TJHSST 2025-26 Enrollment by FCPS Pyramid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS allotments were not meant to evenly distribute who attends TJ but to make sure that all kids have a chance of attending TJ. We know that there are MSs that don’t use their full allotments, the point is that there is the opportunity for kids from schools that are under represented at TJ who meet the basic requirements.

It would be more accurate to say that the allotments were intended to ensure all middle schools had some representation, even if very small. It doesn't make sure that all kids, as a practical matter, have a chance of attending TJ, or would ever want to.

If you meet the minimum criteria for applying and you attend one of the Middle Schools that doesn't meet their allotment, then aren't you guaranteed a spot at TJ? And aren't these exactly the kids that go to TJ and drown in the rigor?

This must be true. There is one middle school, I can't remember which one, that has sent 4 or 5 students to TJ and every student was dismissed to their base school each of the past couple years.

That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

DP. It’s anecdotal, but FCPS would always withhold the evidence.

What is clear is the pyramids that were sending the most kids to TJ before the admissions policy changed continue to send the most kids there. In addition, the high schools in those pyramids remain among the strongest in FCPS, even though they send so many kids to TJ.

There are a few exceptions where there isn’t as much of a culture of aspiring to attend TJ. It’s not because those high schools are any better, but simply that the enrollments skew whiter and less Asian.

This is one of my primary gripes with the TJ Admissions Office over the course of the past... let's say 15 years or so.

25 years ago there were approximately 3,000 applications to TJ year over year for 400 spaces. The population size of the catchment area has absolutely exploded over the past quarter century and yet for the past dozen years or so (including the times when TJ was repeatedly crowned the best high school in the country) the application numbers have settled at around 2,500 per year.

We should be seeing application numbers of 5,000+ every year if we want a truly exceptional class every year. There are more than enough phenomenal students in Northern Virginia to create a super high-performing, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse cohort each year that excels to a far greater extent than TJ already does.

The Admissions Office and the school itself need to do a much better job of telling the story of its excellence.

There are kids who understand that they will do better in the college hunt not attending TJ so they don't apply. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM but don't want the commute. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM and don't want the pressure at TJ. There are a multitude of good reasons to not apply to TJ if you are smart and capable. I know parents and kids who chose not to apply because they don't want to be at a school that is seen by many as a grind and filled with kids who don't want to be there but are there because Mom and Dad made them apply and attend. It has the reputation of being a grind, striver school with too many parents hunting for prestige. Kids who are smart and good at STEM just don't want to deal with that environment. THey would prefer to attend their base school, take some strong classes with friends, and not deal with the kids whose parents made them attend a school that they really didn't want to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS allotments were not meant to evenly distribute who attends TJ but to make sure that all kids have a chance of attending TJ. We know that there are MSs that don’t use their full allotments, the point is that there is the opportunity for kids from schools that are under represented at TJ who meet the basic requirements.

It would be more accurate to say that the allotments were intended to ensure all middle schools had some representation, even if very small. It doesn't make sure that all kids, as a practical matter, have a chance of attending TJ, or would ever want to.

If you meet the minimum criteria for applying and you attend one of the Middle Schools that doesn't meet their allotment, then aren't you guaranteed a spot at TJ? And aren't these exactly the kids that go to TJ and drown in the rigor?

This must be true. There is one middle school, I can't remember which one, that has sent 4 or 5 students to TJ and every student was dismissed to their base school each of the past couple years.

That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

DP. It’s anecdotal, but FCPS would always withhold the evidence.

What is clear is the pyramids that were sending the most kids to TJ before the admissions policy changed continue to send the most kids there. In addition, the high schools in those pyramids remain among the strongest in FCPS, even though they send so many kids to TJ.

There are a few exceptions where there isn’t as much of a culture of aspiring to attend TJ. It’s not because those high schools are any better, but simply that the enrollments skew whiter and less Asian.

This is one of my primary gripes with the TJ Admissions Office over the course of the past... let's say 15 years or so.

25 years ago there were approximately 3,000 applications to TJ year over year for 400 spaces. The population size of the catchment area has absolutely exploded over the past quarter century and yet for the past dozen years or so (including the times when TJ was repeatedly crowned the best high school in the country) the application numbers have settled at around 2,500 per year.

We should be seeing application numbers of 5,000+ every year if we want a truly exceptional class every year. There are more than enough phenomenal students in Northern Virginia to create a super high-performing, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse cohort each year that excels to a far greater extent than TJ already does.

The Admissions Office and the school itself need to do a much better job of telling the story of its excellence.

