TJ teachers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why anyone from Loudoun would schlep to TJ now if they can attend AOS, especially given the declining rigor of TJ. It will take a few years to be documented but it’s not fiercely committed to excellence any longer. It’s just kind of…there.

Some kids may want the full high school.
Many who get into TJ did not get admitted to AOS or AET.
TJ offers more opportunities than AOS/AET in math and science classes. Some students can get calculus sooner by declining AOS where you will not get until 11th grade.
At TJ you can take in 9th grade if you are good enough.

AOS and AET have very set curriculum. There is not much flexibility if the kid changes their mind later. Also there's no math tracking at AOS/AET. The whole cohort follows the same math curriculum. Other than the long commute from Loudoun, TJ is a much better option as compared to AOS/AET.

The other challenge with AOS and AET, for me, is that they're not high schools. They're academies. As such, when you go back to your base school, you're not getting to take humanities classes with TJ students and TJ teachers. Maybe they're honors or AP classes, and that's fine, but there's a huge difference between learning, say, The Grapes of Wrath with TJ students as opposed to the goons on the Briar Woods football team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why anyone from Loudoun would schlep to TJ now if they can attend AOS, especially given the declining rigor of TJ. It will take a few years to be documented but it’s not fiercely committed to excellence any longer. It’s just kind of…there.

Some kids may want the full high school.
Many who get into TJ did not get admitted to AOS or AET.
TJ offers more opportunities than AOS/AET in math and science classes. Some students can get calculus sooner by declining AOS where you will not get until 11th grade.
At TJ you can take in 9th grade if you are good enough.

AOS and AET have very set curriculum. There is not much flexibility if the kid changes their mind later. Also there's no math tracking at AOS/AET. The whole cohort follows the same math curriculum. Other than the long commute from Loudoun, TJ is a much better option as compared to AOS/AET.

I think this will change next year. They have a geometry class listed for AET and AOS. Not sure how they will manage this with the cohort system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into both TJ and AOS and we are at a decision point. My main concern is that I have heard from more than a few TJ parents that the teachers at TJ are not really that great. They don’t teach much and just let the students study by themselves. To certain extent, they are “spoiled” by the smart students, and all they need to do is to prepare hard quizzes. The TJ experience is mainly an experience of fierce competition among a bunch of very competitive kids.

1. Are TJ teachers really that bad?

2. Now with the quality of TJ admissions been watered down for 2 years, will this class of 2027 suffer from the deteriorating reputation from class of 2025 and 2026?

The class of 2027 will be the strongest admitted to date. Especially since the new process emphasizes natural ability over prep and test buying.

TJ is also a more collegial and less toxic environment.

With the lowering standards and math admits, Chantilly will probably end up being the better STEM bet. The Math profiles are now similar.

You got that backwards. They raised the standards by eliminating the preppers and test buyers and replacing them with the best and brightest from the whole county, not just the wealthiest schools where parents invested heavily in prep.

incorrect. 1/3 of TJ will now be average math tracks. my reasonably smart, non-aap, gened, non-tj applicant kid will achieve greater math aptitude by 12th grade than 1/3 of TJ.

rocky run -> chantilly + academies is probably a better STEM environment with higher mathematic aptitude.

The math tracks are different at TJ, and do not follow the same one year for geometry. etc path. The students who take algebra 1 in 8th grade have to be very capable of handling math to do well there. This is why they used to take less than 10 students at that level of math.

The math tracks still lead to calculus a students senior year if the enroll with only Algebra under their belt. sorry many TJ kids will be behind many FCPS gened HS students in math.

The letter sent out by TJ teachers about how poorly kids were doing and they weren't showing up for tutoring, I was under the impression this was for the kids who took algebra 1 in 8th grade. The kids who took algebra 2 in 8th had been in that class the prior semester.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into both TJ and AOS and we are at a decision point. My main concern is that I have heard from more than a few TJ parents that the teachers at TJ are not really that great. They don’t teach much and just let the students study by themselves. To certain extent, they are “spoiled” by the smart students, and all they need to do is to prepare hard quizzes. The TJ experience is mainly an experience of fierce competition among a bunch of very competitive kids.

1. Are TJ teachers really that bad?

2. Now with the quality of TJ admissions been watered down for 2 years, will this class of 2027 suffer from the deteriorating reputation from class of 2025 and 2026?

The class of 2027 will be the strongest admitted to date. Especially since the new process emphasizes natural ability over prep and test buying.

TJ is also a more collegial and less toxic environment.

