Waitlisted at TJ - now what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relax. Not the end of the world. Many TJ kids attending dame school as my non TJ senior. Except mine didn’t get the amount of stress Tj kids went through. Be a strong student at a base school. Tj is way over rated.

It is the end of the world. They had planned on TJ their whole life and now are denied this. I blame the activists!

So I feel like this is probably intended to be posted in sarcasm. If it is, bravo.

One of the best things that could possibly happen to TJ would be for it to experience a significant drop in prestige without a reduction in the caliber of the education that is provided.

Regardless of whether it's the number one high school in America, it will still have unparalleled opportunities for STEM-interested and STEM-capable students and will still provide a phenomenal environment for them to collaborate.

The prestige element creates an unhealthy obsession among a very narrow sub-segment of the Northern Virginia population that frankly leads to devastating outcomes for their children regardless of whether or not they get into TJ.

One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic Asian families within the Class of 2025. These folks are creating a new narrative within the school and proving once and for all that the toxicity at TJ was never about race but about attitudes. I can't wait to see how the new Class of 2026 builds on this new narrative, as we enter a reality where half the school is selected by the new admissions process.

One of the things i have noticed in the past two years is ignoramuses like this PP speaking with authority on TJ. She knows nothing about TJ but her toxic hatred for Asians permeates through every single post. I fear for TJ if hate-mongers like this PP are allowed to pretend that they speak for TJ/FCPS. She needs a racial sensitivity class for sure.

Did you even read the post? The historic toxicity at TJ has nothing to do with race and everything to do with attitudes.

You said "One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic Asian families within the Class of 2025."

You could have instead said "One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic families within the Class of 2025." You would have conveyed your point fairly comprehensively.

You saw need to highlight the "Asian" element of toxicity.

Yes, I read the post. And I can easily identify you in all your posts by the Asian antipathy that runs through all of them.

If I had made the statement that you suggested, it would be easily attacked as "you're saying there are more non-toxic families because there are fewer Asian families".

The point of my statement is to assert, as forcefully as I know how, that Asian families are NOT by their nature toxic. Because they aren't, any more than anyone else.

The toxicity at TJ was a direct result of an admissions process that incentivized a very specific approach to academics that was highly competitive and highly streamlined - and THAT's what created the toxicity at TJ. In a very real way, it is also directly responsible for the awful trope that Asian families exhibit toxic behavior.

Hopefully, the elimination of this deeply flawed process will have a positive impact on how Asian families are perceived in this area; TJ will remain majority-Asian and very highly regarded but the families involved are trending in a very positive direction.

Your capacity to pat yourself on the back is endless, but there aren't that many people who think the admissions changes at TJ are improving the school for the better.

What many see is an ever more politicized process that isn't about admitting the best qualified kids to TJ, or changing the behaviors of the students who are admitted, but instead all about giving some retail, pork-barrel politicians like Ricardy Anderson, Karen Corbett Sanders, and Tammy Derenak Kaufax bragging rights that they delivered a few dozen TJ seats to some above-average kids in their districts.

The number of applications to the Class of 2026 actually declined compared to the Class of 2025. It's nowhere near its peak. People see the focus on politics, not academics, and on stigmatizing some communities in order to claim that the School Board is somehow "elevating" others. That's far more toxic than anything that happened to TJ before, and it's courtesy of a bunch of corrupt hacks who have no appreciation of the unintended consequences of their actions.

[Anonymous]

Anyone received acceptance email this week from waitpool?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relax. Not the end of the world. Many TJ kids attending dame school as my non TJ senior. Except mine didn’t get the amount of stress Tj kids went through. Be a strong student at a base school. Tj is way over rated.

It is the end of the world. They had planned on TJ their whole life and now are denied this. I blame the activists!

So I feel like this is probably intended to be posted in sarcasm. If it is, bravo.

One of the best things that could possibly happen to TJ would be for it to experience a significant drop in prestige without a reduction in the caliber of the education that is provided.

Regardless of whether it's the number one high school in America, it will still have unparalleled opportunities for STEM-interested and STEM-capable students and will still provide a phenomenal environment for them to collaborate.