There are kids who understand that they will do better in the college hunt not attending TJ so they don't apply. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM but don't want the commute. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM and don't want the pressure at TJ. There are a multitude of good reasons to not apply to TJ if you are smart and capable. I know parents and kids who chose not to apply because they don't want to be at a school that is seen by many as a grind and filled with kids who don't want to be there but are there because Mom and Dad made them apply and attend. It has the reputation of being a grind, striver school with too many parents hunting for prestige. Kids who are smart and good at STEM just don't want to deal with that environment. THey would prefer to attend their base school, take some strong classes with friends, and not deal with the kids whose parents made them attend a school that they really didn't want to attend.

Time to fix the above, then. Most of the above is anecdotal and a relic of TJ's toxic past anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS allotments were not meant to evenly distribute who attends TJ but to make sure that all kids have a chance of attending TJ. We know that there are MSs that don’t use their full allotments, the point is that there is the opportunity for kids from schools that are under represented at TJ who meet the basic requirements.

It would be more accurate to say that the allotments were intended to ensure all middle schools had some representation, even if very small. It doesn't make sure that all kids, as a practical matter, have a chance of attending TJ, or would ever want to.

If you meet the minimum criteria for applying and you attend one of the Middle Schools that doesn't meet their allotment, then aren't you guaranteed a spot at TJ? And aren't these exactly the kids that go to TJ and drown in the rigor?

This must be true. There is one middle school, I can't remember which one, that has sent 4 or 5 students to TJ and every student was dismissed to their base school each of the past couple years.

That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

DP. It’s anecdotal, but FCPS would always withhold the evidence.

What is clear is the pyramids that were sending the most kids to TJ before the admissions policy changed continue to send the most kids there. In addition, the high schools in those pyramids remain among the strongest in FCPS, even though they send so many kids to TJ.

There are a few exceptions where there isn’t as much of a culture of aspiring to attend TJ. It’s not because those high schools are any better, but simply that the enrollments skew whiter and less Asian.

This is one of my primary gripes with the TJ Admissions Office over the course of the past... let's say 15 years or so.

25 years ago there were approximately 3,000 applications to TJ year over year for 400 spaces. The population size of the catchment area has absolutely exploded over the past quarter century and yet for the past dozen years or so (including the times when TJ was repeatedly crowned the best high school in the country) the application numbers have settled at around 2,500 per year.

We should be seeing application numbers of 5,000+ every year if we want a truly exceptional class every year. There are more than enough phenomenal students in Northern Virginia to create a super high-performing, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse cohort each year that excels to a far greater extent than TJ already does.

The Admissions Office and the school itself need to do a much better job of telling the story of its excellence.

Yes they should do a better sales job especially in the areas that are not traditional feeders. But also the environment has changed over 25 years:
1) I imagine base school AP offerings have expanded a lot, narrowing the gap between what is available at them vs TJ some.
2) College competition has gotten insanely fierce and colleges have increasingly been clear that they largely look at skimming the top off of a given school’s class. So knowing that kids really need to want the TJ environment to be worth the trade off of likely being a higher % ranked kid at their base school. Best indication of this is how UVA admits have shifted for TJ - it’s not because the kids are not qualified but because colleges are trying to spread out their acceptances more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS allotments were not meant to evenly distribute who attends TJ but to make sure that all kids have a chance of attending TJ. We know that there are MSs that don’t use their full allotments, the point is that there is the opportunity for kids from schools that are under represented at TJ who meet the basic requirements.

It would be more accurate to say that the allotments were intended to ensure all middle schools had some representation, even if very small. It doesn't make sure that all kids, as a practical matter, have a chance of attending TJ, or would ever want to.

If you meet the minimum criteria for applying and you attend one of the Middle Schools that doesn't meet their allotment, then aren't you guaranteed a spot at TJ? And aren't these exactly the kids that go to TJ and drown in the rigor?

This must be true. There is one middle school, I can't remember which one, that has sent 4 or 5 students to TJ and every student was dismissed to their base school each of the past couple years.

That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

DP. It’s anecdotal, but FCPS would always withhold the evidence.

What is clear is the pyramids that were sending the most kids to TJ before the admissions policy changed continue to send the most kids there. In addition, the high schools in those pyramids remain among the strongest in FCPS, even though they send so many kids to TJ.

There are a few exceptions where there isn’t as much of a culture of aspiring to attend TJ. It’s not because those high schools are any better, but simply that the enrollments skew whiter and less Asian.

