Why is getting into TJ such a big deal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to the TJ equivalent in my state, and it’s not just about where you end up. I mean, there are only so many jobs one can end up end. We all regress to the mean. Having experiences like going to a high school with other kids who think like you and are quirky like you for the first time in your life can be a life-changing experience, in ways other than what job you end up with — it helped me figure out who I am, helped teach me how to think, helped me figure out my career path. After high school I went to UVA for undergrad (so nothing all that special) and then Yale Law (more special, but not tech) and then have had prestigious jobs but I’m not a Supreme Court justice.

There are few if any “TJ equivalents.” I doubt your school was.

There are several in NYC only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is just much happier there, having found “her people” and enjoying being in classes with kids that mostly all take it seriously.

This. The best thing about going to TJ is being at a school where virtually 100% of the students care about school.

This. And given the choice, would you willingly send your DC to Falls Church HS? Justice? Herndon? Edison? Annandale? Lewis?

That’s what TJ has become in a nutshell. An escape valve to avoid the worst high schools. The students are like charity cases getting the chance to attend summer camp if only we’ll contribute to the NYT summer camp fund.

Maybe kids from schools like McLean and Langley shouldn't be allowed into TJ because they aren't that bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to the TJ equivalent in my state, and it’s not just about where you end up. I mean, there are only so many jobs one can end up end. We all regress to the mean. Having experiences like going to a high school with other kids who think like you and are quirky like you for the first time in your life can be a life-changing experience, in ways other than what job you end up with — it helped me figure out who I am, helped teach me how to think, helped me figure out my career path. After high school I went to UVA for undergrad (so nothing all that special) and then Yale Law (more special, but not tech) and then have had prestigious jobs but I’m not a Supreme Court justice.

There are few if any “TJ equivalents.” I doubt your school was.

There are several in NYC only.

There are several "TJ aspirants" in NYC - Bronx Science, Stuyvesant, BASIS Brooklyn - but there are no TJ equivalents. To be fair, that's about as close as you can get.

The schools that end up rated in the same area as TJ, like TAG, Gwinnett, Academic Magnet SC and others, are too small to really be considered TJ equivalents. What makes TJ so special isn't necessarily the curriculum or even the resources - it's the fact that all of these things and the incredible student body exist in an otherwise normal high school that has the same offerings as any other high school in terms of extracurriculars, athletics, arts, and the like.

None of the other schools I mentioned are leading their area in state public school athletic championships. TJ is. And that, combined with the exceptional quality of the academic program, is what makes it so unique among schools in America, and indeed in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to the TJ equivalent in my state, and it’s not just about where you end up. I mean, there are only so many jobs one can end up end. We all regress to the mean. Having experiences like going to a high school with other kids who think like you and are quirky like you for the first time in your life can be a life-changing experience, in ways other than what job you end up with — it helped me figure out who I am, helped teach me how to think, helped me figure out my career path. After high school I went to UVA for undergrad (so nothing all that special) and then Yale Law (more special, but not tech) and then have had prestigious jobs but I’m not a Supreme Court justice.

There are few if any “TJ equivalents.” I doubt your school was.

There are several in NYC only.

There are several "TJ aspirants" in NYC - Bronx Science, Stuyvesant, BASIS Brooklyn - but there are no TJ equivalents. To be fair, that's about as close as you can get.

The schools that end up rated in the same area as TJ, like TAG, Gwinnett, Academic Magnet SC and others, are too small to really be considered TJ equivalents. What makes TJ so special isn't necessarily the curriculum or even the resources - it's the fact that all of these things and the incredible student body exist in an otherwise normal high school that has the same offerings as any other high school in terms of extracurriculars, athletics, arts, and the like.

None of the other schools I mentioned are leading their area in state public school athletic championships. TJ is. And that, combined with the exceptional quality of the academic program, is what makes it so unique among schools in America, and indeed in the world.

To follow up on this, according to the 2022 USNWR rankings, you have to get down to #26 (Boston Latin) to find a school that even approaches TJ in size, and to #36 (Stuyvesant) to get to a school that surpasses it.

