TJ Admit, but worried!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:No OP but TJ math team has consistently encouraged students to start from basics ( Math1) as they think it builds a much stronger foundation

This seems like an odd statement. This would literally limit students from taking advantage of many of the offerings at TJ in both science and math. They would not be able to take them at all.

They aren't pokemon.

Yeah, they are advanced math classes. They require advanced math and as such require students starting with more than Math 1. The TJ math team spells out these advanced offerings on their page and in the video for 2023.
https://tjhsst.fcps.edu/academics/mathematics

A student can still get a lot out of TJ without ever taking any of those. Building a strong foundation in math is its own reward.

Agreed. But we are discussing the claim that the “TJ math team has consistently encouraged students start from basics (Math 1)” and how ridiculous that is. No worries, I don’t think PP understands TJ course offerings.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:For those who finished Geometry in 8th grade, is it beneficial to complete Algebra 2 in the summer? DC currently signed up PE 9 in the summer, and only 1 credit can be earned in the summer. Not sure he should switch from PE9 to Algebra 2 with Trig.

Why rush math? Seriously, there is no race to Calculus. The best you can hope for is your kid enjoys it while developing a strong foundation.

Why rush math? Why rush reading or why rush writing? This is TJ which uniquely offers advanced courses and advanced research labs/research opps based on advanced courses in science, technology engineering and MATH! Go to advanced HS for Humanities if not interested in advanced math courses and let someone who is interested in and actually able to take advantage of advanced math and other courses that are based on advanced math.

I know. It's not a race. Let kids go at a comfortable pace and master the material instead of rushing through it.

Fine but then don't even think about attending TJ and taking a spot from someone who is qualified and eager to immerse in STEM.

Just because some students happen to attend a n affluent school that provides greater opportunities for acceleration while others don't, doesn't mean they are any more deserving.

Algebra 1 is available for every FCPS 7th grader if they meet the elementary school requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No OP but TJ math team has consistently encouraged students to start from basics ( Math1) as they think it builds a much stronger foundation

This seems like an odd statement. This would literally limit students from taking advantage of many of the offerings at TJ in both science and math. They would not be able to take them at all.

They aren't pokemon.

Yeah, they are advanced math classes. They require advanced math and as such require students starting with more than Math 1. The TJ math team spells out these advanced offerings on their page and in the video for 2023.
https://tjhsst.fcps.edu/academics/mathematics

A student can still get a lot out of TJ without ever taking any of those. Building a strong foundation in math is its own reward.

The point is that you can build that same foundation at all of the regular HS. TJ is different because it offers classes that the other schools cannot. It is why I think students should be required to have geometry by the end of 8th grade to apply.

Just like a student who was artificially accelerated can continue to build on their foundation at a regular school.

Maybe you or your kid is into 'artificial acceleration' but others are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP and PP-1 : OP here. I recall he didnt do that well on some test (iowa). Overall he is not that fluent even though he probably is at Algebra 2 level in terms of concepts etc

TJ is already hard enough. So as PP says, let him take the full curriculum at TJ - hopefully that builds a solid foundation for whats ahead.

Yeah - not a fan of doing Geometry in Summer!

I am the pp who said kid would be burned out.

The point is to not burn the kid out, and you know your kid best. My thinking is based on the stereotype that TJ is a pressure cooker, and it doesn’t help going in already tired. But only you know for sure. Asking the teacher is helpful only in seeing how determined the teacher is that kid should not take geometry over the summer. I believe that they always recommend against taking it.

Also, get familiar with how different is the program is for taking Alg I in 7th vs 8th. In some schools the ones taking it in 8th have it easier. Some topics are removed. If you are in such a school where the 8th grade syllabus is easier than the 7th grade one, paired with an over the summer geometry (which could burn the kid out) could be a recipe for disaster.

I’m a strong proponent of rushing through the math if the kid can handle it. But not to force it.

[Anonymous]

Anyone attending TJ who is 'slow' in math is only interested in attending for the sake of the TJ name/prestige and not for the unique courses and other opportunities NOT offered at other high schools.

Don't try to justify by saying oh math is not a race, take it easy and go at your pace blah blah blah. So sick of prestige seekers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No OP but TJ math team has consistently encouraged students to start from basics ( Math1) as they think it builds a much stronger foundation

This seems like an odd statement. This would literally limit students from taking advantage of many of the offerings at TJ in both science and math. They would not be able to take them at all.

They aren't pokemon.