This is one of my primary gripes with the TJ Admissions Office over the course of the past... let's say 15 years or so.

25 years ago there were approximately 3,000 applications to TJ year over year for 400 spaces. The population size of the catchment area has absolutely exploded over the past quarter century and yet for the past dozen years or so (including the times when TJ was repeatedly crowned the best high school in the country) the application numbers have settled at around 2,500 per year.

We should be seeing application numbers of 5,000+ every year if we want a truly exceptional class every year. There are more than enough phenomenal students in Northern Virginia to create a super high-performing, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse cohort each year that excels to a far greater extent than TJ already does.

The Admissions Office and the school itself need to do a much better job of telling the story of its excellence.

If everyone had perfect information, there would be about 550 applicants for the 550 spots. Some kids have self selected out because TJ is not in their best interest, they would be below average at TJ.

If you just s3elected for excellence, I doubt you would get the diversity you think you would get. But you could probably re-introduce standardized testing and get approximately the same amount of diversity with a lot more merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS needed to make changes to how kids were admitted to TJ because of the threat of litigation by the NAACP. They cannot add racial quotas. Setting a percentage guarantee from each MS provides every student in FCPS, and the other counties that participate, an opportunity to attend TJ. The other requirements cut the number of kids who can apply far more substantially then the people who post on this forum think. The Honors math and science requirement is more of a hurdle then people here think it is.

There are students who are accepted who are going to struggle at TJ and that number has increased. But FCPS needs to have an admissions system that they can point to that is as unbiased as they can make it. Opening TJ to every MS if you meet certain criteria opened TJ to MS that were under represented that happen to have more kids who are from under represented minorities and poor. It stopped the threat of litigation. Now the kids from Title 1 MS that could not get into TJ under the old system have a path to TJ. Some of them ill succeed, and their definition of success might be very different then your definition of success. Many will return to their base schools but they were given the opportunity.

You don't have to like it but it is what it is.

You are lying or stupid.

There was actual litigation that they knew they would provoke with the change.

They lost at trial and had to appeal to the circuit court and the circuit court decision was appealed to the supreme court.
They weren't trying to avoid litigation and if the NAACP did sue them, they NACP was very likely to lose. This issue has been litigated by magnet schools across the country and they have never been required to drop standardized testing or required to achieve racial diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS allotments were not meant to evenly distribute who attends TJ but to make sure that all kids have a chance of attending TJ. We know that there are MSs that don’t use their full allotments, the point is that there is the opportunity for kids from schools that are under represented at TJ who meet the basic requirements.

It would be more accurate to say that the allotments were intended to ensure all middle schools had some representation, even if very small. It doesn't make sure that all kids, as a practical matter, have a chance of attending TJ, or would ever want to.

If you meet the minimum criteria for applying and you attend one of the Middle Schools that doesn't meet their allotment, then aren't you guaranteed a spot at TJ? And aren't these exactly the kids that go to TJ and drown in the rigor?

This must be true. There is one middle school, I can't remember which one, that has sent 4 or 5 students to TJ and every student was dismissed to their base school each of the past couple years.

That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

DP. It’s anecdotal, but FCPS would always withhold the evidence.

What is clear is the pyramids that were sending the most kids to TJ before the admissions policy changed continue to send the most kids there. In addition, the high schools in those pyramids remain among the strongest in FCPS, even though they send so many kids to TJ.

There are a few exceptions where there isn’t as much of a culture of aspiring to attend TJ. It’s not because those high schools are any better, but simply that the enrollments skew whiter and less Asian.

This is one of my primary gripes with the TJ Admissions Office over the course of the past... let's say 15 years or so.

25 years ago there were approximately 3,000 applications to TJ year over year for 400 spaces. The population size of the catchment area has absolutely exploded over the past quarter century and yet for the past dozen years or so (including the times when TJ was repeatedly crowned the best high school in the country) the application numbers have settled at around 2,500 per year.

We should be seeing application numbers of 5,000+ every year if we want a truly exceptional class every year. There are more than enough phenomenal students in Northern Virginia to create a super high-performing, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse cohort each year that excels to a far greater extent than TJ already does.

The Admissions Office and the school itself need to do a much better job of telling the story of its excellence.