There's just no comparison.

[Anonymous]

I’d argue that AAP and the ability to have school choice in ES and MS and HS is segregation and or a safety valve as a PP described. How is this equitable?

My DC had to attend our neighborhood base schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is just much happier there, having found “her people” and enjoying being in classes with kids that mostly all take it seriously.

This. The best thing about going to TJ is being at a school where virtually 100% of the students care about school.

This. And given the choice, would you willingly send your DC to Falls Church HS? Justice? Herndon? Edison? Annandale? Lewis?

That’s what TJ has become in a nutshell. An escape valve to avoid the worst high schools. The students are like charity cases getting the chance to attend summer camp if only we’ll contribute to the NYT summer camp fund.

Even with a charitable interpretation of your openly racist and classist language, you're actually talking about maybe 20-25% of today's TJ. And the number is that high only because there's an overemphasis on admitting kids from Prince William.

And they're not doing it to "avoid the worst high schools". A fair number of them would have gone private anyway. They're doing it because of the exceptional opportunity that wasn't realistically open to them beforehand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to the TJ equivalent in my state, and it’s not just about where you end up. I mean, there are only so many jobs one can end up end. We all regress to the mean. Having experiences like going to a high school with other kids who think like you and are quirky like you for the first time in your life can be a life-changing experience, in ways other than what job you end up with — it helped me figure out who I am, helped teach me how to think, helped me figure out my career path. After high school I went to UVA for undergrad (so nothing all that special) and then Yale Law (more special, but not tech) and then have had prestigious jobs but I’m not a Supreme Court justice.

There are few if any “TJ equivalents.” I doubt your school was.

There are several in NYC only.

There are several "TJ aspirants" in NYC - Bronx Science, Stuyvesant, BASIS Brooklyn - but there are no TJ equivalents. To be fair, that's about as close as you can get.

The schools that end up rated in the same area as TJ, like TAG, Gwinnett, Academic Magnet SC and others, are too small to really be considered TJ equivalents. What makes TJ so special isn't necessarily the curriculum or even the resources - it's the fact that all of these things and the incredible student body exist in an otherwise normal high school that has the same offerings as any other high school in terms of extracurriculars, athletics, arts, and the like.

None of the other schools I mentioned are leading their area in state public school athletic championships. TJ is. And that, combined with the exceptional quality of the academic program, is what makes it so unique among schools in America, and indeed in the world.

My goodness! "TJ aspirants"? TJ parents are not only delusional but they are also ignorant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to the TJ equivalent in my state, and it’s not just about where you end up. I mean, there are only so many jobs one can end up end. We all regress to the mean. Having experiences like going to a high school with other kids who think like you and are quirky like you for the first time in your life can be a life-changing experience, in ways other than what job you end up with — it helped me figure out who I am, helped teach me how to think, helped me figure out my career path. After high school I went to UVA for undergrad (so nothing all that special) and then Yale Law (more special, but not tech) and then have had prestigious jobs but I’m not a Supreme Court justice.

There are few if any “TJ equivalents.” I doubt your school was.

There are several in NYC only.

There are several "TJ aspirants" in NYC - Bronx Science, Stuyvesant, BASIS Brooklyn - but there are no TJ equivalents. To be fair, that's about as close as you can get.

The schools that end up rated in the same area as TJ, like TAG, Gwinnett, Academic Magnet SC and others, are too small to really be considered TJ equivalents. What makes TJ so special isn't necessarily the curriculum or even the resources - it's the fact that all of these things and the incredible student body exist in an otherwise normal high school that has the same offerings as any other high school in terms of extracurriculars, athletics, arts, and the like.

None of the other schools I mentioned are leading their area in state public school athletic championships. TJ is. And that, combined with the exceptional quality of the academic program, is what makes it so unique among schools in America, and indeed in the world.

My goodness! "TJ aspirants"? TJ parents are not only delusional but they are also ignorant.

