ACPS and TJ

[Anonymous]

I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me as to why ACPS does not allow its students to apply to TJ when almost all the surrounding jurisdictions do? Is there anything that can be done to try and convince the board/superintendent to allow at least a few kids, maybe on a trial basis, to attend? We don't want to have to move but we are really shocked at ACPS's stance on this issue - don't they want to keep motivated, smart students living in Alexandria?

[Anonymous]

Not going to happen.

This question has been percolating for two decades.

ACPS has no interest in making it happen. They don't want the brain drain for starters as their scores are bad enough already. But more to the point, ACPS isn't oriented around helping high-achieving students or their families. It's about meeting basic needs of a largely at-risk population.

He's gone now, but former superintendent Mort Sherman said this explicitly multiple times. Parents of high-achievers were told to go private if they felt under served.

There is zero interest in the ACPS culture to make TJ happen. Bless your heart for thinking you can change that. If you do, you'll succeed where many, MANY others have failed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me as to why ACPS does not allow its students to apply to TJ when almost all the surrounding jurisdictions do? Is there anything that can be done to try and convince the board/superintendent to allow at least a few kids, maybe on a trial basis, to attend? We don't want to have to move but we are really shocked at ACPS's stance on this issue - don't they want to keep motivated, smart students living in Alexandria?

1434 here again:

You're at Stage 2 of the "move out of Alexandria because of the schools" phase.

Stage 1 is believing the demographics will change in favor.
Stage 2 is if they'll just open TJ it'll be OK.
Stage 3 is disbelief.
Stage 4 is trying to decide between private and Fairfax/Arlington. Is the extra mortgage better than private school tuition?
Stage 5 is moving/going private. If you have more than 1, you start going house shopping in Arlington, Fairfax, or Falls Church City.

[Anonymous]

You're at Stage 2 of the "move out of Alexandria because of the schools" phase.

Stage 1 is believing the demographics will change in favor.
Stage 2 is if they'll just open TJ it'll be OK.
Stage 3 is disbelief.
Stage 4 is trying to decide between private and Fairfax/Arlington. Is the extra mortgage better than private school tuition?
Stage 5 is moving/going private. If you have more than 1, you start going house shopping in Arlington, Fairfax, or Falls Church City.

Given the remote chance of getting into TJ, even for many bright children, Stage 2 is not a realistic expectation regardless of whether ACPS allows students to apply to TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Not going to happen.

This question has been percolating for two decades.

ACPS has no interest in making it happen. They don't want the brain drain for starters as their scores are bad enough already. But more to the point, ACPS isn't oriented around helping high-achieving students or their families. It's about meeting basic needs of a largely at-risk population.

He's gone now, but former superintendent Mort Sherman said this explicitly multiple times. Parents of high-achievers were told to go private if they felt under served.

There is zero interest in the ACPS culture to make TJ happen. Bless your heart for thinking you can change that. If you do, you'll succeed where many, MANY others have failed.

The argument would be that not allowing ACPS students to attend TJ results in a brain drain, so ACPS might as well let its students compete for slots. Hard-working students denied admission to TJ might boost TC Williams' scores, whereas ACPS currently is losing entire families to Arlington, Fairfax and privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Not going to happen.

This question has been percolating for two decades.

ACPS has no interest in making it happen. They don't want the brain drain for starters as their scores are bad enough already. But more to the point, ACPS isn't oriented around helping high-achieving students or their families. It's about meeting basic needs of a largely at-risk population.

He's gone now, but former superintendent Mort Sherman said this explicitly multiple times. Parents of high-achievers were told to go private if they felt under served.

There is zero interest in the ACPS culture to make TJ happen. Bless your heart for thinking you can change that. If you do, you'll succeed where many, MANY others have failed.

The argument would be that not allowing ACPS students to attend TJ results in a brain drain, so ACPS might as well let its students compete for slots. Hard-working students denied admission to TJ might boost TC Williams' scores, whereas ACPS currently is losing entire families to Arlington, Fairfax and privates.

Your mistake is in thinking that ACPS cares about that. It doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Not going to happen.

This question has been percolating for two decades.

ACPS has no interest in making it happen. They don't want the brain drain for starters as their scores are bad enough already. But more to the point, ACPS isn't oriented around helping high-achieving students or their families. It's about meeting basic needs of a largely at-risk population.

He's gone now, but former superintendent Mort Sherman said this explicitly multiple times. Parents of high-achievers were told to go private if they felt under served.

There is zero interest in the ACPS culture to make TJ happen. Bless your heart for thinking you can change that. If you do, you'll succeed where many, MANY others have failed.

