The 50 smartest public high schools in the US

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that Asians made TJ into the best high school in the country and instead of appreciation, Asians are incessantly targeted by whites as nerds, geeks, drones, robots (among many other negative titles) etc.

The “smartest” student body in the country - doesn’t mean it is the “beret high school.” Hand select 60% Asians and yeah, you’re going to have some pretty high SAT scores.

It's not just the highest SAT score. TJ also has the best performance under any other criteria whether, number of AP or post-AP courses, performance on AP exams, research, science fairs, NMSF, scholastic arts & writing awards, model UN awards, debate awards, journalism awards etc. It also has one of the best orchestra and band in the country. Best high school in the country. It even beat Shanghai in the PISA assessment and Shanghai had the best scores in the world.

And yet applications keep dropping. It just doesn't interest that many kids any longer.

Right because whites are scared to compete with Asian Americans. See how that kind of attitude works out in the real world. Talk about hypocrisy. Whites are the loudest in saying how blacks and Hispanics do not rise to the challenges while they will never admit such a thing.

In the real world, demand increases, not decreases, for things that provide an advantage in life. TJ just isn't one of them, and families have figured that out.

Don't worry, TJ's reputation and rankings keep climbing. In fact, FCPS is spending $90 million and the private companies and individuals are donating additional $25 million to renovate and equip the place. TJ will continue to provide the best high school education to the students that are lucky to gain admission. Just worry about your kid's school.

[Anonymous]

"Last year's senior class matriculated into some of the best colleges in the country; 10 or more students went to schools like Brown, Stanford, UPenn, MIT, and Johns Hopkins."

I read this sentence from the article about Thomas Jefferson HS, and I was surprised. Only 10 or more? Shouldn't it be way more then that? Is TJ subject to the same quotas as our other local schools? (Ex. like they cap the number to let's say 30 kids from each HS can go to a certain college?)

[Anonymous]

Don't worry, TJ's reputation and rankings keep climbing. In fact, FCPS is spending $90 million and the private companies and individuals are donating additional $25 million to renovate and equip the place. TJ will continue to provide the best high school education to the students that are lucky to gain admission. Just worry about your kid's school.

Yes, these students may be valuable to corporate America. Some of them. The question that I have is whether all of them are interested in science and technology or are they just pushed that direction at an early age in order to get into TJ (which is perceived as a big advantage)? Many students who go to TJ find out later that they really want to be in the arts or journalism or music or something that did not require a science education. I know at least two graduates like that (and one who is working way below what you would expect after many years and a college degree).

I think many students don't know at age 13 or 14 which direction their career will take.

Others don't choose it because they want a high school experience that includes a more socially diverse aspect. It's pretty much a personal choice. As it becomes more Asian, there will be fewer white kids who are interested in it just because an academic focus at age 14 is unusual for most kids (unless it has been pushed by their parents).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Last year's senior class matriculated into some of the best colleges in the country; 10 or more students went to schools like Brown, Stanford, UPenn, MIT, and Johns Hopkins."

I read this sentence from the article about Thomas Jefferson HS, and I was surprised. Only 10 or more? Shouldn't it be way more then that? Is TJ subject to the same quotas as our other local schools? (Ex. like they cap the number to let's say 30 kids from each HS can go to a certain college?)

And 15 to Princeton, 8 to Yale, 5 to Harvard, 7 to Columbia, 10 to Dartmouth, 14 to Georgetown, 8 to UC Berkeley, 7 to Northwestern, 8 to Chicago, 5 to Caltech, 90 to UVA, 70 to William and Mary, 4 to US military academies etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that Asians made TJ into the best high school in the country and instead of appreciation, Asians are incessantly targeted by whites as nerds, geeks, drones, robots (among many other negative titles) etc.

The “smartest” student body in the country - doesn’t mean it is the “beret high school.” Hand select 60% Asians and yeah, you’re going to have some pretty high SAT scores.

It's not just the highest SAT score. TJ also has the best performance under any other criteria whether, number of AP or post-AP courses, performance on AP exams, research, science fairs, NMSF, scholastic arts & writing awards, model UN awards, debate awards, journalism awards etc. It also has one of the best orchestra and band in the country. Best high school in the country. It even beat Shanghai in the PISA assessment and Shanghai had the best scores in the world.

And yet applications keep dropping. It just doesn't interest that many kids any longer.

Right because whites are scared to compete with Asian Americans. See how that kind of attitude works out in the real world. Talk about hypocrisy. Whites are the loudest in saying how blacks and Hispanics do not rise to the challenges while they will never admit such a thing.

In the real world, demand increases, not decreases, for things that provide an advantage in life. TJ just isn't one of them, and families have figured that out.

