TJ admissions now verifying free and reduced price meal status for successful 2026 applicants

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are you going to do about how there was no proctoring? Many kids/parents may have cheated. Who knows.

Considering how heavily the essays are weighted, this is the most worrisome aspect of the application. Parents or tutors could have written the essays or heavily proofread. Kids could have been chatting about the problem solving essay on discord while the essay was happening. Kids who took the test on the make up date most likely already knew the test questions beforehand.

All of this is combined with pandemic inflated GPAs, that also may have been the result of cheating during distance learning.

If they prepared for essays, that means they are serious with the opportunity studying in TJ. Nothing to blame. Students also prepare essays for their university applications. I didn't spend efforts with my child's essay. I wish I had.

Preparing for the essays with the info given by the admissions office is fine.

Bringing in notes and/or contacting others during/after the essay is not fine.

^ sorry, I was commenting on the profile, not the essay.

Same thought applies for the essay though: no cheating during the essay and don’t share with others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are you going to do about how there was no proctoring? Many kids/parents may have cheated. Who knows.

Considering how heavily the essays are weighted, this is the most worrisome aspect of the application. Parents or tutors could have written the essays or heavily proofread. Kids could have been chatting about the problem solving essay on discord while the essay was happening. Kids who took the test on the make up date most likely already knew the test questions beforehand.

All of this is combined with pandemic inflated GPAs, that also may have been the result of cheating during distance learning.

While cheating on the STEM question could have happened, those kids will have a hard time at TJ and can lead to dropouts. Starting next year it will be at school. To take test on makeup day they needed medical certificate and no doctor gives fake letters so they must be really sick to take on alternate date. If parents and kids lack honesty and integrity how successful will they be after TJ?

[Anonymous]

No worry. Next step is different grading standard with different experience factor.

Final score = real score * 13*1.15 * 1.15

Free meal : 1.3
Esl : 1.15
ADHD : 1.15

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are you going to do about how there was no proctoring? Many kids/parents may have cheated. Who knows.

Considering how heavily the essays are weighted, this is the most worrisome aspect of the application. Parents or tutors could have written the essays or heavily proofread. Kids could have been chatting about the problem solving essay on discord while the essay was happening. Kids who took the test on the make up date most likely already knew the test questions beforehand.

All of this is combined with pandemic inflated GPAs, that also may have been the result of cheating during distance learning.

If they prepared for essays, that means they are serious with the opportunity studying in TJ. Nothing to blame. Students also prepare essays for their university applications. I didn't spend efforts with my child's essay. I wish I had.

Preparing for the essays with the info given by the admissions office is fine.

Bringing in notes and/or contacting others during/after the essay is not fine.

Don’t always think it is wrong to prepare test or essay. There are dishonest people but most people just want to work hard to achieve their goals, which is sincerely much better than waiting for others to feed them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No worry. Next step is different grading standard with different experience factor.

Final score = real score * 13*1.15 * 1.15

Free meal : 1.3
Esl : 1.15
ADHD : 1.15

You have no clue what the process is to get an IEP or a 504 plan so your response is clueless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are you going to do about how there was no proctoring? Many kids/parents may have cheated. Who knows.

Considering how heavily the essays are weighted, this is the most worrisome aspect of the application. Parents or tutors could have written the essays or heavily proofread. Kids could have been chatting about the problem solving essay on discord while the essay was happening. Kids who took the test on the make up date most likely already knew the test questions beforehand.

All of this is combined with pandemic inflated GPAs, that also may have been the result of cheating during distance learning.

If they prepared for essays, that means they are serious with the opportunity studying in TJ. Nothing to blame. Students also prepare essays for their university applications. I didn't spend efforts with my child's essay. I wish I had.

Preparing for the essays with the info given by the admissions office is fine.

Bringing in notes and/or contacting others during/after the essay is not fine.

Don’t always think it is wrong to prepare test or essay. There are dishonest people but most people just want to work hard to achieve their goals, which is sincerely much better than waiting for others to feed them.

It’s wrong to prepare for some tests. Cogat. The old TJ test.