There are kids who understand that they will do better in the college hunt not attending TJ so they don't apply. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM but don't want the commute. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM and don't want the pressure at TJ. There are a multitude of good reasons to not apply to TJ if you are smart and capable. I know parents and kids who chose not to apply because they don't want to be at a school that is seen by many as a grind and filled with kids who don't want to be there but are there because Mom and Dad made them apply and attend. It has the reputation of being a grind, striver school with too many parents hunting for prestige. Kids who are smart and good at STEM just don't want to deal with that environment. THey would prefer to attend their base school, take some strong classes with friends, and not deal with the kids whose parents made them attend a school that they really didn't want to attend.

There are very few reasons not top apply to tj if you are actually as smart as you describe. The primary reason white kids don't apply is because they fall into the first group you mention. Kids that would do better in college admissions by staying at their base school and they are savvy enough to understand this. Most of the academically successful kids at TJ are exceedingly happy to be there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS allotments were not meant to evenly distribute who attends TJ but to make sure that all kids have a chance of attending TJ. We know that there are MSs that don’t use their full allotments, the point is that there is the opportunity for kids from schools that are under represented at TJ who meet the basic requirements.

It would be more accurate to say that the allotments were intended to ensure all middle schools had some representation, even if very small. It doesn't make sure that all kids, as a practical matter, have a chance of attending TJ, or would ever want to.

If you meet the minimum criteria for applying and you attend one of the Middle Schools that doesn't meet their allotment, then aren't you guaranteed a spot at TJ? And aren't these exactly the kids that go to TJ and drown in the rigor?

This must be true. There is one middle school, I can't remember which one, that has sent 4 or 5 students to TJ and every student was dismissed to their base school each of the past couple years.

That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

DP. It’s anecdotal, but FCPS would always withhold the evidence.

What is clear is the pyramids that were sending the most kids to TJ before the admissions policy changed continue to send the most kids there. In addition, the high schools in those pyramids remain among the strongest in FCPS, even though they send so many kids to TJ.

There are a few exceptions where there isn’t as much of a culture of aspiring to attend TJ. It’s not because those high schools are any better, but simply that the enrollments skew whiter and less Asian.

This is one of my primary gripes with the TJ Admissions Office over the course of the past... let's say 15 years or so.

25 years ago there were approximately 3,000 applications to TJ year over year for 400 spaces. The population size of the catchment area has absolutely exploded over the past quarter century and yet for the past dozen years or so (including the times when TJ was repeatedly crowned the best high school in the country) the application numbers have settled at around 2,500 per year.

We should be seeing application numbers of 5,000+ every year if we want a truly exceptional class every year. There are more than enough phenomenal students in Northern Virginia to create a super high-performing, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse cohort each year that excels to a far greater extent than TJ already does.

The Admissions Office and the school itself need to do a much better job of telling the story of its excellence.

There are kids who understand that they will do better in the college hunt not attending TJ so they don't apply. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM but don't want the commute. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM and don't want the pressure at TJ. There are a multitude of good reasons to not apply to TJ if you are smart and capable. I know parents and kids who chose not to apply because they don't want to be at a school that is seen by many as a grind and filled with kids who don't want to be there but are there because Mom and Dad made them apply and attend. It has the reputation of being a grind, striver school with too many parents hunting for prestige. Kids who are smart and good at STEM just don't want to deal with that environment. THey would prefer to attend their base school, take some strong classes with friends, and not deal with the kids whose parents made them attend a school that they really didn't want to attend.

Time to fix the above, then. Most of the above is anecdotal and a relic of TJ's toxic past anyway.

Most of that stuff is copium. A lot of those kids don't go to TJ because they know they aren't competitive in that environment and they don't need it. They can go to UVA from their base school and then go to the exact same graduate programs as the TJ kids. They weren't going to do much better than UVA either way, so the benefit of TJ is just the extra rigor at an earlier age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS allotments were not meant to evenly distribute who attends TJ but to make sure that all kids have a chance of attending TJ. We know that there are MSs that don’t use their full allotments, the point is that there is the opportunity for kids from schools that are under represented at TJ who meet the basic requirements.

It would be more accurate to say that the allotments were intended to ensure all middle schools had some representation, even if very small. It doesn't make sure that all kids, as a practical matter, have a chance of attending TJ, or would ever want to.

If you meet the minimum criteria for applying and you attend one of the Middle Schools that doesn't meet their allotment, then aren't you guaranteed a spot at TJ? And aren't these exactly the kids that go to TJ and drown in the rigor?

This must be true. There is one middle school, I can't remember which one, that has sent 4 or 5 students to TJ and every student was dismissed to their base school each of the past couple years.

That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

DP. It’s anecdotal, but FCPS would always withhold the evidence.

