Admissions to change at Thomas Jefferson High, and others

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't admission be based on merit?

TBH, what “merit” does a thirteen year old have? Most have done essentially nothing on their own. Their parents help them with the math. How many drive themselves to extracurriculars? How many TJ applicants paid their own application fee? Set a routine themselves? It’s a high school for godsake, not a PHD program. I’d rather a kid flounder at first in high school and then be prepared for college than flounder when it really matters. Stop taking yourselves so seriously. Sorry, this idea of *applying* to a PUBLIC high school is so foreign to me I can’t wrap my head around it. There are no magnet schools in my home county.

'
I have to admit that I find responses like this one hilarious on a board dedicated to an AAP program that is based on the test scores of a 7/8 year old and allows for parent appeals and outside testing and on which most threads are dedicated into how to get kids in to AAP. Do you think 7/8 years have "merit" that other kids don't have? Honestly, the hypocrisy runs deep here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an AAP teacher, I see too many kids who are admitted to the program and whose math or reading skills are below grade level. It's true, and it needs to be fixed. These kids struggle to keep up. It's not fair to them - it's not meeting their needs.

This is interesting. Maybe we should look at kids who get admitted but then struggle, as this teacher says many do.

Since you only gain admission by passing the test, if you get in there and can't do the work... back to your home school.

[Anonymous]

All of you who talk about fake merit are reeking of envy.

If you can't get it, destroy it

You ca

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an AAP teacher, I see too many kids who are admitted to the program and whose math or reading skills are below grade level. It's true, and it needs to be fixed. These kids struggle to keep up. It's not fair to them - it's not meeting their needs.

This is interesting. Maybe we should look at kids who get admitted but then struggle, as this teacher says many do.

Since you only gain admission by passing the test, if you get in there and can't do the work... back to your home school.

+1. Doesn't TJ give you the boot if you get below a B+? Why should kids be allowed to stay in AAP if they can't keep up?

[Anonymous]

I love the lottery idea. And the reserved slots by geography. It is a public school, it should serve all students.

Why not enter all students who complete algebra I in middle school with a B average or better into the lottery? No special test, no extracurriculars or essays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't admission be based on merit?

TBH, what “merit” does a thirteen year old have? Most have done essentially nothing on their own. Their parents help them with the math. How many drive themselves to extracurriculars? How many TJ applicants paid their own application fee? Set a routine themselves? It’s a high school for godsake, not a PHD program. I’d rather a kid flounder at first in high school and then be prepared for college than flounder when it really matters. Stop taking yourselves so seriously. Sorry, this idea of *applying* to a PUBLIC high school is so foreign to me I can’t wrap my head around it. There are no magnet schools in my home county.

'
I have to admit that I find responses like this one hilarious on a board dedicated to an AAP program that is based on the test scores of a 7/8 year old and allows for parent appeals and outside testing and on which most threads are dedicated into how to get kids in to AAP. Do you think 7/8 years have "merit" that other kids don't have? Honestly, the hypocrisy runs deep here.

No, I don’t think 7-8 year olds have “merit.” I don’t think outside testing should be allowed. Where I’m from the gifted programs are treated equivalent to a special need, not something to chase after. There, you either need gifted instruction or you don’t, like needing a peech therapy services at school. Gifted services are not a status symbol there. The gifted program is pullouts from grades 2-12, 1-2x a week. They do a lot of problem solving exercises. You can’t just ask if your kid can be in it; your kid is either chosen in 2nd to be tested for it or they’re not. And yes, I think AAP should be a “gifted” program, not an advanced program for 20% of the population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the lottery idea. And the reserved slots by geography. It is a public school, it should serve all students.

Why not enter all students who complete algebra I in middle school with a B average or better into the lottery? No special test, no extracurriculars or essays.

It’ll still be high ses if that’s what people don’t like. Completing algebra before 9th is highly correlated with ses, and, to be blunt, not ability. I know kids who were in Alg in 9th who ended up National merit commended or Semifinalist. But that’s a whole other thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we can’t make access to TJ fair then we should shut it down. Fix it or lose it altogether.

You forgot to explain your definition of 'fair.' Is it scoring a certain amount on a test? Scoring a certain amount on a test plus having an Ivy League quality extra-curricular resume in middle school (which is kind of what the current standard is)? Accurately representing the racial and economic make-up of the county? Not including students from Prince William, Arlington, Faquier, and Loudon? Including them?

the extra-curricular resume is a reflection of the parent not the kid at that age - unless your saying admission should reflect a parent's drive and resources

Bingo. Nailed it.

[Anonymous]

Change must happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an AAP teacher, I see too many kids who are admitted to the program and whose math or reading skills are below grade level. It's true, and it needs to be fixed. These kids struggle to keep up. It's not fair to them - it's not meeting their needs.