Don't worry, TJ's reputation and rankings keep climbing. In fact, FCPS is spending $90 million and the private companies and individuals are donating additional $25 million to renovate and equip the place. TJ will continue to provide the best high school education to the students that are lucky to gain admission. Just worry about your kid's school.

I don't know how you measure reputation, but some rankings are slipping and the number of applications has declined significantly in recent years. It's just a fact that, in an area with an increasing number of students, admission to TJ is less coveted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that Asians made TJ into the best high school in the country and instead of appreciation, Asians are incessantly targeted by whites as nerds, geeks, drones, robots (among many other negative titles) etc.

The “smartest” student body in the country - doesn’t mean it is the “beret high school.” Hand select 60% Asians and yeah, you’re going to have some pretty high SAT scores.

It's not just the highest SAT score. TJ also has the best performance under any other criteria whether, number of AP or post-AP courses, performance on AP exams, research, science fairs, NMSF, scholastic arts & writing awards, model UN awards, debate awards, journalism awards etc. It also has one of the best orchestra and band in the country. Best high school in the country. It even beat Shanghai in the PISA assessment and Shanghai had the best scores in the world.

And yet applications keep dropping. It just doesn't interest that many kids any longer.

Right because whites are scared to compete with Asian Americans. See how that kind of attitude works out in the real world. Talk about hypocrisy. Whites are the loudest in saying how blacks and Hispanics do not rise to the challenges while they will never admit such a thing.

In the real world, demand increases, not decreases, for things that provide an advantage in life. TJ just isn't one of them, and families have figured that out.

Don't worry, TJ's reputation and rankings keep climbing. In fact, FCPS is spending $90 million and the private companies and individuals are donating additional $25 million to renovate and equip the place. TJ will continue to provide the best high school education to the students that are lucky to gain admission. Just worry about your kid's school.

I don't know how you measure reputation, but some rankings are slipping and the number of applications has declined significantly in recent years. It's just a fact that, in an area with an increasing number of students, admission to TJ is less coveted.

Newsweek recently ranked TJ number 1 high school in the country and this magazine did as well. In addition, U.S. News ranked TJ number 3 in the country up from number 4 last year. Your kids do not have to apply if they don't want to but the rankings speak for them selves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that Asians made TJ into the best high school in the country and instead of appreciation, Asians are incessantly targeted by whites as nerds, geeks, drones, robots (among many other negative titles) etc.

The “smartest” student body in the country - doesn’t mean it is the “beret high school.” Hand select 60% Asians and yeah, you’re going to have some pretty high SAT scores.

It's not just the highest SAT score. TJ also has the best performance under any other criteria whether, number of AP or post-AP courses, performance on AP exams, research, science fairs, NMSF, scholastic arts & writing awards, model UN awards, debate awards, journalism awards etc. It also has one of the best orchestra and band in the country. Best high school in the country. It even beat Shanghai in the PISA assessment and Shanghai had the best scores in the world.

And yet applications keep dropping. It just doesn't interest that many kids any longer.

Right because whites are scared to compete with Asian Americans. See how that kind of attitude works out in the real world. Talk about hypocrisy. Whites are the loudest in saying how blacks and Hispanics do not rise to the challenges while they will never admit such a thing.

In the real world, demand increases, not decreases, for things that provide an advantage in life. TJ just isn't one of them, and families have figured that out.

Don't worry, TJ's reputation and rankings keep climbing. In fact, FCPS is spending $90 million and the private companies and individuals are donating additional $25 million to renovate and equip the place. TJ will continue to provide the best high school education to the students that are lucky to gain admission. Just worry about your kid's school.

I don't know how you measure reputation, but some rankings are slipping and the number of applications has declined significantly in recent years. It's just a fact that, in an area with an increasing number of students, admission to TJ is less coveted.

Newsweek recently ranked TJ number 1 high school in the country and this magazine did as well. In addition, U.S. News ranked TJ number 3 in the country up from number 4 last year. Your kids do not have to apply if they don't want to but the rankings speak for them selves.

The rankings are a trailing indicator. The more recent trend of declining interest in TJ is not encouraging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that Asians made TJ into the best high school in the country and instead of appreciation, Asians are incessantly targeted by whites as nerds, geeks, drones, robots (among many other negative titles) etc.

The “smartest” student body in the country - doesn’t mean it is the “beret high school.” Hand select 60% Asians and yeah, you’re going to have some pretty high SAT scores.

It's not just the highest SAT score. TJ also has the best performance under any other criteria whether, number of AP or post-AP courses, performance on AP exams, research, science fairs, NMSF, scholastic arts & writing awards, model UN awards, debate awards, journalism awards etc. It also has one of the best orchestra and band in the country. Best high school in the country. It even beat Shanghai in the PISA assessment and Shanghai had the best scores in the world.