[Anonymous]

I think they were forced to confront this either when:
1) they had to prepare the report for the TJHSST’s 2021-22 school profile and did not have the data to back it up.
2) They also might have finally realized that some of the wealthy middle schools with traditionally only a small % of students in the 8th grade had the overwhelming majority of the acceptances as FARMs. Traditional number of 8th graders who are FARMs - Carson = about 90, Therou = about 80, Longfellow = about 50, Cooper = about 10. They could not bury their heads in the sand any longer.
3) Teachers or administrators (who actually care about education) at middle schools saw kids who were admitted who were not terribly strong. They were concerned and asked Gatehouse to explain.
4) A reporter (not from the Washington Post who just rubber stamps whatever FCPS says) read DCUM and starting asking some very basic questions.
5) Maybe the students directly in the lawsuit are adding this to their claim. And this is a belated CYA.

[Anonymous]

If the school board followed the judge’s decision, it won’t have so many troubles. Taking a PSAT test is very fast. It won’t delay the admission. The school board is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they were forced to confront this either when:
1) they had to prepare the report for the TJHSST’s 2021-22 school profile and did not have the data to back it up.
2) They also might have finally realized that some of the wealthy middle schools with traditionally only a small % of students in the 8th grade had the overwhelming majority of the acceptances as FARMs. Traditional number of 8th graders who are FARMs - Carson = about 90, Therou = about 80, Longfellow = about 50, Cooper = about 10. They could not bury their heads in the sand any longer.
3) Teachers or administrators (who actually care about education) at middle schools saw kids who were admitted who were not terribly strong. They were concerned and asked Gatehouse to explain.
4) A reporter (not from the Washington Post who just rubber stamps whatever FCPS says) read DCUM and starting asking some very basic questions.
5) Maybe the students directly in the lawsuit are adding this to their claim. And this is a belated CYA.

I hope the reporter publish something that could lead to the ending of the current school board. It’s time to get a school board with members who care about education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are you going to do about how there was no proctoring? Many kids/parents may have cheated. Who knows.

Considering how heavily the essays are weighted, this is the most worrisome aspect of the application. Parents or tutors could have written the essays or heavily proofread. Kids could have been chatting about the problem solving essay on discord while the essay was happening. Kids who took the test on the make up date most likely already knew the test questions beforehand.

All of this is combined with pandemic inflated GPAs, that also may have been the result of cheating during distance learning.

If they prepared for essays, that means they are serious with the opportunity studying in TJ. Nothing to blame. Students also prepare essays for their university applications. I didn't spend efforts with my child's essay. I wish I had.

Preparing for the essays with the info given by the admissions office is fine.

Bringing in notes and/or contacting others during/after the essay is not fine.

Don’t always think it is wrong to prepare test or essay. There are dishonest people but most people just want to work hard to achieve their goals, which is sincerely much better than waiting for others to feed them.

It’s wrong to prepare for some tests. Cogat. The old TJ test.

It is not wrong to prepare for the tests. It shows the kid is interested and hard working to achieve their goals. We all have prepared for tests whether it is SAT or GRE and other tests. We prepare for job interviews too. Going without preparation is bad. You don't send people to war without proper training, you don't let people fly without proper training and education. Preparation is key for success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they were forced to confront this either when:
3) Teachers or administrators (who actually care about education) at middle schools saw kids who were admitted who were not terribly strong. They were concerned and asked Gatehouse to explain.

I don't think FARMS is the reason for this. Or maybe the kids I have seen really did put yes on the questions.
I think 'kids who are not terribly strong.' may have done well on the essays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are you going to do about how there was no proctoring? Many kids/parents may have cheated. Who knows.

Considering how heavily the essays are weighted, this is the most worrisome aspect of the application. Parents or tutors could have written the essays or heavily proofread. Kids could have been chatting about the problem solving essay on discord while the essay was happening. Kids who took the test on the make up date most likely already knew the test questions beforehand.

All of this is combined with pandemic inflated GPAs, that also may have been the result of cheating during distance learning.

If they prepared for essays, that means they are serious with the opportunity studying in TJ. Nothing to blame. Students also prepare essays for their university applications. I didn't spend efforts with my child's essay. I wish I had.