Yeah, they are advanced math classes. They require advanced math and as such require students starting with more than Math 1. The TJ math team spells out these advanced offerings on their page and in the video for 2023.
https://tjhsst.fcps.edu/academics/mathematics

A student can still get a lot out of TJ without ever taking any of those. Building a strong foundation in math is its own reward.

I would agree with you if OP's kid were really into something like Biology, which isn't very math intensive. OP says that her kid wants to major in CS or engineering. TJ is not going to be a great fit for a kid with those goals who isn't very strong at math. He won't be eligible to take any of the post-AP math or physics classes, which would be valuable for engineering. CS college admissions are extremely competitive, and a kid who either gets lower grades in math classes or isn't taking a particularly rigorous courseload from TJ may not get accepted in CS to any good colleges. If OP's kid wasn't strong enough in math to qualify for Algebra in 7th and still isn't fluent in Algebra, how is he going to succeed in the condensed math classes at TJ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone attending TJ who is 'slow' in math is only interested in attending for the sake of the TJ name/prestige and not for the unique courses and other opportunities NOT offered at other high schools.

Don't try to justify by saying oh math is not a race, take it easy and go at your pace blah blah blah. So sick of prestige seekers.

You're jumping to conclusions about things for which there's been zero evidence or facts presented. I would assume the student is highly gifted despite lacking the opportunities that others have had. Otherwise they would not have been selected for TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No OP but TJ math team has consistently encouraged students to start from basics ( Math1) as they think it builds a much stronger foundation

This seems like an odd statement. This would literally limit students from taking advantage of many of the offerings at TJ in both science and math. They would not be able to take them at all.

They aren't pokemon.

Yeah, they are advanced math classes. They require advanced math and as such require students starting with more than Math 1. The TJ math team spells out these advanced offerings on their page and in the video for 2023.
https://tjhsst.fcps.edu/academics/mathematics

A student can still get a lot out of TJ without ever taking any of those. Building a strong foundation in math is its own reward.

The point is that you can build that same foundation at all of the regular HS. TJ is different because it offers classes that the other schools cannot. It is why I think students should be required to have geometry by the end of 8th grade to apply.

Just like a student who was artificially accelerated can continue to build on their foundation at a regular school.

+1

[Anonymous]

So much toxic condescension in this thread by people who think they know better than the selection committee and lack information too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So much toxic condescension in this thread by people who think they know better than the selection committee and lack information too.

The selection criteria has been compromised and has become toxic. Hoping most of the Fairfax school board members are voted out. Don't forget to vote in the upcoming Democratic primary for the county! Let's take back the SB from all the morons and idiots.

[Anonymous]

ok here comes a poster pointing to “flawed selection criterion” - time to close this thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No OP but TJ math team has consistently encouraged students to start from basics ( Math1) as they think it builds a much stronger foundation

I came to point out this ridiculous statement. No need to make up these kinds of things because many of the new admits are missing Geometry.

OP congrats to your kid; as you already pointed out, he will be behind the majority of his peers in Math, but will get a great STEM education at TJ. And that's OK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone attending TJ who is 'slow' in math is only interested in attending for the sake of the TJ name/prestige and not for the unique courses and other opportunities NOT offered at other high schools.

Don't try to justify by saying oh math is not a race, take it easy and go at your pace blah blah blah. So sick of prestige seekers.

You're jumping to conclusions about things for which there's been zero evidence or facts presented. I would assume the student is highly gifted despite lacking the opportunities that others have had. Otherwise they would not have been selected for TJ.

Why are you assuming that OP's kid is attending a lower SES school or is economically disadvantaged? OP gave no indication of their SES or the SES of the school the kid is attending. High SES kids at Longfellow who didn't qualify for Algebra in 7th are also getting admitted to TJ.

[Anonymous]

OP's son had no business with TJ if not because of the TJ reform. It's a bad fit and will be a torture for him because he'll feel like a loser for four years.

[Anonymous]

OP,
If your kid wants to attend I wouldn’t let this stop him. DC is class 2026. Thoughts below…

- she’s only in the “normal” year so did geometry before she came in. She mentioned multiple kids are doing a math over the summer. That sounds VERY difficult to me and I wouldn’t recommend it for her but it’s a possibility.

- the main limitations beyond math seem to be the Physics one you know about already.

- Unless your kid does summer math or summer science they likely wouldn’t be on the highest tracks while there but that’s not the only reason to go. DC’s favorite part of TJ is the kids their and the quick pace of instruction. All kids get to enjoy that not only those on the farther acceleration end.