Typical back door Karen canards . . .
So much Asian hate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
TJ offers more opportunities than AOS/AET in math and science classes. Some students can get calculus sooner by declining AOS where you will not get until 11th grade.
At TJ you can take in 9th grade if you are good enough.

Yeah, I was a bit bummed when AOS admission team claimed that they won’t admit a kid if the kid is already doing calculus cause they have no more math to offer. And forcing kids to stay in a track picked so early by their parents doesn’t sound right too. That Dr. Priddy who designed the curriculums and police’s sounds like a nazi

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into both TJ and AOS and we are at a decision point. My main concern is that I have heard from more than a few TJ parents that the teachers at TJ are not really that great. They don’t teach much and just let the students study by themselves. To certain extent, they are “spoiled” by the smart students, and all they need to do is to prepare hard quizzes. The TJ experience is mainly an experience of fierce competition among a bunch of very competitive kids.

1. Are TJ teachers really that bad?

2. Now with the quality of TJ admissions been watered down for 2 years, will this class of 2027 suffer from the deteriorating reputation from class of 2025 and 2026?

The class of 2027 will be the strongest admitted to date. Especially since the new process emphasizes natural ability over prep and test buying.

TJ is also a more collegial and less toxic environment.

Typical back door Karen canards . . .
So much Asian hate.

Nobody mentioned Asians and I resent the implications regarding Asians and test prep/buying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
TJ offers more opportunities than AOS/AET in math and science classes. Some students can get calculus sooner by declining AOS where you will not get until 11th grade.
At TJ you can take in 9th grade if you are good enough.

Yeah, I was a bit bummed when AOS admission team claimed that they won’t admit a kid if the kid is already doing calculus cause they have no more math to offer. And forcing kids to stay in a track picked so early by their parents doesn’t sound right too. That Dr. Priddy who designed the curriculums and police’s sounds like a nazi

Kids already doing calculus is very rare, usually something like the kid attended Basis.

[Anonymous]

My kid is a freshman at TJ. Classmate is in BC calculus. This kind of kid needs a school like TJ and will take advantage of the many advanced courses the school has to offer.

Teachers are good and bad everywhere. I have heard that a few really good and well thought of TJ teachers have left / are leaving. I think some of it has to do with the admissions changes and admin perhaps encouraging teachers to dumb down the classes, be more lenient in grading to accommodate some of these students who maybe would be best served by attending their base school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a freshman at TJ. Classmate is in BC calculus. This kind of kid needs a school like TJ and will take advantage of the many advanced courses the school has to offer.

Teachers are good and bad everywhere. I have heard that a few really good and well thought of TJ teachers have left / are leaving. I think some of it has to do with the admissions changes and admin perhaps encouraging teachers to dumb down the classes, be more lenient in grading to accommodate some of these students who maybe would be best served by attending their base school.

Well, you'll be glad to know that's not true, and it's just propaganda that's sewn by those who wanted a gameable admissions process. Classes haven't been dumbed down. The cohort at TJ is stronger than ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a freshman at TJ. Classmate is in BC calculus. This kind of kid needs a school like TJ and will take advantage of the many advanced courses the school has to offer.

Teachers are good and bad everywhere. I have heard that a few really good and well thought of TJ teachers have left / are leaving. I think some of it has to do with the admissions changes and admin perhaps encouraging teachers to dumb down the classes, be more lenient in grading to accommodate some of these students who maybe would be best served by attending their base school.

Well, you'll be glad to know that's not true, and it's just propaganda that's sewn by those who wanted a gameable admissions process. Classes haven't been dumbed down. The cohort at TJ is stronger than ever.

Agree. Except, cohort at TJ is not as strong as in the past. I have a child at TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a freshman at TJ. Classmate is in BC calculus. This kind of kid needs a school like TJ and will take advantage of the many advanced courses the school has to offer.

Teachers are good and bad everywhere. I have heard that a few really good and well thought of TJ teachers have left / are leaving. I think some of it has to do with the admissions changes and admin perhaps encouraging teachers to dumb down the classes, be more lenient in grading to accommodate some of these students who maybe would be best served by attending their base school.

Well, you'll be glad to know that's not true, and it's just propaganda that's sewn by those who wanted a gameable admissions process. Classes haven't been dumbed down. The cohort at TJ is stronger than ever.

Agree. Except, cohort at TJ is not as strong as in the past. I have a child at TJ.