This is interesting. Maybe we should look at kids who get admitted but then struggle, as this teacher says many do.

Since you only gain admission by passing the test, if you get in there and can't do the work... back to your home school.

+1. Doesn't TJ give you the boot if you get below a B+? Why should kids be allowed to stay in AAP if they can't keep up?

Isn't that why the term 'twice execptional' was invented? AAP isn't about being a good student, it's about being gifted and it's possible to be both gifted and a terrible student

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, thanks for posting. TJ parent here who came from Title I ES and MS so very interested.

Not sure I think the lottery after the first step test will solve the problem, but interesting idea. I liked the middle school idea as I thought there were other qualified applicants at my Title I MS who would have thrived at TJ.

The existence of feeder schools (which of course reflect the SES of applicants) is my interest - I am a proponent of offering lottery slots to FARMS kids to attend the ES and MS that send the majority of kids to TJ so those kids can immerse themselves in schools designed to prepare kids for the rigors of TJ. And please don't come at me with the busing argument t- I met family after family at Title I schools who would be perfectly willing to put their child on a longer bus ride to get them to a better school.

For others, here is the article:

https://wtop.com/education/2020/08/elite-public-schools-in-virginia-elsewhere-seek-diversity/

Why should Gen Ed parents at already overcrowded AAP centers have to accept even more overcrowding so other kids can "immerse themselves" in the AAP atmosphere?

Really stupid idea. If you want to eliminate AAP centers, just say so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, thanks for posting. TJ parent here who came from Title I ES and MS so very interested.

Not sure I think the lottery after the first step test will solve the problem, but interesting idea. I liked the middle school idea as I thought there were other qualified applicants at my Title I MS who would have thrived at TJ.

The existence of feeder schools (which of course reflect the SES of applicants) is my interest - I am a proponent of offering lottery slots to FARMS kids to attend the ES and MS that send the majority of kids to TJ so those kids can immerse themselves in schools designed to prepare kids for the rigors of TJ. And please don't come at me with the busing argument t- I met family after family at Title I schools who would be perfectly willing to put their child on a longer bus ride to get them to a better school.

For others, here is the article:

https://wtop.com/education/2020/08/elite-public-schools-in-virginia-elsewhere-seek-diversity/

Why should Gen Ed parents at already overcrowded AAP centers have to accept even more overcrowding so other kids can "immerse themselves" in the AAP atmosphere?

Really stupid idea. If you want to eliminate AAP centers, just say so.

something about it being a public school seems like a good enough justification

[Anonymous]

They should just get rid of TJ. It is more trouble than it is worth. Use the building to educate kids who live in the county and redistrict to eliminate overcrowding elsewhere in the county. It is probably illegal for URMs to be stuck in overcrowded schools while a select group of White and Asian kids enjoy an entirely different experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we can’t make access to TJ fair then we should shut it down. Fix it or lose it altogether.

You forgot to explain your definition of 'fair.' Is it scoring a certain amount on a test? Scoring a certain amount on a test plus having an Ivy League quality extra-curricular resume in middle school (which is kind of what the current standard is)? Accurately representing the racial and economic make-up of the county? Not including students from Prince William, Arlington, Faquier, and Loudon? Including them?

TJ is not fairly accessible to all students in FCPS (and the case can be made for surrounded school districts). If it were fairly accessible, the enrolled TJ student population demographics would be more representative of the FCPS student population demographics.

Shut it down if we can't fix it.

We moved here for TJ. Same for many others of my community. Take your systemic racism cult somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, thanks for posting. TJ parent here who came from Title I ES and MS so very interested.

Not sure I think the lottery after the first step test will solve the problem, but interesting idea. I liked the middle school idea as I thought there were other qualified applicants at my Title I MS who would have thrived at TJ.

The existence of feeder schools (which of course reflect the SES of applicants) is my interest - I am a proponent of offering lottery slots to FARMS kids to attend the ES and MS that send the majority of kids to TJ so those kids can immerse themselves in schools designed to prepare kids for the rigors of TJ. And please don't come at me with the busing argument t- I met family after family at Title I schools who would be perfectly willing to put their child on a longer bus ride to get them to a better school.

For others, here is the article:

https://wtop.com/education/2020/08/elite-public-schools-in-virginia-elsewhere-seek-diversity/

Why should Gen Ed parents at already overcrowded AAP centers have to accept even more overcrowding so other kids can "immerse themselves" in the AAP atmosphere?

Really stupid idea. If you want to eliminate AAP centers, just say so.

something about it being a public school seems like a good enough justification

They already have access to a public school, though maybe not the one you want. Overcrowding another school isn't the solution.