What is clear is the pyramids that were sending the most kids to TJ before the admissions policy changed continue to send the most kids there. In addition, the high schools in those pyramids remain among the strongest in FCPS, even though they send so many kids to TJ.

There are a few exceptions where there isn’t as much of a culture of aspiring to attend TJ. It’s not because those high schools are any better, but simply that the enrollments skew whiter and less Asian.

This is one of my primary gripes with the TJ Admissions Office over the course of the past... let's say 15 years or so.

25 years ago there were approximately 3,000 applications to TJ year over year for 400 spaces. The population size of the catchment area has absolutely exploded over the past quarter century and yet for the past dozen years or so (including the times when TJ was repeatedly crowned the best high school in the country) the application numbers have settled at around 2,500 per year.

We should be seeing application numbers of 5,000+ every year if we want a truly exceptional class every year. There are more than enough phenomenal students in Northern Virginia to create a super high-performing, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse cohort each year that excels to a far greater extent than TJ already does.

The Admissions Office and the school itself need to do a much better job of telling the story of its excellence.

Yes they should do a better sales job especially in the areas that are not traditional feeders. But also the environment has changed over 25 years:
1) I imagine base school AP offerings have expanded a lot, narrowing the gap between what is available at them vs TJ some.
2) College competition has gotten insanely fierce and colleges have increasingly been clear that they largely look at skimming the top off of a given school’s class. So knowing that kids really need to want the TJ environment to be worth the trade off of likely being a higher % ranked kid at their base school. Best indication of this is how UVA admits have shifted for TJ - it’s not because the kids are not qualified but because colleges are trying to spread out their acceptances more.

This is true of UVA but not of Ivy+ schools. There aren't enough spots to be worried about "spreading it around." TJ sends more kids to Ivy+ than the rest of FCPS combined (or at least they used to).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS needed to make changes to how kids were admitted to TJ because of the threat of litigation by the NAACP. They cannot add racial quotas. Setting a percentage guarantee from each MS provides every student in FCPS, and the other counties that participate, an opportunity to attend TJ. The other requirements cut the number of kids who can apply far more substantially then the people who post on this forum think. The Honors math and science requirement is more of a hurdle then people here think it is.

There are students who are accepted who are going to struggle at TJ and that number has increased. But FCPS needs to have an admissions system that they can point to that is as unbiased as they can make it. Opening TJ to every MS if you meet certain criteria opened TJ to MS that were under represented that happen to have more kids who are from under represented minorities and poor. It stopped the threat of litigation. Now the kids from Title 1 MS that could not get into TJ under the old system have a path to TJ. Some of them ill succeed, and their definition of success might be very different then your definition of success. Many will return to their base schools but they were given the opportunity.

You don't have to like it but it is what it is.

You are lying or stupid.

There was actual litigation that they knew they would provoke with the change.

They lost at trial and had to appeal to the circuit court and the circuit court decision was appealed to the supreme court.
They weren't trying to avoid litigation and if the NAACP did sue them, they NACP was very likely to lose. This issue has been litigated by magnet schools across the country and they have never been required to drop standardized testing or required to achieve racial diversity.

People like to pretend that FCPS had its hands tied but they have been trying to do this for decades. Wokeness isn't new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS needed to make changes to how kids were admitted to TJ because of the threat of litigation by the NAACP. They cannot add racial quotas. Setting a percentage guarantee from each MS provides every student in FCPS, and the other counties that participate, an opportunity to attend TJ. The other requirements cut the number of kids who can apply far more substantially then the people who post on this forum think. The Honors math and science requirement is more of a hurdle then people here think it is.

There are students who are accepted who are going to struggle at TJ and that number has increased. But FCPS needs to have an admissions system that they can point to that is as unbiased as they can make it. Opening TJ to every MS if you meet certain criteria opened TJ to MS that were under represented that happen to have more kids who are from under represented minorities and poor. It stopped the threat of litigation. Now the kids from Title 1 MS that could not get into TJ under the old system have a path to TJ. Some of them ill succeed, and their definition of success might be very different then your definition of success. Many will return to their base schools but they were given the opportunity.

You don't have to like it but it is what it is.

You are lying or stupid.

There was actual litigation that they knew they would provoke with the change.

They lost at trial and had to appeal to the circuit court and the circuit court decision was appealed to the supreme court.
They weren't trying to avoid litigation and if the NAACP did sue them, they NACP was very likely to lose. This issue has been litigated by magnet schools across the country and they have never been required to drop standardized testing or required to achieve racial diversity.