The prestige element creates an unhealthy obsession among a very narrow sub-segment of the Northern Virginia population that frankly leads to devastating outcomes for their children regardless of whether or not they get into TJ.

One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic Asian families within the Class of 2025. These folks are creating a new narrative within the school and proving once and for all that the toxicity at TJ was never about race but about attitudes. I can't wait to see how the new Class of 2026 builds on this new narrative, as we enter a reality where half the school is selected by the new admissions process.

One of the things i have noticed in the past two years is ignoramuses like this PP speaking with authority on TJ. She knows nothing about TJ but her toxic hatred for Asians permeates through every single post. I fear for TJ if hate-mongers like this PP are allowed to pretend that they speak for TJ/FCPS. She needs a racial sensitivity class for sure.

Did you even read the post? The historic toxicity at TJ has nothing to do with race and everything to do with attitudes.

You said "One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic Asian families within the Class of 2025."

You could have instead said "One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic families within the Class of 2025." You would have conveyed your point fairly comprehensively.

You saw need to highlight the "Asian" element of toxicity.

Yes, I read the post. And I can easily identify you in all your posts by the Asian antipathy that runs through all of them.

If I had made the statement that you suggested, it would be easily attacked as "you're saying there are more non-toxic families because there are fewer Asian families".

The point of my statement is to assert, as forcefully as I know how, that Asian families are NOT by their nature toxic. Because they aren't, any more than anyone else.

The toxicity at TJ was a direct result of an admissions process that incentivized a very specific approach to academics that was highly competitive and highly streamlined - and THAT's what created the toxicity at TJ. In a very real way, it is also directly responsible for the awful trope that Asian families exhibit toxic behavior.

Hopefully, the elimination of this deeply flawed process will have a positive impact on how Asian families are perceived in this area; TJ will remain majority-Asian and very highly regarded but the families involved are trending in a very positive direction.

Your capacity to pat yourself on the back is endless, but there aren't that many people who think the admissions changes at TJ are improving the school for the better.

What many see is an ever more politicized process that isn't about admitting the best qualified kids to TJ, or changing the behaviors of the students who are admitted, but instead all about giving some retail, pork-barrel politicians like Ricardy Anderson, Karen Corbett Sanders, and Tammy Derenak Kaufax bragging rights that they delivered a few dozen TJ seats to some above-average kids in their districts.

The number of applications to the Class of 2026 actually declined compared to the Class of 2025. It's nowhere near its peak. People see the focus on politics, not academics, and on stigmatizing some communities in order to claim that the School Board is somehow "elevating" others. That's far more toxic than anything that happened to TJ before, and it's courtesy of a bunch of corrupt hacks who have no appreciation of the unintended consequences of their actions.

+1

Could not have said it better.

The new process and the true motivation behind it especially when you see beyond the window dressing is what is truly toxic.

Break apart the community by stigmatizing Asians (cue - the repetition of the lie that somehow all Asians admits were dolts who got in through mindless prepping and egged on by heartless parents) only to serve the pork barrel antics of a few cynical politicians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relax. Not the end of the world. Many TJ kids attending dame school as my non TJ senior. Except mine didn’t get the amount of stress Tj kids went through. Be a strong student at a base school. Tj is way over rated.

It is the end of the world. They had planned on TJ their whole life and now are denied this. I blame the activists!

So I feel like this is probably intended to be posted in sarcasm. If it is, bravo.

One of the best things that could possibly happen to TJ would be for it to experience a significant drop in prestige without a reduction in the caliber of the education that is provided.

Regardless of whether it's the number one high school in America, it will still have unparalleled opportunities for STEM-interested and STEM-capable students and will still provide a phenomenal environment for them to collaborate.

The prestige element creates an unhealthy obsession among a very narrow sub-segment of the Northern Virginia population that frankly leads to devastating outcomes for their children regardless of whether or not they get into TJ.

One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic Asian families within the Class of 2025. These folks are creating a new narrative within the school and proving once and for all that the toxicity at TJ was never about race but about attitudes. I can't wait to see how the new Class of 2026 builds on this new narrative, as we enter a reality where half the school is selected by the new admissions process.