1) I'm not a TJ parent.

2) That's what they refer to themselves as.

Be careful when you argue with someone who knows what they're talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is just much happier there, having found “her people” and enjoying being in classes with kids that mostly all take it seriously.

This. The best thing about going to TJ is being at a school where virtually 100% of the students care about school.

This. And given the choice, would you willingly send your DC to Falls Church HS? Justice? Herndon? Edison? Annandale? Lewis?

That’s what TJ has become in a nutshell. An escape valve to avoid the worst high schools. The students are like charity cases getting the chance to attend summer camp if only we’ll contribute to the NYT summer camp fund.

Even with a charitable interpretation of your openly racist and classist language, you're actually talking about maybe 20-25% of today's TJ. And the number is that high only because there's an overemphasis on admitting kids from Prince William.

And they're not doing it to "avoid the worst high schools". A fair number of them would have gone private anyway. They're doing it because of the exceptional opportunity that wasn't realistically open to them beforehand.

Your facts are interfering with my false narrative. Please stop it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is just much happier there, having found “her people” and enjoying being in classes with kids that mostly all take it seriously.

This. The best thing about going to TJ is being at a school where virtually 100% of the students care about school.

This. And given the choice, would you willingly send your DC to Falls Church HS? Justice? Herndon? Edison? Annandale? Lewis?

That’s what TJ has become in a nutshell. An escape valve to avoid the worst high schools. The students are like charity cases getting the chance to attend summer camp if only we’ll contribute to the NYT summer camp fund.

Even with a charitable interpretation of your openly racist and classist language, you're actually talking about maybe 20-25% to of today's TJ. And the number is that high only because there's an overemphasis on admitting kids from Prince William.

And they're not doing it to "avoid the worst high schools". A fair number of them would have gone private anyway. They're doing it because of the exceptional opportunity that wasn't realistically open to them beforehand.

Correct, TJ admitted very few truly disadvantaged kids until recently.

[Anonymous]

It’s obvious that over time this social engineering scheme will diminish TJ’s standing. It’s happening already TBH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outside of the top 1% of students, it seems like most kids that graduate from TJ end up working normal-ish corporate jobs. I grew up in an affluent neighborhood and a bunch of my friends ended up going to TJ and then to UVA/Tech/other state schools. Two went to ivies and they both burned out, barely graduated and one works as a preschool teacher now, the other works at a mathnasium part time while trying to figure out his next career move. The others that went to state schools were considered "average" at TJ and work in the same technical field as me now.

So what are the advantages of going to TJ?

Some families view it as a badge or honor or prestige.

Not as many as before. Interest has been fading over the past decade. There was a short-lived spike in interest a couple of years ago immediately after the change in admissions policy but interest is declining again.

Which is a good thing

[Anonymous]

I know 5 people who graduated from TJ and all are happy, active, productive people. They all went there 20 years ago though. One is a cardiologist, one owns several clinics, the others worked in finance and are semi-retired now.
Maybe the place attracts different kind of kids now and the one I know would never even get into the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know 5 people who graduated from TJ and all are happy, active, productive people. They all went there 20 years ago though. One is a cardiologist, one owns several clinics, the others worked in finance and are semi-retired now.
Maybe the place attracts different kind of kids now and the one I know would never even get into the school.

And I know one who’s an elementary school teacher who even after TJ isn’t able to recognize truly gifted kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outside of the top 1% of students, it seems like most kids that graduate from TJ end up working normal-ish corporate jobs. I grew up in an affluent neighborhood and a bunch of my friends ended up going to TJ and then to UVA/Tech/other state schools. Two went to ivies and they both burned out, barely graduated and one works as a preschool teacher now, the other works at a mathnasium part time while trying to figure out his next career move. The others that went to state schools were considered "average" at TJ and work in the same technical field as me now.

So what are the advantages of going to TJ?

The kids from non-affluent neighborhoods, who didn't buy their résumé, and still got into TJ, were more academically successful in colleges and beyond.

What's your evidence for this claim?