The argument would be that not allowing ACPS students to attend TJ results in a brain drain, so ACPS might as well let its students compete for slots. Hard-working students denied admission to TJ might boost TC Williams' scores, whereas ACPS currently is losing entire families to Arlington, Fairfax and privates.

Your mistake is in thinking that ACPS cares about that. It doesn't.

I'm just articulating an argument that could be made. I'm not assuming one way or the other whether or when it might succeed.

[Anonymous]

The current board seemed mostly for TJ the last time it was discussed at a board meeting. At least in theory. But it costs too much. Fairfax requires some pretty hefty payments from other jurisdictions (cost-sharing facilities upgrades), and ACPS would only be sending a very small number of students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me as to why ACPS does not allow its students to apply to TJ when almost all the surrounding jurisdictions do? Is there anything that can be done to try and convince the board/superintendent to allow at least a few kids, maybe on a trial basis, to attend? We don't want to have to move but we are really shocked at ACPS's stance on this issue - don't they want to keep motivated, smart students living in Alexandria?

If you want your kid(s) to attend TJ, the easy solution is to move out of Alexandria. If you do decide to fight, your kid(s) may graduated from college before you make any head way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The current board seemed mostly for TJ the last time it was discussed at a board meeting. At least in theory. But it costs too much. Fairfax requires some pretty hefty payments from other jurisdictions (cost-sharing facilities upgrades), and ACPS would only be sending a very small number of students.

The current board members all privately promised to at least consider voting in a TJ option. Then they all rejected it when they realized that Alexandria would have had to fund transportation and ancillaries, not just the per-pupil tuition. They hadn't thought of the transportation and ancillaries. Which says a lot about the current school board. They still haven't figured the job out.

[Anonymous]

What ancillaries? And why don't they offer the option without transportation -- make the families figure that out, as they do for private schools? There are plenty of carpools to and from TJ and all of its activities. The cost is not that crazy - like $14k per student I have heard? Far less than strong academic private school. Why not let families apply and pay for it themselves? An argument may be that only the more wealthy can afford these things but the same really is true for private school too. Or make the decision to fund the tuition on the basis of need. If an economically disadvantaged kid from Alexandria can pass the tests I am confident TJ would be happy to have him/her. I say that from the vantage point of a TJ parent. It's a great school. Very hard academically but engaging in both academics and ECs. And not THAT hard to get in if you have the proper base of education from grade school. That may also not be Alexandria's schools forte.

[Anonymous]

ACPS is mocked up and down the East coast by experienced educators for its city school system. Same…different year.. nothing changes except superintendents a residential taxes which go up. Indeed, several years back, a mom who recently migrated from El Salvador with her son (heard of our sanctuary policy) tried to run for school board soon after arrival and was shocked to find out she couldn't due to residency time requirements. Straight of the boat. What hubris. Word is out and our school board think student growth is a good thing.

Meanwhile, those of us who have lived here for decades, paid our taxes, supported ACPS extensively and happen to have an extra bright STEM student with a seriously good chance of admission to TJ, can't to this day have the opportunity most fellow jurisdictions have.

And ACPS and City Council wonder why people are so opinionated and passionate about what the School Board and Cty does wrong!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What ancillaries? And why don't they offer the option without transportation -- make the families figure that out, as they do for private schools? There are plenty of carpools to and from TJ and all of its activities. The cost is not that crazy - like $14k per student I have heard? Far less than strong academic private school. Why not let families apply and pay for it themselves? An argument may be that only the more wealthy can afford these things but the same really is true for private school too. Or make the decision to fund the tuition on the basis of need. If an economically disadvantaged kid from Alexandria can pass the tests I am confident TJ would be happy to have him/her. I say that from the vantage point of a TJ parent. It's a great school. Very hard academically but engaging in both academics and ECs. And not THAT hard to get in if you have the proper base of education from grade school. That may also not be Alexandria's schools forte.

I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone is preventing someone from outside Fairfax County from applying and paying their own tuition.

But ACPS will never agree to pay $14,000 a year to send a handful of kids and have its own marginal test scores fall further as part of the bargain. Are you kidding me?

[Anonymous]

ACtually I think they would if it was only 14k per year but it is the extra payments that they would have to chip in that killed the deal

[Anonymous]

Not all of us in Arlington understand why we participate, either.

Sending a kid to TJ on the public dime is more expensive than keeping the kid in town.

I would rather see that money go to funding science resources for a slightly larger swath of Arlington's students - those engaged and enthralled by science but for whom TJ wasn't the right choice.