One of the things i have noticed in the past two years is ignoramuses like this PP speaking with authority on TJ. She knows nothing about TJ but her toxic hatred for Asians permeates through every single post. I fear for TJ if hate-mongers like this PP are allowed to pretend that they speak for TJ/FCPS. She needs a racial sensitivity class for sure.

Did you even read the post? The historic toxicity at TJ has nothing to do with race and everything to do with attitudes.

You said "One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic Asian families within the Class of 2025."

You could have instead said "One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic families within the Class of 2025." You would have conveyed your point fairly comprehensively.

You saw need to highlight the "Asian" element of toxicity.

Yes, I read the post. And I can easily identify you in all your posts by the Asian antipathy that runs through all of them.

If I had made the statement that you suggested, it would be easily attacked as "you're saying there are more non-toxic families because there are fewer Asian families".

The point of my statement is to assert, as forcefully as I know how, that Asian families are NOT by their nature toxic. Because they aren't, any more than anyone else.

The toxicity at TJ was a direct result of an admissions process that incentivized a very specific approach to academics that was highly competitive and highly streamlined - and THAT's what created the toxicity at TJ. In a very real way, it is also directly responsible for the awful trope that Asian families exhibit toxic behavior.

Hopefully, the elimination of this deeply flawed process will have a positive impact on how Asian families are perceived in this area; TJ will remain majority-Asian and very highly regarded but the families involved are trending in a very positive direction.

Your capacity to pat yourself on the back is endless, but there aren't that many people who think the admissions changes at TJ are improving the school for the better.

What many see is an ever more politicized process that isn't about admitting the best qualified kids to TJ, or changing the behaviors of the students who are admitted, but instead all about giving some retail, pork-barrel politicians like Ricardy Anderson, Karen Corbett Sanders, and Tammy Derenak Kaufax bragging rights that they delivered a few dozen TJ seats to some above-average kids in their districts.

The number of applications to the Class of 2026 actually declined compared to the Class of 2025. It's nowhere near its peak. People see the focus on politics, not academics, and on stigmatizing some communities in order to claim that the School Board is somehow "elevating" others. That's far more toxic than anything that happened to TJ before, and it's courtesy of a bunch of corrupt hacks who have no appreciation of the unintended consequences of their actions.

+1

Could not have said it better.

The new process and the true motivation behind it especially when you see beyond the window dressing is what is truly toxic.

Break apart the community by stigmatizing Asians (cue - the repetition of the lie that somehow all Asians admits were dolts who got in through mindless prepping and egged on by heartless parents) only to serve the pork barrel antics of a few cynical politicians.

Oh I know the 3rd rate preppers that were getting in under the old system were failing at TJ and so desperate to succeed that it fostered the toxicity. With the new admissions that favors the naturally gifted things seem much better,.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relax. Not the end of the world. Many TJ kids attending dame school as my non TJ senior. Except mine didn’t get the amount of stress Tj kids went through. Be a strong student at a base school. Tj is way over rated.

It is the end of the world. They had planned on TJ their whole life and now are denied this. I blame the activists!

So I feel like this is probably intended to be posted in sarcasm. If it is, bravo.

One of the best things that could possibly happen to TJ would be for it to experience a significant drop in prestige without a reduction in the caliber of the education that is provided.

Regardless of whether it's the number one high school in America, it will still have unparalleled opportunities for STEM-interested and STEM-capable students and will still provide a phenomenal environment for them to collaborate.

The prestige element creates an unhealthy obsession among a very narrow sub-segment of the Northern Virginia population that frankly leads to devastating outcomes for their children regardless of whether or not they get into TJ.

One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic Asian families within the Class of 2025. These folks are creating a new narrative within the school and proving once and for all that the toxicity at TJ was never about race but about attitudes. I can't wait to see how the new Class of 2026 builds on this new narrative, as we enter a reality where half the school is selected by the new admissions process.

One of the things i have noticed in the past two years is ignoramuses like this PP speaking with authority on TJ. She knows nothing about TJ but her toxic hatred for Asians permeates through every single post. I fear for TJ if hate-mongers like this PP are allowed to pretend that they speak for TJ/FCPS. She needs a racial sensitivity class for sure.