People like to pretend that FCPS had its hands tied but they have been trying to do this for decades. Wokeness isn't new.

It may not be new but things started to get much more irrational a decade ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS allotments were not meant to evenly distribute who attends TJ but to make sure that all kids have a chance of attending TJ. We know that there are MSs that don’t use their full allotments, the point is that there is the opportunity for kids from schools that are under represented at TJ who meet the basic requirements.

It would be more accurate to say that the allotments were intended to ensure all middle schools had some representation, even if very small. It doesn't make sure that all kids, as a practical matter, have a chance of attending TJ, or would ever want to.

If you meet the minimum criteria for applying and you attend one of the Middle Schools that doesn't meet their allotment, then aren't you guaranteed a spot at TJ? And aren't these exactly the kids that go to TJ and drown in the rigor?

This must be true. There is one middle school, I can't remember which one, that has sent 4 or 5 students to TJ and every student was dismissed to their base school each of the past couple years.

That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

DP. It’s anecdotal, but FCPS would always withhold the evidence.

What is clear is the pyramids that were sending the most kids to TJ before the admissions policy changed continue to send the most kids there. In addition, the high schools in those pyramids remain among the strongest in FCPS, even though they send so many kids to TJ.

There are a few exceptions where there isn’t as much of a culture of aspiring to attend TJ. It’s not because those high schools are any better, but simply that the enrollments skew whiter and less Asian.

This is one of my primary gripes with the TJ Admissions Office over the course of the past... let's say 15 years or so.

25 years ago there were approximately 3,000 applications to TJ year over year for 400 spaces. The population size of the catchment area has absolutely exploded over the past quarter century and yet for the past dozen years or so (including the times when TJ was repeatedly crowned the best high school in the country) the application numbers have settled at around 2,500 per year.

We should be seeing application numbers of 5,000+ every year if we want a truly exceptional class every year. There are more than enough phenomenal students in Northern Virginia to create a super high-performing, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse cohort each year that excels to a far greater extent than TJ already does.

The Admissions Office and the school itself need to do a much better job of telling the story of its excellence.

There are kids who understand that they will do better in the college hunt not attending TJ so they don't apply. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM but don't want the commute. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM and don't want the pressure at TJ. There are a multitude of good reasons to not apply to TJ if you are smart and capable. I know parents and kids who chose not to apply because they don't want to be at a school that is seen by many as a grind and filled with kids who don't want to be there but are there because Mom and Dad made them apply and attend. It has the reputation of being a grind, striver school with too many parents hunting for prestige. Kids who are smart and good at STEM just don't want to deal with that environment. THey would prefer to attend their base school, take some strong classes with friends, and not deal with the kids whose parents made them attend a school that they really didn't want to attend.

Time to fix the above, then. Most of the above is anecdotal and a relic of TJ's toxic past anyway.

can’t fix the abysmal commute for many

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS allotments were not meant to evenly distribute who attends TJ but to make sure that all kids have a chance of attending TJ. We know that there are MSs that don’t use their full allotments, the point is that there is the opportunity for kids from schools that are under represented at TJ who meet the basic requirements.

It would be more accurate to say that the allotments were intended to ensure all middle schools had some representation, even if very small. It doesn't make sure that all kids, as a practical matter, have a chance of attending TJ, or would ever want to.

If you meet the minimum criteria for applying and you attend one of the Middle Schools that doesn't meet their allotment, then aren't you guaranteed a spot at TJ? And aren't these exactly the kids that go to TJ and drown in the rigor?

This must be true. There is one middle school, I can't remember which one, that has sent 4 or 5 students to TJ and every student was dismissed to their base school each of the past couple years.

That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

DP. It’s anecdotal, but FCPS would always withhold the evidence.

What is clear is the pyramids that were sending the most kids to TJ before the admissions policy changed continue to send the most kids there. In addition, the high schools in those pyramids remain among the strongest in FCPS, even though they send so many kids to TJ.

There are a few exceptions where there isn’t as much of a culture of aspiring to attend TJ. It’s not because those high schools are any better, but simply that the enrollments skew whiter and less Asian.

This is one of my primary gripes with the TJ Admissions Office over the course of the past... let's say 15 years or so.

25 years ago there were approximately 3,000 applications to TJ year over year for 400 spaces. The population size of the catchment area has absolutely exploded over the past quarter century and yet for the past dozen years or so (including the times when TJ was repeatedly crowned the best high school in the country) the application numbers have settled at around 2,500 per year.

