Jay Mathews: Did money keep student out of top school? [TJ]

[Anonymous]

I do not agree with the headline, but I do agree with the notion that neighborhood high schools in FCPS are just as good (if not better than) TJ for advanced kids:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/did-money-keep-student-out-of-top-school/2014/11/09/b81dd124-66ab-11e4-9fdc-d43b053ecb4d_story.html

Yet, as often happens to super-bright students who fail Jefferson’s unavoidably clumsy admission process, Robbie found his neighborhood school, Herndon High, had much to offer. “I think it was probably for the better that I went there,” he said. He loves playing tuba in the wind ensemble and sousaphone in the band, which has performed as far away as Hawaii. Jefferson would have made him wait until his junior year to join its robotics team. Herndon’s team took him right away and has qualified for the national championship, earning some victories over Jefferson.

Robbie will have 15 Advanced Placement courses and four dual-enrollment college courses completed before graduation this spring. He got the top score on the AP English Literature exam without taking the course.

[Anonymous]

Fascinating article. Thanks for sharing.

Jay Mathews is being generous when he says that the admissions process at TJ is "unavoidably" clumsy. It is intentionally clumsy and regularly gamed by those who know how to polish their children's applications. Parents who arrive from other parts of the country and don't know the drill can see their highly qualified kids shut out for bizarre reasons.

Conversely, FCPS spokesman John Torre is being completely disingenous when he says that “Socio-economic status has no bearing on a student’s ability to gain access to TJ or any of our other programs.” The FARMS rates at TJ are now lower than at any other HS in the county, including Langley. Does Torre honestly think that's a coincidence?

Ben Moore sounds like a great kid who would be an asset to any high school, and it's great that he found the silver lining at Herndon. Every high school in the county used to have kids like Ben, even if they didn't score quite as high on their SATs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fascinating article. Thanks for sharing.

Jay Mathews is being generous when he says that the admissions process at TJ is "unavoidably" clumsy. It is intentionally clumsy and regularly gamed by those who know how to polish their children's applications. Parents who arrive from other parts of the country and don't know the drill can see their highly qualified kids shut out for bizarre reasons.

Conversely, FCPS spokesman John Torre is being completely disingenous when he says that “Socio-economic status has no bearing on a student’s ability to gain access to TJ or any of our other programs.” The FARMS rates at TJ are now lower than at any other HS in the county, including Langley. Does Torre honestly think that's a coincidence?

Ben Moore sounds like a great kid who would be an asset to any high school, and it's great that he found the silver lining at Herndon. Every high school in the county used to have kids like Ben, even if they didn't score quite as high on their SATs.

Ben's the dad, Robbie's the kid.

[Anonymous]

I've had 2 kids admitted to TJ. They took no prep classes, never had a tutor or attended a fancy computer/science/tech camp. Both took advantage of clubs in middle school (math, drama, tech) and both designed science fair projects that did well in the district and state science fairs. I don't know why Robbie didn't get into TJ, but I don't think it has anything to do with money.

Ben Moore has a huge chip on his shoulder - I mean who files a FOIA for SAT scores? I hope he can get over it because it sounds like his son is doing great.

[Anonymous]

Jay Matthews has been grinding his ax about TJ for years. I suspect his kids did not get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jay Matthews has been grinding his ax about TJ for years. I suspect his kids did not get in.

I thought Jay Mathews' kids went to private schools in DC? They would not be eligible for TJ anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jay Matthews has been grinding his ax about TJ for years. I suspect his kids did not get in.

Usual crowd going after anyone who challenges anything about TJ with an axe. Nothing new there.

[Anonymous]

Robbie Moore did not get in b/c he is a white male. White males overall have the least chance of being accepted at TJ because that is how TJ works. How do you think it got to be 80% non white in this county? But Robbie, you are fine without TJ. really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had 2 kids admitted to TJ. They took no prep classes, never had a tutor or attended a fancy computer/science/tech camp. Both took advantage of clubs in middle school (math, drama, tech) and both designed science fair projects that did well in the district and state science fairs. I don't know why Robbie didn't get into TJ, but I don't think it has anything to do with money.

Ben Moore has a huge chip on his shoulder - I mean who files a FOIA for SAT scores? I hope he can get over it because it sounds like his son is doing great.

I read the article and Robbie sounds like a fabulous kid. Forget about whether anyone else paid for tutors, etc. Robbie could not participate in the *free* clubs offered at his middle school b/c he had to come home right after school to babysit his sisters and take care of the house. That's a money issue. And if the activities portion is such a large part of the application, he gets screwed. And who knows how the whole teacher recommendation process works and since his parents were too busy studying to become a nurse and putting food on the table, they didn't have time to "learn the system" and/or get friendly with the teachers at the middle school. So, yes, I can see why the dad has a bit of a chip on his shoulder and I don't blame him. But it sounds like Robbie has done very well for himself and will hopefully get enough merit money or financial aid to go to a great college. TJ's loss. Herndon's gain and I'm sure that Robbie will be an honored alum one day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had 2 kids admitted to TJ. They took no prep classes, never had a tutor or attended a fancy computer/science/tech camp. Both took advantage of clubs in middle school (math, drama, tech) and both designed science fair projects that did well in the district and state science fairs. I don't know why Robbie didn't get into TJ, but I don't think it has anything to do with money.