Did you even read the post? The historic toxicity at TJ has nothing to do with race and everything to do with attitudes.

You said "One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic Asian families within the Class of 2025."

You could have instead said "One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic families within the Class of 2025." You would have conveyed your point fairly comprehensively.

You saw need to highlight the "Asian" element of toxicity.

Yes, I read the post. And I can easily identify you in all your posts by the Asian antipathy that runs through all of them.

If I had made the statement that you suggested, it would be easily attacked as "you're saying there are more non-toxic families because there are fewer Asian families".

The point of my statement is to assert, as forcefully as I know how, that Asian families are NOT by their nature toxic. Because they aren't, any more than anyone else.

The toxicity at TJ was a direct result of an admissions process that incentivized a very specific approach to academics that was highly competitive and highly streamlined - and THAT's what created the toxicity at TJ. In a very real way, it is also directly responsible for the awful trope that Asian families exhibit toxic behavior.

Hopefully, the elimination of this deeply flawed process will have a positive impact on how Asian families are perceived in this area; TJ will remain majority-Asian and very highly regarded but the families involved are trending in a very positive direction.

Your capacity to pat yourself on the back is endless, but there aren't that many people who think the admissions changes at TJ are improving the school for the better.

What many see is an ever more politicized process that isn't about admitting the best qualified kids to TJ, or changing the behaviors of the students who are admitted, but instead all about giving some retail, pork-barrel politicians like Ricardy Anderson, Karen Corbett Sanders, and Tammy Derenak Kaufax bragging rights that they delivered a few dozen TJ seats to some above-average kids in their districts.

The number of applications to the Class of 2026 actually declined compared to the Class of 2025. It's nowhere near its peak. People see the focus on politics, not academics, and on stigmatizing some communities in order to claim that the School Board is somehow "elevating" others. That's far more toxic than anything that happened to TJ before, and it's courtesy of a bunch of corrupt hacks who have no appreciation of the unintended consequences of their actions.

Sure - a tiny bit. You had about 2940 applications to 2026 as opposed to 3100 in 2025. When they were finally evaluated after 2nd quarter grades, about 2500 remained eligible via the 3.5 GPA threshold.

Those numbers are still well ahead of where they were with the old admissions process for 2023 and 2024.

All FCPS is doing with TJ is what every college admissions office in America does - make sure that their school is appealing to students from all across its catchment area by ensuring that students from all across its catchment area have access.

There was a time when standardized exams did a good job of selecting the students who would contribute the most to an academic environment - and that time was before the existence of the eight-or-nine figure exam prep industry in Northern Virginia alone. It was a time before Kate Dalby and Vijay Tripathy and Curie Learning Centers and Sunshine Academy - before people made loads of money off of making kids appear brighter than they are. Standardized exams are functionally useless now because of the existence and prevalence of these academies. Colleges know it, and now FCPS knows it.

There is much work still to be done on the TJ admissions process, I'll admit. But by removing the incentive for families to spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours on optimization of their child's TJ application, it has become a matter of fact that TJ will be filled with a greater number of students who have spent their middle school years broadening their horizons and discovering and pursuing their passions.

Sure, you'll have a slightly less wonky group of students who will probably not score quite as highly on SATs in the future. The average score from TJ might drop from a 1520 to a 1480. But the good news in the college admissions process is that elite schools will know when they evaluate TJ students that they have existed in an environment with colleagues who look different from them and have had different life experiences to draw from. And that's honestly invaluable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relax. Not the end of the world. Many TJ kids attending dame school as my non TJ senior. Except mine didn’t get the amount of stress Tj kids went through. Be a strong student at a base school. Tj is way over rated.

It is the end of the world. They had planned on TJ their whole life and now are denied this. I blame the activists!

So I feel like this is probably intended to be posted in sarcasm. If it is, bravo.

One of the best things that could possibly happen to TJ would be for it to experience a significant drop in prestige without a reduction in the caliber of the education that is provided.

Regardless of whether it's the number one high school in America, it will still have unparalleled opportunities for STEM-interested and STEM-capable students and will still provide a phenomenal environment for them to collaborate.

