$100 application fee for TJHSS&T?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is it that TJ parents are so utterly clueless that they don't understand that a $100 application fee is completely reasonable and don't understand that their school should get less money per pupil than a title 1 school?

I am a former TJ parent who doesn't understand why the school should get less money per pupil than a title I school. The purpose of TJ is to provide a high-level of STEM education so we develop talent that can meet our region's and nation's needs in STEM. As an example, we need to develop counterterrorism, cyber defense, missile defense capabilities here at home. We have great difficulties in filling our STEM undergraduate and graduate progams in the U.S. because we aren't providing the STEM education that other countries (e.g. China, India) are. The money needs to be spent to get that job done. The military applications are just an example, the region and nation have STEM needs in other areas as well.

It costs money to teach differential equations, numerical analysis, object-oriented programming. We're trying to do something on a par with education for elite science and technology students in Europe and Asia. I encountered TJ parents who were very knowlegable about our regional and nationals needs in STEM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is it that TJ parents are so utterly clueless that they don't understand that a $100 application fee is completely reasonable and don't understand that their school should get less money per pupil than a title 1 school?

I am a former TJ parent who doesn't understand why the school should get less money per pupil than a title I school. The purpose of TJ is to provide a high-level of STEM education so we develop talent that can meet our region's and nation's needs in STEM. As an example, we need to develop counterterrorism, cyber defense, missile defense capabilities here at home. We have great difficulties in filling our STEM undergraduate and graduate progams in the U.S. because we aren't providing the STEM education that other countries (e.g. China, India) are. The money needs to be spent to get that job done. The military applications are just an example, the region and nation have STEM needs in other areas as well.

It costs money to teach differential equations, numerical analysis, object-oriented programming. We're trying to do something on a par with education for elite science and technology students in Europe and Asia. I encountered TJ parents who were very knowlegable about our regional and nationals needs in STEM.

What a load of bull. If the STEM needs are that significant, we’d get a lot more bang for the buck by promoting STEM education across the board. TJ exists because a Republican-controlled majority on the BOS thought it would be a good marketing tool in the mid-80s to convince companies to lease space in new office parks in Tysons and along Route 28. Its appeal lies largely in its exclusivity, which attracts those who’ll chase every brass ring dangled in front of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is it that TJ parents are so utterly clueless that they don't understand that a $100 application fee is completely reasonable and don't understand that their school should get less money per pupil than a title 1 school?

I am a former TJ parent who doesn't understand why the school should get less money per pupil than a title I school. The purpose of TJ is to provide a high-level of STEM education so we develop talent that can meet our region's and nation's needs in STEM. As an example, we need to develop counterterrorism, cyber defense, missile defense capabilities here at home. We have great difficulties in filling our STEM undergraduate and graduate progams in the U.S. because we aren't providing the STEM education that other countries (e.g. China, India) are. The money needs to be spent to get that job done. The military applications are just an example, the region and nation have STEM needs in other areas as well.

It costs money to teach differential equations, numerical analysis, object-oriented programming. We're trying to do something on a par with education for elite science and technology students in Europe and Asia. I encountered TJ parents who were very knowlegable about our regional and nationals needs in STEM.

Several spelling errors but I guess TJ graduates and their parents can't be great at everything. No, it does not cost more money to teach differential equations for a full class of students. If the kids are that smart, they can learn like kids in Asia with large class sizes and one teacher. The extra teachers are needed for Title 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is it that TJ parents are so utterly clueless that they don't understand that a $100 application fee is completely reasonable and don't understand that their school should get less money per pupil than a title 1 school?

What a load of bull. If the STEM needs are that significant, we’d get a lot more bang for the buck by promoting STEM education across the board. TJ exists because a Republican-controlled majority on the BOS thought it would be a good marketing tool in the mid-80s to convince companies to lease space in new office parks in Tysons and along Route 28. Its appeal lies largely in its exclusivity, which attracts those who’ll chase every brass ring dangled in front of them.

I am speaking from personal experience in the STEM field, as a reseacher and sponsor. TJ may have the superficial appeal that you cite, but at its core it provides advanced coursework that allows our best talent to compete. I stand by what I said.

[Anonymous]

This is the result of not passing the meals tax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the result of not passing the meals tax.

No. A pp is right. All families need to have some skin in the game when applying. Otherwise you'd get families applying for bragging rights only and kids who aren't really into the school applying. Other schools require the same transfer fee. This fee is a good thing for the school and for FCPS. And there are many exceptions for free and reduced meal qualifications. I was just reading about a school in NYC that was a work study private school option where they make the families pay $1000 towards the school and help with fundraising and the company the child works for pays the rest of the tuition. The schoolmaster they interviewed specifically said they wanted the families to pay something so they had some stake in making sure the program was a success too. Makes sense to me.

[Anonymous]

First, I doubt it is TJ parents complaining about the application fee. They paid it in a prior year. It is current applicants who are just discovering the fee,

Second, this is admittedly old (2012), but founf TJ spends about $1,000 more per pupil.

LCPS spends $17,400 per pupil to send kids to TJ (plus an extra $2000 to repay renovation costs). This covers transportation costs (not a short commute) and tutition. FCPS per pupil spring was $14,767. So we are talking about $2600 more for TJ. Once you subtract out LCPS busing, the $1000 figure is still close to correst.

When you factor in the Governors School Transfer from the State, TJ spends little more than other high schools per pupil— and may spend less.

https://books.google.com/books?id=8gnnRbqY_ScC&pg=PA158&lpg=PA158&dq=tjhsst+per+pupil+spending&source=bl&ots=lXSbiIvMrN&sig=Ju9XvB-eEtW3plLHkqt8WO5-PDI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjQ_9Ch9KPdAhUJvVkKHUgmB9M4ChDoATAHegQIBBAB#v=onepage&q=tjhsst%20per%20pupil%20spending&f=false