NP. I don't know that anyone will admit it but that's not a bad thing either. A magnet STEM school and a school for the gifted doesn't necessarily have to be "#1 in the country" for SAT scores etc. It can be a magnet STEM school and a school for the gifted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a freshman at TJ. Classmate is in BC calculus. This kind of kid needs a school like TJ and will take advantage of the many advanced courses the school has to offer.

Teachers are good and bad everywhere. I have heard that a few really good and well thought of TJ teachers have left / are leaving. I think some of it has to do with the admissions changes and admin perhaps encouraging teachers to dumb down the classes, be more lenient in grading to accommodate some of these students who maybe would be best served by attending their base school.

Well, you'll be glad to know that's not true, and it's just propaganda that's sewn by those who wanted a gameable admissions process. Classes haven't been dumbed down. The cohort at TJ is stronger than ever.

Agree. Except, cohort at TJ is not as strong as in the past. I have a child at TJ.

NP. I don't know that anyone will admit it but that's not a bad thing either. A magnet STEM school and a school for the gifted doesn't necessarily have to be "#1 in the country" for SAT scores etc. It can be a magnet STEM school and a school for the gifted.

Actually agree with you on that. I too would disregard SAT scores.

I see no point in focusing on "#1 in the country". Ratings are nonsense. Better to have a good healthy environment for children than focus on some rating.

My only beef with admissions changes are that they are haphazardly implemented, without much thought and seem to be far too politically motivated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a freshman at TJ. Classmate is in BC calculus. This kind of kid needs a school like TJ and will take advantage of the many advanced courses the school has to offer.

Teachers are good and bad everywhere. I have heard that a few really good and well thought of TJ teachers have left / are leaving. I think some of it has to do with the admissions changes and admin perhaps encouraging teachers to dumb down the classes, be more lenient in grading to accommodate some of these students who maybe would be best served by attending their base school.

Well, you'll be glad to know that's not true, and it's just propaganda that's sewn by those who wanted a gameable admissions process. Classes haven't been dumbed down. The cohort at TJ is stronger than ever.

Agree. Except, cohort at TJ is not as strong as in the past. I have a child at TJ.

By their own definition of the students that the admissions process favored, they are not as strong. The difference is that these kids are not as strong through no fault of their own. I do enjoy the cognitive dissonance surrounding the admits though.

It's OK to admit that this class isnt as academically strong as previous classes because that wasnt the singular point of these new admission criteria. I wonder why supporters of this new system wont accept the results of their initiative for what they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a freshman at TJ. Classmate is in BC calculus. This kind of kid needs a school like TJ and will take advantage of the many advanced courses the school has to offer.

Teachers are good and bad everywhere. I have heard that a few really good and well thought of TJ teachers have left / are leaving. I think some of it has to do with the admissions changes and admin perhaps encouraging teachers to dumb down the classes, be more lenient in grading to accommodate some of these students who maybe would be best served by attending their base school.

Well, you'll be glad to know that's not true, and it's just propaganda that's sewn by those who wanted a gameable admissions process. Classes haven't been dumbed down. The cohort at TJ is stronger than ever.

Agree. Except, cohort at TJ is not as strong as in the past. I have a child at TJ.

NP. I don't know that anyone will admit it but that's not a bad thing either. A magnet STEM school and a school for the gifted doesn't necessarily have to be "#1 in the country" for SAT scores etc. It can be a magnet STEM school and a school for the gifted.

Being number #1 was never about top students. It was about an absence of low-income students dragging down the average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a freshman at TJ. Classmate is in BC calculus. This kind of kid needs a school like TJ and will take advantage of the many advanced courses the school has to offer.

Teachers are good and bad everywhere. I have heard that a few really good and well thought of TJ teachers have left / are leaving. I think some of it has to do with the admissions changes and admin perhaps encouraging teachers to dumb down the classes, be more lenient in grading to accommodate some of these students who maybe would be best served by attending their base school.

Well, you'll be glad to know that's not true, and it's just propaganda that's sewn by those who wanted a gameable admissions process. Classes haven't been dumbed down. The cohort at TJ is stronger than ever.

Agree. Except, cohort at TJ is not as strong as in the past. I have a child at TJ.

By their own definition of the students that the admissions process favored, they are not as strong. The difference is that these kids are not as strong through no fault of their own. I do enjoy the cognitive dissonance surrounding the admits though.

It's OK to admit that this class isnt as academically strong as previous classes because that wasnt the singular point of these new admission criteria. I wonder why supporters of this new system wont accept the results of their initiative for what they are.

Oh no that's wrong. By definition they are the strongest.