The prestige element creates an unhealthy obsession among a very narrow sub-segment of the Northern Virginia population that frankly leads to devastating outcomes for their children regardless of whether or not they get into TJ.

One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic Asian families within the Class of 2025. These folks are creating a new narrative within the school and proving once and for all that the toxicity at TJ was never about race but about attitudes. I can't wait to see how the new Class of 2026 builds on this new narrative, as we enter a reality where half the school is selected by the new admissions process.

One of the things i have noticed in the past two years is ignoramuses like this PP speaking with authority on TJ. She knows nothing about TJ but her toxic hatred for Asians permeates through every single post. I fear for TJ if hate-mongers like this PP are allowed to pretend that they speak for TJ/FCPS. She needs a racial sensitivity class for sure.

Did you even read the post? The historic toxicity at TJ has nothing to do with race and everything to do with attitudes.

You said "One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic Asian families within the Class of 2025."

You could have instead said "One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic families within the Class of 2025." You would have conveyed your point fairly comprehensively.

You saw need to highlight the "Asian" element of toxicity.

Yes, I read the post. And I can easily identify you in all your posts by the Asian antipathy that runs through all of them.

If I had made the statement that you suggested, it would be easily attacked as "you're saying there are more non-toxic families because there are fewer Asian families".

The point of my statement is to assert, as forcefully as I know how, that Asian families are NOT by their nature toxic. Because they aren't, any more than anyone else.

The toxicity at TJ was a direct result of an admissions process that incentivized a very specific approach to academics that was highly competitive and highly streamlined - and THAT's what created the toxicity at TJ. In a very real way, it is also directly responsible for the awful trope that Asian families exhibit toxic behavior.

Hopefully, the elimination of this deeply flawed process will have a positive impact on how Asian families are perceived in this area; TJ will remain majority-Asian and very highly regarded but the families involved are trending in a very positive direction.

Your capacity to pat yourself on the back is endless, but there aren't that many people who think the admissions changes at TJ are improving the school for the better.

What many see is an ever more politicized process that isn't about admitting the best qualified kids to TJ, or changing the behaviors of the students who are admitted, but instead all about giving some retail, pork-barrel politicians like Ricardy Anderson, Karen Corbett Sanders, and Tammy Derenak Kaufax bragging rights that they delivered a few dozen TJ seats to some above-average kids in their districts.

The number of applications to the Class of 2026 actually declined compared to the Class of 2025. It's nowhere near its peak. People see the focus on politics, not academics, and on stigmatizing some communities in order to claim that the School Board is somehow "elevating" others. That's far more toxic than anything that happened to TJ before, and it's courtesy of a bunch of corrupt hacks who have no appreciation of the unintended consequences of their actions.

+1

Could not have said it better.

The new process and the true motivation behind it especially when you see beyond the window dressing is what is truly toxic.

Break apart the community by stigmatizing Asians (cue - the repetition of the lie that somehow all Asians admits were dolts who got in through mindless prepping and egged on by heartless parents) only to serve the pork barrel antics of a few cynical politicians.

Oh I know the 3rd rate preppers that were getting in under the old system were failing at TJ and so desperate to succeed that it fostered the toxicity. With the new admissions that favors the naturally gifted things seem much better,.

I don't know if the new system favors the naturally gifted as much as it harms the artificially gifted, but I take your point.

The reality of the old TJ is that you had dozens of students in each class who were struggling incredibly hard to keep up with their more talented classmates, and as a result had to go outside to private prep industries and tutors in order to maintain their artificial advancement. This extra time that they were spending to keep up was time that they couldn't spend on fulfilling and enriching extracurricular activities and had a devastating effect on their college applications.

These are the kids for whom places like Curie made a difference in them getting into TJ versus not getting in. Their parents essentially stole an opportunity from another, more deserving child only for their child to go to TJ and flounder miserably.

Other parents sent their kids to Curie and they didn't need it, thereby wasting their money. Still others sent their kids and they didn't get in - also wasting their money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relax. Not the end of the world. Many TJ kids attending dame school as my non TJ senior. Except mine didn’t get the amount of stress Tj kids went through. Be a strong student at a base school. Tj is way over rated.