Preparing for the essays with the info given by the admissions office is fine.

Bringing in notes and/or contacting others during/after the essay is not fine.

Don’t always think it is wrong to prepare test or essay. There are dishonest people but most people just want to work hard to achieve their goals, which is sincerely much better than waiting for others to feed them.

It’s wrong to prepare for some tests. Cogat. The old TJ test.

It is not wrong to prepare for the tests. It shows the kid is interested and hard working to achieve their goals. We all have prepared for tests whether it is SAT or GRE and other tests. We prepare for job interviews too. Going without preparation is bad. You don't send people to war without proper training, you don't let people fly without proper training and education. Preparation is key for success.

These aren’t SAT/GRE.

Those tests are designed for kids not to prepare.

It’s unethical to prepare for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they were forced to confront this either when:
1) they had to prepare the report for the TJHSST’s 2021-22 school profile and did not have the data to back it up.
2) They also might have finally realized that some of the wealthy middle schools with traditionally only a small % of students in the 8th grade had the overwhelming majority of the acceptances as FARMs. Traditional number of 8th graders who are FARMs - Carson = about 90, Therou = about 80, Longfellow = about 50, Cooper = about 10. They could not bury their heads in the sand any longer.
3) Teachers or administrators (who actually care about education) at middle schools saw kids who were admitted who were not terribly strong. They were concerned and asked Gatehouse to explain.
4) A reporter (not from the Washington Post who just rubber stamps whatever FCPS says) read DCUM and starting asking some very basic questions.
5) Maybe the students directly in the lawsuit are adding this to their claim. And this is a belated CYA.

Maybe the feeder programs had mathematically-impossible high ED admissions #s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I don't see TJ as a place that should demand that 13 year olds have already devoted their childhood to STEM but should be a place for kids who are smart and motivated and interested in STEM to attend. I also see that many kids do not have the ability to participate in STEM extra curricular activities. Those activities require time, money, and transportation. Yes, many programs offer scholarships for under privileged kids but the child still has to get to the class, which requires transportation and someone to drop off and pick up. Not every child has that ability. Not every ES has the same STEM after school programs.

In my son's middle school, there is an after school bus, and the activities are free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are you going to do about how there was no proctoring? Many kids/parents may have cheated. Who knows.

Considering how heavily the essays are weighted, this is the most worrisome aspect of the application. Parents or tutors could have written the essays or heavily proofread. Kids could have been chatting about the problem solving essay on discord while the essay was happening. Kids who took the test on the make up date most likely already knew the test questions beforehand.

All of this is combined with pandemic inflated GPAs, that also may have been the result of cheating during distance learning.

If they prepared for essays, that means they are serious with the opportunity studying in TJ. Nothing to blame. Students also prepare essays for their university applications. I didn't spend efforts with my child's essay. I wish I had.

Preparing for the essays with the info given by the admissions office is fine.

Bringing in notes and/or contacting others during/after the essay is not fine.

Don’t always think it is wrong to prepare test or essay. There are dishonest people but most people just want to work hard to achieve their goals, which is sincerely much better than waiting for others to feed them.

It’s wrong to prepare for some tests. Cogat. The old TJ test.

It is not wrong to prepare for the tests. It shows the kid is interested and hard working to achieve their goals. We all have prepared for tests whether it is SAT or GRE and other tests. We prepare for job interviews too. Going without preparation is bad. You don't send people to war without proper training, you don't let people fly without proper training and education. Preparation is key for success.

These aren’t SAT/GRE.

Those tests are designed for kids not to prepare.

It’s unethical to prepare for them.

Same thing. These test preparation centers are not preparing to answer specific questions. They teach how to breakdown a problem, solve, and write effectively with facts. These skills are not needed just for TJ test these are useful throughout life whether they go to TJ or not. They provide good foundation for success. We have seen at our workplace where people cannot interpret data, cannot write a proper sentence. They put question mark for statements and no question mark for questions.....Learning how to solve and write effectively is a critical skill for the future. Nothing wrong in filling the gaps the student has to acquire new skillset.