Ben Moore has a huge chip on his shoulder - I mean who files a FOIA for SAT scores? I hope he can get over it because it sounds like his son is doing great.

Robbie did not have time to even do the clubs, he had to be home to care for his younger siblings.

[Anonymous]

And he wouldn't have made it at TJ if he had to take care if siblings. TJ has a long day, particularly with a long bus ride from Reston. And all the kids there do extra curricular activities like sports, etc. One would think the parents could have made it possible for some participation in some kind of enriching activity at the middle school. Admission just on test scores alone is not what people wanted either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And he wouldn't have made it at TJ if he had to take care if siblings. TJ has a long day, particularly with a long bus ride from Reston. And all the kids there do extra curricular activities like sports, etc. One would think the parents could have made it possible for some participation in some kind of enriching activity at the middle school. Admission just on test scores alone is not what people wanted either.

What, like, 'lets not eat this month" so Robbie can have afterschool activities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And he wouldn't have made it at TJ if he had to take care if siblings. TJ has a long day, particularly with a long bus ride from Reston. And all the kids there do extra curricular activities like sports, etc. One would think the parents could have made it possible for some participation in some kind of enriching activity at the middle school. Admission just on test scores alone is not what people wanted either.

What, like, 'lets not eat this month" so Robbie can have afterschool activities?

Uhh, Robbie "loves playing tuba in the wind ensemble and sousaphone in the band, which has performed as far away as Hawaii." Unless he's some kind of musical genius, he *did* have access to at least one extracurricular activity prior to applying to TJ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had 2 kids admitted to TJ. They took no prep classes, never had a tutor or attended a fancy computer/science/tech camp. Both took advantage of clubs in middle school (math, drama, tech) and both designed science fair projects that did well in the district and state science fairs. I don't know why Robbie didn't get into TJ, but I don't think it has anything to do with money.

Ben Moore has a huge chip on his shoulder - I mean who files a FOIA for SAT scores? I hope he can get over it because it sounds like his son is doing great.

I read the article and Robbie sounds like a fabulous kid. Forget about whether anyone else paid for tutors, etc. Robbie could not participate in the *free* clubs offered at his middle school b/c he had to come home right after school to babysit his sisters and take care of the house. That's a money issue. And if the activities portion is such a large part of the application, he gets screwed. And who knows how the whole teacher recommendation process works and since his parents were too busy studying to become a nurse and putting food on the table, they didn't have time to "learn the system" and/or get friendly with the teachers at the middle school. So, yes, I can see why the dad has a bit of a chip on his shoulder and I don't blame him. But it sounds like Robbie has done very well for himself and will hopefully get enough merit money or financial aid to go to a great college. TJ's loss. Herndon's gain and I'm sure that Robbie will be an honored alum one day.

I never learned any "system" and had nothing to do with the kids getting recommendations from their teachers. My kids decided which teachers to ask and asked them, and I only met their teachers at back-to-school night. The year Robbie applied to TJ the student information sheet was completed at home and asked very broad questions - things like "what's your favorite subject in school and why" and "if you could study one thing what would it be" - topics that don't require money to write a decent answer to. They're looking for kids with a passion for math and science, not just kids who can get 800s on SATs.

My kids, particularly the oldest, had to be home after school most days to watch her younger sister, and she also made her share of dinners. In fact she just reminded me that in one of her essays she wrote about teaching her sister how to play Math Dice. Again, it's not lack of money that's the issue, although that makes a great headline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And he wouldn't have made it at TJ if he had to take care if siblings. TJ has a long day, particularly with a long bus ride from Reston. And all the kids there do extra curricular activities like sports, etc. One would think the parents could have made it possible for some participation in some kind of enriching activity at the middle school. Admission just on test scores alone is not what people wanted either.

What, like, 'lets not eat this month" so Robbie can have afterschool activities?

Uhh, Robbie "loves playing tuba in the wind ensemble and sousaphone in the band, which has performed as far away as Hawaii." Unless he's some kind of musical genius, he *did* have access to at least one extracurricular activity prior to applying to TJ...

He did those things AT HERNDON, Sherlock. And if he took music lessons prior to Herndon, it was likely during the school day at his previous schools.

I think his dad is right to shine the light of shame on TJ admissions -- a kid who gets a near perfect score on the SAT at 15, who is considered 3 grades ahead and taught himself Latin can't get into TJ? WOW. Something is really wrong. On the flip side, I'm glad he is "thriving" and excelling and having a great experience at Herndon (to the chagrin of those who would say Herndon, South Lakes and the like are crap compared to Langley, McLean, etc., etc.).

Robbie and his parents have my respect. TJ admissions -- not so much.