It is the end of the world. They had planned on TJ their whole life and now are denied this. I blame the activists!

So I feel like this is probably intended to be posted in sarcasm. If it is, bravo.

One of the best things that could possibly happen to TJ would be for it to experience a significant drop in prestige without a reduction in the caliber of the education that is provided.

Regardless of whether it's the number one high school in America, it will still have unparalleled opportunities for STEM-interested and STEM-capable students and will still provide a phenomenal environment for them to collaborate.

The prestige element creates an unhealthy obsession among a very narrow sub-segment of the Northern Virginia population that frankly leads to devastating outcomes for their children regardless of whether or not they get into TJ.

One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic Asian families within the Class of 2025. These folks are creating a new narrative within the school and proving once and for all that the toxicity at TJ was never about race but about attitudes. I can't wait to see how the new Class of 2026 builds on this new narrative, as we enter a reality where half the school is selected by the new admissions process.

One of the things i have noticed in the past two years is ignoramuses like this PP speaking with authority on TJ. She knows nothing about TJ but her toxic hatred for Asians permeates through every single post. I fear for TJ if hate-mongers like this PP are allowed to pretend that they speak for TJ/FCPS. She needs a racial sensitivity class for sure.

Did you even read the post? The historic toxicity at TJ has nothing to do with race and everything to do with attitudes.

You said "One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic Asian families within the Class of 2025."

You could have instead said "One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic families within the Class of 2025." You would have conveyed your point fairly comprehensively.

You saw need to highlight the "Asian" element of toxicity.

Yes, I read the post. And I can easily identify you in all your posts by the Asian antipathy that runs through all of them.

If I had made the statement that you suggested, it would be easily attacked as "you're saying there are more non-toxic families because there are fewer Asian families".

The point of my statement is to assert, as forcefully as I know how, that Asian families are NOT by their nature toxic. Because they aren't, any more than anyone else.

The toxicity at TJ was a direct result of an admissions process that incentivized a very specific approach to academics that was highly competitive and highly streamlined - and THAT's what created the toxicity at TJ. In a very real way, it is also directly responsible for the awful trope that Asian families exhibit toxic behavior.

Hopefully, the elimination of this deeply flawed process will have a positive impact on how Asian families are perceived in this area; TJ will remain majority-Asian and very highly regarded but the families involved are trending in a very positive direction.

Your capacity to pat yourself on the back is endless, but there aren't that many people who think the admissions changes at TJ are improving the school for the better.

What many see is an ever more politicized process that isn't about admitting the best qualified kids to TJ, or changing the behaviors of the students who are admitted, but instead all about giving some retail, pork-barrel politicians like Ricardy Anderson, Karen Corbett Sanders, and Tammy Derenak Kaufax bragging rights that they delivered a few dozen TJ seats to some above-average kids in their districts.

The number of applications to the Class of 2026 actually declined compared to the Class of 2025. It's nowhere near its peak. People see the focus on politics, not academics, and on stigmatizing some communities in order to claim that the School Board is somehow "elevating" others. That's far more toxic than anything that happened to TJ before, and it's courtesy of a bunch of corrupt hacks who have no appreciation of the unintended consequences of their actions.

+1

Could not have said it better.

The new process and the true motivation behind it especially when you see beyond the window dressing is what is truly toxic.

Break apart the community by stigmatizing Asians (cue - the repetition of the lie that somehow all Asians admits were dolts who got in through mindless prepping and egged on by heartless parents) only to serve the pork barrel antics of a few cynical politicians.

Oh I know the 3rd rate preppers that were getting in under the old system were failing at TJ and so desperate to succeed that it fostered the toxicity. With the new admissions that favors the naturally gifted things seem much better,.

Nobody cares what you know or what David Duke knows for that matter. You see everything through your distorted perspective. But that does not make it the truth - or even remotely close to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relax. Not the end of the world. Many TJ kids attending dame school as my non TJ senior. Except mine didn’t get the amount of stress Tj kids went through. Be a strong student at a base school. Tj is way over rated.

It is the end of the world. They had planned on TJ their whole life and now are denied this. I blame the activists!

