What are the chances of APS cutting TJHSST in the future?

[Anonymous]

FCPS tuition for TJ is less than the APS per capita expenditure. So not saving anything by cutting. Maybe the gas for busses to and from Annandale. Should send them all to TJ. Would cost LESS. haha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS tuition for TJ is less than the APS per capita expenditure. So not saving anything by cutting. Maybe the gas for busses to and from Annandale. Should send them all to TJ. Would cost LESS. haha.

Let’s do it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJHSST totally revamped their admissions process three years ago. If you are serious about applying, read up on that controversy. It is still being litigated.

Last year, each APS middle schools got 4 spots. You just need a B+ average and Alg 1 Intensified to apply. Then you do an essay test in February. There is no advantage to the kids who are straight A students and taking Geometry in 8th grade. They also got rid of the math entry exam. Students who are FARMS eligible or ELL get an automatic point bump in the admissions criteria-- that was definitely a factor in who got the spots from our kid's middle school.

It is much, much harder to get into TJ from APS. We get the 4 "allocated" spots per middle school, and that's it. In contrast, the Fairfax middle schools each get their 1.5% allocated seats filled, and then all the remaining kids go into a single pool to compete for additional "unallocated" seats. APS students aren't eligible to compete for the unallocated seats, because we only get our 25 students total (or whatever cap APS pays for). In contrast, Longfellow MS alone had 30 students enter this fall.

Mostly accurate, but GPA is a factor. In other words, a higher GPA helps in the scoring system.

I'm the PP, and I am not sure that is true. The counselor at our school said they just certify that the student has a B+ average and meets the Alg 1 requirement. She said APS did not submit transcripts.

I’m the poster you’re responding to. My memory on this is a bit fuzzy, but when we went through this process last year I recall GPA being a consideration that gets weighed such that a higher GPA helps—but I could very well be wrong. I know they do have to calculate the GPA using Fairfax standards (so Loudoun’s bump for an A+ doesn’t help), and the minimum is a 3.5. One wrinkle we didn’t have to deal with is that Honors classes are required if your school offers them. It wasn’t an issue last year because the only intensified classes were math classes, but I don’t know how they deal with that in light of Arlington’s expansion of middle school intensified classes.

Last year, we were told by the counselor that FCPS and APS use different grading scales, so the APS GPA doesn't translate the same. (I think FCPS has A and A-.) The counselor told us that for the APS kids, they just fill out a form that certifies the kid has taken at least Alg 1 Intensified and has a B+ average in core subjects. So- at least last year- I think the APS kids were chosen almost entirely based on the essay test and the bonus points for experience factors (FARMS, ELL, & Sp Ed). I am glad that APS is offering intensified middle school classes now, because at least that will be another way for kids to differentiate themselves. Last year felt more like the HBW lottery than a merit-based application process.

[Anonymous]

Kids from our middle school last year were definitely top students. Don’t know how they decide admissions, but those 4 kids made sense.

[Anonymous]

Don’t think any were FARMS,ESL or spec Ed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It could happen, it's come up before. They have also proposed eliminating busing.

Eliminating busing is a terrible idea and would completely go against any equity argument. That proposal would be shut down immediately if equity is a measure. Also how much could it save the county to provide busing for a just a few students?

I don't disagree, but it was proposed before.

In the past, certain sports’ funding, and arts, music, etc., programs were also proposed for cuts, but because of community pushback none of those happened. The planetarium was also saved due to community pushback. Staff always proposes unpopular cuts every few years.

Right it didn't happen, but anything proposed *could* happen. When you have to rely on community pushback, anything could happen. Maybe there won't be as much pushback next time, or maybe it won't work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS tuition for TJ is less than the APS per capita expenditure. So not saving anything by cutting. Maybe the gas for busses to and from Annandale. Should send them all to TJ. Would cost LESS. haha.

Your math is …

For a student going to TJ, APS actually pays the money to FFX. You understand this right?

Those per capita calculations are taking every student in the county and dividing it by APS ENTIRE budget. Educating those handful of extra TJ kids at already built APS buildings, already hired teachers, already hired counselors, already purchased textbooks/ipads, does not IN FACT cost taxpayers the amount it costs to send them to TJ. Which is why we complain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It could happen, it's come up before. They have also proposed eliminating busing.

Eliminating busing is a terrible idea and would completely go against any equity argument. That proposal would be shut down immediately if equity is a measure. Also how much could it save the county to provide busing for a just a few students?

I don't disagree, but it was proposed before.

In the past, certain sports’ funding, and arts, music, etc., programs were also proposed for cuts, but because of community pushback none of those happened. The planetarium was also saved due to community pushback. Staff always proposes unpopular cuts every few years.

Right it didn't happen, but anything proposed *could* happen. When you have to rely on community pushback, anything could happen. Maybe there won't be as much pushback next time, or maybe it won't work.

FCPS could also shut down TJHSST and turn it back into a neighborhood high school. Literally any scenario is possible.

I wouldn’t worry about a three year old article.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS could also shut down TJHSST and turn it back into a neighborhood high school. Literally any scenario is possible.

Actually, FCPS could not do that without first getting consent from the VA Dept of Education, at the state level. TJ is *administered* by FCPS, but as a matter of state law TJ is the regional Governor’s School.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS could also shut down TJHSST and turn it back into a neighborhood high school. Literally any scenario is possible.

Actually, FCPS could not do that without first getting consent from the VA Dept of Education, at the state level. TJ is *administered* by FCPS, but as a matter of state law TJ is the regional Governor’s School.

I wonder if that law applies to Arlington Tech, which is now an official Governor’s Academy.

Seeing as Va Governors’ Schools are regional in nature, is Arlington Tech also open to Falls Church City students like the Career Center?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS could also shut down TJHSST and turn it back into a neighborhood high school. Literally any scenario is possible.

Actually, FCPS could not do that without first getting consent from the VA Dept of Education, at the state level. TJ is *administered* by FCPS, but as a matter of state law TJ is the regional Governor’s School.

If you think this is the case, why does FCPS apply annually to have TJ’s status as a Governor’s School renewed? It seems like that would be unnecessary if the state already controls TJ’s status.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS could also shut down TJHSST and turn it back into a neighborhood high school. Literally any scenario is possible.

Actually, FCPS could not do that without first getting consent from the VA Dept of Education, at the state level. TJ is *administered* by FCPS, but as a matter of state law TJ is the regional Governor’s School.

They reapply to be the administrator.
If you think this is the case, why does FCPS apply annually to have TJ’s status as a Governor’s School renewed? It seems like that would be unnecessary if the state already controls TJ’s status.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS could also shut down TJHSST and turn it back into a neighborhood high school. Literally any scenario is possible.

Actually, FCPS could not do that without first getting consent from the VA Dept of Education, at the state level. TJ is *administered* by FCPS, but as a matter of state law TJ is the regional Governor’s School.

If you think this is the case, why does FCPS apply annually to have TJ’s status as a Governor’s School renewed? It seems like that would be unnecessary if the state already controls TJ’s status.

FCPS reapplies to be the administrator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seeing as Va Governors’ Schools are regional in nature, is Arlington Tech also open to Falls Church City students like the Career Center?

That might depend in part on FCCPS. Recall that ACPS has opted out from TJ.

[Anonymous]

Arl Tech is now a Governors School??