We should be seeing application numbers of 5,000+ every year if we want a truly exceptional class every year. There are more than enough phenomenal students in Northern Virginia to create a super high-performing, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse cohort each year that excels to a far greater extent than TJ already does.

The Admissions Office and the school itself need to do a much better job of telling the story of its excellence.

There are kids who understand that they will do better in the college hunt not attending TJ so they don't apply. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM but don't want the commute. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM and don't want the pressure at TJ. There are a multitude of good reasons to not apply to TJ if you are smart and capable. I know parents and kids who chose not to apply because they don't want to be at a school that is seen by many as a grind and filled with kids who don't want to be there but are there because Mom and Dad made them apply and attend. It has the reputation of being a grind, striver school with too many parents hunting for prestige. Kids who are smart and good at STEM just don't want to deal with that environment. THey would prefer to attend their base school, take some strong classes with friends, and not deal with the kids whose parents made them attend a school that they really didn't want to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS allotments were not meant to evenly distribute who attends TJ but to make sure that all kids have a chance of attending TJ. We know that there are MSs that don’t use their full allotments, the point is that there is the opportunity for kids from schools that are under represented at TJ who meet the basic requirements.

It would be more accurate to say that the allotments were intended to ensure all middle schools had some representation, even if very small. It doesn't make sure that all kids, as a practical matter, have a chance of attending TJ, or would ever want to.

If you meet the minimum criteria for applying and you attend one of the Middle Schools that doesn't meet their allotment, then aren't you guaranteed a spot at TJ? And aren't these exactly the kids that go to TJ and drown in the rigor?

This must be true. There is one middle school, I can't remember which one, that has sent 4 or 5 students to TJ and every student was dismissed to their base school each of the past couple years.

That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

DP. It’s anecdotal, but FCPS would always withhold the evidence.

What is clear is the pyramids that were sending the most kids to TJ before the admissions policy changed continue to send the most kids there. In addition, the high schools in those pyramids remain among the strongest in FCPS, even though they send so many kids to TJ.

There are a few exceptions where there isn’t as much of a culture of aspiring to attend TJ. It’s not because those high schools are any better, but simply that the enrollments skew whiter and less Asian.

This is one of my primary gripes with the TJ Admissions Office over the course of the past... let's say 15 years or so.

25 years ago there were approximately 3,000 applications to TJ year over year for 400 spaces. The population size of the catchment area has absolutely exploded over the past quarter century and yet for the past dozen years or so (including the times when TJ was repeatedly crowned the best high school in the country) the application numbers have settled at around 2,500 per year.

We should be seeing application numbers of 5,000+ every year if we want a truly exceptional class every year. There are more than enough phenomenal students in Northern Virginia to create a super high-performing, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse cohort each year that excels to a far greater extent than TJ already does.

The Admissions Office and the school itself need to do a much better job of telling the story of its excellence.

There are kids who understand that they will do better in the college hunt not attending TJ so they don't apply. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM but don't want the commute. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM and don't want the pressure at TJ. There are a multitude of good reasons to not apply to TJ if you are smart and capable. I know parents and kids who chose not to apply because they don't want to be at a school that is seen by many as a grind and filled with kids who don't want to be there but are there because Mom and Dad made them apply and attend. It has the reputation of being a grind, striver school with too many parents hunting for prestige. Kids who are smart and good at STEM just don't want to deal with that environment. THey would prefer to attend their base school, take some strong classes with friends, and not deal with the kids whose parents made them attend a school that they really didn't want to attend.

There are very few kids that really don't want to be there. They may not like it there and feel stuck but they could have left the test blank

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS allotments were not meant to evenly distribute who attends TJ but to make sure that all kids have a chance of attending TJ. We know that there are MSs that don’t use their full allotments, the point is that there is the opportunity for kids from schools that are under represented at TJ who meet the basic requirements.

It would be more accurate to say that the allotments were intended to ensure all middle schools had some representation, even if very small. It doesn't make sure that all kids, as a practical matter, have a chance of attending TJ, or would ever want to.

If you meet the minimum criteria for applying and you attend one of the Middle Schools that doesn't meet their allotment, then aren't you guaranteed a spot at TJ? And aren't these exactly the kids that go to TJ and drown in the rigor?

This must be true. There is one middle school, I can't remember which one, that has sent 4 or 5 students to TJ and every student was dismissed to their base school each of the past couple years.

That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

DP. It’s anecdotal, but FCPS would always withhold the evidence.

What is clear is the pyramids that were sending the most kids to TJ before the admissions policy changed continue to send the most kids there. In addition, the high schools in those pyramids remain among the strongest in FCPS, even though they send so many kids to TJ.