So I feel like this is probably intended to be posted in sarcasm. If it is, bravo.

One of the best things that could possibly happen to TJ would be for it to experience a significant drop in prestige without a reduction in the caliber of the education that is provided.

Regardless of whether it's the number one high school in America, it will still have unparalleled opportunities for STEM-interested and STEM-capable students and will still provide a phenomenal environment for them to collaborate.

The prestige element creates an unhealthy obsession among a very narrow sub-segment of the Northern Virginia population that frankly leads to devastating outcomes for their children regardless of whether or not they get into TJ.

One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic Asian families within the Class of 2025. These folks are creating a new narrative within the school and proving once and for all that the toxicity at TJ was never about race but about attitudes. I can't wait to see how the new Class of 2026 builds on this new narrative, as we enter a reality where half the school is selected by the new admissions process.

One of the things i have noticed in the past two years is ignoramuses like this PP speaking with authority on TJ. She knows nothing about TJ but her toxic hatred for Asians permeates through every single post. I fear for TJ if hate-mongers like this PP are allowed to pretend that they speak for TJ/FCPS. She needs a racial sensitivity class for sure.

Did you even read the post? The historic toxicity at TJ has nothing to do with race and everything to do with attitudes.

You said "One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic Asian families within the Class of 2025."

You could have instead said "One thing I have noticed in the past year is a significant increase in the number of non-toxic families within the Class of 2025." You would have conveyed your point fairly comprehensively.

You saw need to highlight the "Asian" element of toxicity.

Yes, I read the post. And I can easily identify you in all your posts by the Asian antipathy that runs through all of them.

If I had made the statement that you suggested, it would be easily attacked as "you're saying there are more non-toxic families because there are fewer Asian families".

The point of my statement is to assert, as forcefully as I know how, that Asian families are NOT by their nature toxic. Because they aren't, any more than anyone else.

The toxicity at TJ was a direct result of an admissions process that incentivized a very specific approach to academics that was highly competitive and highly streamlined - and THAT's what created the toxicity at TJ. In a very real way, it is also directly responsible for the awful trope that Asian families exhibit toxic behavior.

Hopefully, the elimination of this deeply flawed process will have a positive impact on how Asian families are perceived in this area; TJ will remain majority-Asian and very highly regarded but the families involved are trending in a very positive direction.

Your capacity to pat yourself on the back is endless, but there aren't that many people who think the admissions changes at TJ are improving the school for the better.

What many see is an ever more politicized process that isn't about admitting the best qualified kids to TJ, or changing the behaviors of the students who are admitted, but instead all about giving some retail, pork-barrel politicians like Ricardy Anderson, Karen Corbett Sanders, and Tammy Derenak Kaufax bragging rights that they delivered a few dozen TJ seats to some above-average kids in their districts.

The number of applications to the Class of 2026 actually declined compared to the Class of 2025. It's nowhere near its peak. People see the focus on politics, not academics, and on stigmatizing some communities in order to claim that the School Board is somehow "elevating" others. That's far more toxic than anything that happened to TJ before, and it's courtesy of a bunch of corrupt hacks who have no appreciation of the unintended consequences of their actions.

+1

Could not have said it better.

The new process and the true motivation behind it especially when you see beyond the window dressing is what is truly toxic.

Break apart the community by stigmatizing Asians (cue - the repetition of the lie that somehow all Asians admits were dolts who got in through mindless prepping and egged on by heartless parents) only to serve the pork barrel antics of a few cynical politicians.

Oh I know the 3rd rate preppers that were getting in under the old system were failing at TJ and so desperate to succeed that it fostered the toxicity. With the new admissions that favors the naturally gifted things seem much better,.

Nobody cares what you know or what David Duke knows for that matter. You see everything through your distorted perspective. But that does not make it the truth - or even remotely close to it.

DP. David Duke would side with the Coalition 100 times out of 100, and if you don't know that you're clueless.

[Anonymous]

Curious to know why folks are so mad at the new process:

- Min GPA requirement
- Math or Science Problem Essay
- Essay about skills/goals
- Pick the top 1-2 % from each school


Doesnt seem so different from a college application?

