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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Which middle school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not ethical to do prep for cogat.

And not ethical to see prior-year questions for the old, supposedly-confidential TJ test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Which middle school?

Longfellow middle school also has late buses 3 days a week at 4:30 PM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

At the risking of opening up an old can of worms, I've never understood this line of reasoning. Is it better to be unprepared than to be prepared, for anything?

If I'm going to be tested, I want to do as well as I can. Knowing the format of the test and the type of content it addresses seems like an obvious aspect of preparation to undertake. If it's a timed test, then practicing to get a feel for how quickly I need to work also makes sense.

Don't athletes, musicians, actors practice before a tryout? Don't students study before a class exam? Don't job candidates prepare for interviews?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not ethical to do prep for cogat.

And not ethical to see prior-year questions for the old, supposedly-confidential TJ test.

Those are two very different things. If something is confidential it isn't ethical to share it. What is unethical, tough, about being prepared?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

At the risking of opening up an old can of worms, I've never understood this line of reasoning. Is it better to be unprepared than to be prepared, for anything?

If I'm going to be tested, I want to do as well as I can. Knowing the format of the test and the type of content it addresses seems like an obvious aspect of preparation to undertake. If it's a timed test, then practicing to get a feel for how quickly I need to work also makes sense.

Don't athletes, musicians, actors practice before a tryout? Don't students study before a class exam? Don't job candidates prepare for interviews?

If a test is supposed to measure every kids' ability, then 15% prepping throws the results. No one should be surprised when the people making decisions then view the results as flawed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

At the risking of opening up an old can of worms, I've never understood this line of reasoning. Is it better to be unprepared than to be prepared, for anything?

If I'm going to be tested, I want to do as well as I can. Knowing the format of the test and the type of content it addresses seems like an obvious aspect of preparation to undertake. If it's a timed test, then practicing to get a feel for how quickly I need to work also makes sense.

Don't athletes, musicians, actors practice before a tryout? Don't students study before a class exam? Don't job candidates prepare for interviews?

Depends on the test. If the teacher or admissions office say to prepare, then go ahead.

But these specific tests aren’t designed for that.

If some kids are preparing then all kids need to prepare to get consistent scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not ethical to do prep for cogat.

And not ethical to see prior-year questions for the old, supposedly-confidential TJ test.

Those are two very different things. If something is confidential it isn't ethical to share it. What is unethical, tough, about being prepared?

Using resources that were illegally obtained and/or not available to all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Which middle school?

Longfellow middle school also has late buses 3 days a week at 4:30 PM

Which activities are free?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not ethical to do prep for cogat.

And not ethical to see prior-year questions for the old, supposedly-confidential TJ test.

All things are fair in love, war and TJ admissions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

At the risking of opening up an old can of worms, I've never understood this line of reasoning. Is it better to be unprepared than to be prepared, for anything?

If I'm going to be tested, I want to do as well as I can. Knowing the format of the test and the type of content it addresses seems like an obvious aspect of preparation to undertake. If it's a timed test, then practicing to get a feel for how quickly I need to work also makes sense.

Don't athletes, musicians, actors practice before a tryout? Don't students study before a class exam? Don't job candidates prepare for interviews?

If a test is supposed to measure every kids' ability, then 15% prepping throws the results. No one should be surprised when the people making decisions then view the results as flawed.

And people who benefit from these flawed results claim its merit...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I think this is exactly the case. The numbers just didn’t add up and FCPS knew they would get caught if their tried to pull the same thing with the class of 2026 as they did with the class of 2025. I would not be shocked if every student admitted from
Longfellow, Cooper, and Carson checked Yes to the free meals question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

At the risking of opening up an old can of worms, I've never understood this line of reasoning. Is it better to be unprepared than to be prepared, for anything?

If I'm going to be tested, I want to do as well as I can. Knowing the format of the test and the type of content it addresses seems like an obvious aspect of preparation to undertake. If it's a timed test, then practicing to get a feel for how quickly I need to work also makes sense.

Don't athletes, musicians, actors practice before a tryout? Don't students study before a class exam? Don't job candidates prepare for interviews?

Depends on the test. If the teacher or admissions office say to prepare, then go ahead.

But these specific tests aren’t designed for that.

If some kids are preparing then all kids need to prepare to get consistent scores.

I've never been told to prepare for a job interview. Should I thus have shown up unprepared? Should I only prepare for something if explicitly instructed to do so?

Nobody has the right to tell me not to be prepared for anything and it is never unethical to be prepared.

People will always have different levels of preparation for anything. Those who are most diligent will be most prepared. Does that mean we should do away with any evaluations or assessments of any kind?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Which middle school?

Longfellow middle school also has late buses 3 days a week at 4:30 PM

Which activities are free?

Virtually all after-school clubs, as well as late buses, are free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not ethical to do prep for cogat.

And not ethical to see prior-year questions for the old, supposedly-confidential TJ test.

Those are two very different things. If something is confidential it isn't ethical to share it. What is unethical, tough, about being prepared?

Using resources that were illegally obtained and/or not available to all.

One can legally buy a Cogat test prep book on Amazon or at a local store. Legally obtained and available to all. How, then, is that unethical?

Feel free to keep changing the reasoning for why it's unethical to be prepared, but the fact is you don't have a good argument. It is never unethical to be prepared.