There are a few exceptions where there isn’t as much of a culture of aspiring to attend TJ. It’s not because those high schools are any better, but simply that the enrollments skew whiter and less Asian.

This is one of my primary gripes with the TJ Admissions Office over the course of the past... let's say 15 years or so.

25 years ago there were approximately 3,000 applications to TJ year over year for 400 spaces. The population size of the catchment area has absolutely exploded over the past quarter century and yet for the past dozen years or so (including the times when TJ was repeatedly crowned the best high school in the country) the application numbers have settled at around 2,500 per year.

We should be seeing application numbers of 5,000+ every year if we want a truly exceptional class every year. There are more than enough phenomenal students in Northern Virginia to create a super high-performing, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse cohort each year that excels to a far greater extent than TJ already does.

The Admissions Office and the school itself need to do a much better job of telling the story of its excellence.

Yes they should do a better sales job especially in the areas that are not traditional feeders. But also the environment has changed over 25 years:
1) I imagine base school AP offerings have expanded a lot, narrowing the gap between what is available at them vs TJ some.
2) College competition has gotten insanely fierce and colleges have increasingly been clear that they largely look at skimming the top off of a given school’s class. So knowing that kids really need to want the TJ environment to be worth the trade off of likely being a higher % ranked kid at their base school. Best indication of this is how UVA admits have shifted for TJ - it’s not because the kids are not qualified but because colleges are trying to spread out their acceptances more.

Both great points. Another I'd add is: 1) Logistics is a bigger concern for families today. Traffic has gotten exponentially worse and at the same time, non-school activities demand more and more time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MS allotments were not meant to evenly distribute who attends TJ but to make sure that all kids have a chance of attending TJ. We know that there are MSs that don’t use their full allotments, the point is that there is the opportunity for kids from schools that are under represented at TJ who meet the basic requirements.

It would be more accurate to say that the allotments were intended to ensure all middle schools had some representation, even if very small. It doesn't make sure that all kids, as a practical matter, have a chance of attending TJ, or would ever want to.

If you meet the minimum criteria for applying and you attend one of the Middle Schools that doesn't meet their allotment, then aren't you guaranteed a spot at TJ? And aren't these exactly the kids that go to TJ and drown in the rigor?

This must be true. There is one middle school, I can't remember which one, that has sent 4 or 5 students to TJ and every student was dismissed to their base school each of the past couple years.

That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

DP. It’s anecdotal, but FCPS would always withhold the evidence.

What is clear is the pyramids that were sending the most kids to TJ before the admissions policy changed continue to send the most kids there. In addition, the high schools in those pyramids remain among the strongest in FCPS, even though they send so many kids to TJ.

There are a few exceptions where there isn’t as much of a culture of aspiring to attend TJ. It’s not because those high schools are any better, but simply that the enrollments skew whiter and less Asian.

This is one of my primary gripes with the TJ Admissions Office over the course of the past... let's say 15 years or so.

25 years ago there were approximately 3,000 applications to TJ year over year for 400 spaces. The population size of the catchment area has absolutely exploded over the past quarter century and yet for the past dozen years or so (including the times when TJ was repeatedly crowned the best high school in the country) the application numbers have settled at around 2,500 per year.

We should be seeing application numbers of 5,000+ every year if we want a truly exceptional class every year. There are more than enough phenomenal students in Northern Virginia to create a super high-performing, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse cohort each year that excels to a far greater extent than TJ already does.

The Admissions Office and the school itself need to do a much better job of telling the story of its excellence.

There are kids who understand that they will do better in the college hunt not attending TJ so they don't apply. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM but don't want the commute. There are kids who are stupid smart and love STEM and don't want the pressure at TJ. There are a multitude of good reasons to not apply to TJ if you are smart and capable. I know parents and kids who chose not to apply because they don't want to be at a school that is seen by many as a grind and filled with kids who don't want to be there but are there because Mom and Dad made them apply and attend. It has the reputation of being a grind, striver school with too many parents hunting for prestige. Kids who are smart and good at STEM just don't want to deal with that environment. THey would prefer to attend their base school, take some strong classes with friends, and not deal with the kids whose parents made them attend a school that they really didn't want to attend.

There are very few kids that really don't want to be there. They may not like it there and feel stuck but they could have left the test blank

Some kids want to please their parents so badly that they will do activities they really don't enjoy. All pressure cooker schools have a few (or more) smart kids who really don't want to be there.