Harvard would look at experience factors also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious to know why folks are so mad at the new process:

- Min GPA requirement
- Math or Science Problem Essay
- Essay about skills/goals
- Pick the top 1-2 % from each school


Doesnt seem so different from a college application?

Harvard would look at experience factors also.

There is the small matter of teacher recommendations that colleges look at.

And Harvard is no gold standard - the Supreme Court will have a say soon.

And Harvard arrived at the “experience factors” because too many Jewish kids were making it on objective criteria. Yes there is your parallel with Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Consider yourself lucky....my child has PTSD from TJ. And I am not kidding.

I know TJ kids from 20 years ago that had similar experiences and were completely burned out for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious to know why folks are so mad at the new process:

- Min GPA requirement
- Math or Science Problem Essay
- Essay about skills/goals
- Pick the top 1-2 % from each school


Doesnt seem so different from a college application?

Harvard would look at experience factors also.

There is the small matter of teacher recommendations that colleges look at.

And Harvard is no gold standard - the Supreme Court will have a say soon.

And Harvard arrived at the “experience factors” because too many Jewish kids were making it on objective criteria. Yes there is your parallel with Harvard.

This was true a century ago but has not been for at least the past fifty years.

It's funny that you say that Harvard is no gold standard but that's still the school that every parent in your community wants the bumper sticker of. Sour grapes, I suppose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious to know why folks are so mad at the new process:

- Min GPA requirement
- Math or Science Problem Essay
- Essay about skills/goals
- Pick the top 1-2 % from each school


Doesnt seem so different from a college application?

Harvard would look at experience factors also.

There is the small matter of teacher recommendations that colleges look at.

And Harvard is no gold standard - the Supreme Court will have a say soon.

And Harvard arrived at the “experience factors” because too many Jewish kids were making it on objective criteria. Yes there is your parallel with Harvard.

Here is a link to a non-partisan publication that shows the parallel between the TJ reform and how Harvard approached the issue of over representation of Jewish people ( you get repeated mention of over representation of Asians at TJ on this forum)

https://www.businessinsider.com/the-ivy-leagues-history-of-discriminating-against-jews-2014-12

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious to know why folks are so mad at the new process:

- Min GPA requirement
- Math or Science Problem Essay
- Essay about skills/goals
- Pick the top 1-2 % from each school


Doesnt seem so different from a college application?

Harvard would look at experience factors also.

There is the small matter of teacher recommendations that colleges look at.

And Harvard is no gold standard - the Supreme Court will have a say soon.

And Harvard arrived at the “experience factors” because too many Jewish kids were making it on objective criteria. Yes there is your parallel with Harvard.

This was true a century ago but has not been for at least the past fifty years.

It's funny that you say that Harvard is no gold standard but that's still the school that every parent in your community wants the bumper sticker of. Sour grapes, I suppose.

Racist tropes come easy to you. My community, your community….Can you not see people as individuals or are you totally sold on identity politics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious to know why folks are so mad at the new process:

- Min GPA requirement
- Math or Science Problem Essay
- Essay about skills/goals
- Pick the top 1-2 % from each school


Doesnt seem so different from a college application?

Harvard would look at experience factors also.

There is the small matter of teacher recommendations that colleges look at.

And Harvard is no gold standard - the Supreme Court will have a say soon.

And Harvard arrived at the “experience factors” because too many Jewish kids were making it on objective criteria. Yes there is your parallel with Harvard.

This was true a century ago but has not been for at least the past fifty years.

It's funny that you say that Harvard is no gold standard but that's still the school that every parent in your community wants the bumper sticker of. Sour grapes, I suppose.

Racist tropes come easy to you. My community, your community….Can you not see people as individuals or are you totally sold on identity politics?

Whenever they talk about the reduction of Asian students being a matter of institutionalized racism, then yes, they're playing a game of identity politics and eliminating the importance of the individual.

And by the way - when I say "your community", I'm in no way talking about all Asians or even all South Asians or all East/Southeast Asians. I'm talking about the Coalition and its aligned individuals. If they happen to be largely associated with each other based on race - like the population of Curie is - that's their problem, not mine.