for the 8th period class or just for 7 periods and then have a club meet up for the 8th period?

Hi! I can help you with this as I've been connected with the school continuously for probably longer than anyone else on this forum.

The school day is indeed a little bit longer so that the school can have the 8th period program. It was developed this way on purpose so that students could participate in clubs and activities without necessarily having to stay after school - because the catchment area of the school is so large.

But the 8th period program only happens a couple of times a week, so the average day of school is only a little bit longer.

In a normal week, students will take all seven academic classes for about 45 minutes each on Monday, with a long midday lunch period that partly serves for teachers and departments to do some connected work. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, they have academic classes 1-4 for an hour and a half apiece with a 40 minute lunch period. And on Wednesdays and Fridays, they have academic classes 5-7, plus the 8th period which is split into two 40 minute blocks with passing time in between for clubs and activities.

There are no grades for the 8th period program, but students are required to remain in school during this time. The 8th period program normall encompasses nearly 200 different clubs and activities for students to participate in, and is one of the highlights of the TJ experience.

So they don't take an extra class. They take a club activity. I don't know why they advertise that the kids take an extra class.

[Anonymous]

Do they also have a late bus for sports?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC waitlisted. 4.0. AP Pre-Calculus. Won gold, silver, bronze in different competitions. Volunteered a lot with the community (because DC wanted to do so, not bc of TJ. DC will continue doing so no matter what).

DC’s friends, DC, us and everyone knew DC were shocked with the result.

DC is resilient though. DC started discussing a new plan at base HS with us.

Your kid is a great example of why teacher recc’s need reinstated. That said they would make a strong froshmore candidate with the math that far ahead.

Making the admissions process MORE subjective isn't the answer.
Right now the selection process sees a bit random. My kid got in, and he's sharp enough to be there, but the brightest math kid at his school got waitlisted.

If they want diversity, they can just have a quota for students on free and reduced lunch.
We already know how to measure math ability (not necessarily science but definitely math ability).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC waitlisted. 4.0. AP Pre-Calculus. Won gold, silver, bronze in different competitions. Volunteered a lot with the community (because DC wanted to do so, not bc of TJ. DC will continue doing so no matter what).

DC’s friends, DC, us and everyone knew DC were shocked with the result.

DC is resilient though. DC started discussing a new plan at base HS with us.

Try sophomore admission at TJ if DC does not get in this year

Better yet, thrive at the base school. TJ isn't all that.

That's not great advice for a kid taking pre-calc in 8th grade. For a kid taking geometry in 8th grade, maybe, for a kid taking algebra in 8th grade, likely but if they are taking pre-calc then they may not have everything they need at a base school.
He should try for TJ and if they don't get in, they should explore their options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congratulations! We need to stop judging based on gpa and tests.

Wait. What?!?!? We can't use test scores because tests are racist. And we also shouldn't use GPA? The essay test is total crapshoot, it is hard to imagine a more subjective device for selecting students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC waitlisted. 4.0. AP Pre-Calculus. Won gold, silver, bronze in different competitions. Volunteered a lot with the community (because DC wanted to do so, not bc of TJ. DC will continue doing so no matter what).

DC’s friends, DC, us and everyone knew DC were shocked with the result.

DC is resilient though. DC started discussing a new plan at base HS with us.

Your kid is a great example of why teacher recc’s need reinstated. That said they would make a strong froshmore candidate with the math that far ahead.

Making the admissions process MORE subjective isn't the answer.
Right now the selection process sees a bit random. My kid got in, and he's sharp enough to be there, but the brightest math kid at his school got waitlisted.

If they want diversity, they can just have a quota for students on free and reduced lunch.
We already know how to measure math ability (not necessarily science but definitely math ability).

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:DD says last year Math was easier than this year’s question.

Wording on this year’s made it lil more confusing than last year’s question. According to her - once you get thru that then it is a straightforward answer.

DD messed her essays. Waitlisted

Asian, 4.00 GPA, pre-calculus

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS Accepted. pre-calculus, 4.0, Asian

Pre-calculus? What do kids do at TJ if they've already gone this far in math?

DC currently at TJ completed pre-calc in middle school, outside FCPS. past precalc, TJ has four levels: Calc AB, Calc BC, Multi/linear, elementary diff & applied math techniques

Anonymous wrote:DC waitlisted. 4.0. AP Pre-Calculus. Won gold, silver, bronze in different competitions. Volunteered a lot with the community (because DC wanted to do so, not bc of TJ. DC will continue doing so no matter what).

DC’s friends, DC, us and everyone knew DC were shocked with the result.

DC is resilient though. DC started discussing a new plan at base HS with us.

When did they complete alg 1/geo/alg 2?

DC completed Alg 1 in 6th grade, took a test and allowed to skip geo, alg 2 in 7th grade. In 8th grade, math teacher recommended DC to take AP Pre-Calculus rather than Pre-Calculus. DC is doing very well in the course.

AP Pre-Calculus? No such course at FCPS.

Yeah, it's a new course that College Board just came up with. It's pretty a dumb idea - but it would be worse if FCPS didn't offer it than if they do.

Good thing is kids finishing that course in 8th grade can do AP Calculus BC right in their 9th grade.

LCPS does not allow this, only AB after AP PreCalc. I thought Calc AB and BC would have the same starting point.
LCPS has a Math Analysis course that students can take before BC.
AP PreCalculus is designed to be the last math class taken by students in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS Accepted. pre-calculus, 4.0, Asian

DD knows a kid with a 4.0 and taking pre-calc and did not get in. She said everyone is shocked.

Did they practice the portrait of a graduate and the problem solving essay at you-know-where?

There is some correlation at our school with people taking their TJ Prep program for a few months. Two students in Algebra 2, and another two top math students, one declined TJ offer.
There are six other admits, I suspect a few went to Curie but not sure.
.