And yet applications keep dropping. It just doesn't interest that many kids any longer.

Right because whites are scared to compete with Asian Americans. See how that kind of attitude works out in the real world. Talk about hypocrisy. Whites are the loudest in saying how blacks and Hispanics do not rise to the challenges while they will never admit such a thing.

In the real world, demand increases, not decreases, for things that provide an advantage in life. TJ just isn't one of them, and families have figured that out.

Don't worry, TJ's reputation and rankings keep climbing. In fact, FCPS is spending $90 million and the private companies and individuals are donating additional $25 million to renovate and equip the place. TJ will continue to provide the best high school education to the students that are lucky to gain admission. Just worry about your kid's school.

I don't know how you measure reputation, but some rankings are slipping and the number of applications has declined significantly in recent years. It's just a fact that, in an area with an increasing number of students, admission to TJ is less coveted.

Newsweek recently ranked TJ number 1 high school in the country and this magazine did as well. In addition, U.S. News ranked TJ number 3 in the country up from number 4 last year. Your kids do not have to apply if they don't want to but the rankings speak for them selves.

The rankings are a trailing indicator. The more recent trend of declining interest in TJ is not encouraging.

I don't think TJ needs to worry about "declining interest". It is not TJ's concern if whites are afraid to compete with Asian Americans and portray Asian Americans in a negative light for studying hard and trying to become a positive force in society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson_High_School_for_Science_and_Technology
.. Here is in 2009. Still 50% or non whites, but they don't play sports as shown in picture ??

Asians became the school's largest racial group in 2009-2010, at 46.38%, while whites comprised 43.63% of the population. In contrast, blacks and Hispanics comprise a much smaller percentage of the student body (<4%) than is present in the populace of the participating localities (approx. 10% and 16%, respectively).

I suppose it's is around that time families started putting more value in a more well rounded, and traditional high school experience.

I suppose it's around that time white families began to realize their snowflakes who "thrived" in AAP were not "gifted" and they didn't really want to compete with bright and hardworking Asian Americans.

and how is that working out in the real world???? Yeah.... People love robots on an assembly line, but not so much in the upper ranks...

Working out better than you expected despite discrimination:

"Today, nearly 5 percent of Americans have Asian ancestry, tracing to countries from India to Japan. The Pew Research Center reports that they are "the highest-income, best-educated and fastest-growing racial group in the United States."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chapman...spec-0524-20150522-column.html

[Anonymous]

I personally don't have any issues with Asians or anyone else getting into TJ. May the best student win.
However, I sure do wish that graduates of TJ, who clearly can get into any school they want, would stop hogging all the slots at UVA and William and Mary.

[Anonymous]

I don't think TJ needs to worry about "declining interest". It is not TJ's concern if whites are afraid to compete with Asian Americans and portray Asian Americans in a negative light for studying hard and trying to become a positive force in society.

I don't think it's TJ's concern either (whoever TJ is). However, the hispanic population is increasing significantly and they are extremely underrepresented. That should concern someone (maybe not TJ, but someone). Also, there should be an overall concern if there is declining interest in TJ while the overall student population continues to increase (which it does). Asking why this has happened is not unreasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I personally don't have any issues with Asians or anyone else getting into TJ. May the best student win.
However, I sure do wish that graduates of TJ, who clearly can get into any school they want, would stop hogging all the slots at UVA and William and Mary.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally don't have any issues with Asians or anyone else getting into TJ. May the best student win.
However, I sure do wish that graduates of TJ, who clearly can get into any school they want, would stop hogging all the slots at UVA and William and Mary.

+1000

Many TJ graduates choose to attend UVA or William & Mary due to financial reasons. In-state tuition, scholarships etc. Some top students do not even apply to UVA/W&M if they have no intention of attending those schools because they do not want to take slots from other students. TJ grads are not hogging but being financially responsible and mindful of other students.

[Anonymous]

The racism demonstrated against Asian Americans in this thread is incredible. Especially not surprising given that NOVA is still a white Republican stronghold (although diminishing year by year, as it slowly turns more solidly blue).

There's still enormous discrimination against Asian American students in college admissions, with Asian Americans having to score, on average, 140 points higher on the SAT for admission into Harvard. Harvard is being sued by a coalition of Asian American groups because of their discriminatory admissions practices. IMHO, a lawsuit that is long overdue. I remember when I applied to law school, I had to score in the mid-170s for admission to Harvard Law, where my African American friend was able to score a full 15 points lower. Yet, he was the product of an elite private high school, and I was the graduate of a grubby public.

Newer Asian American immigrants tend to focus on STEM fields because they believe that they are less likely to be discriminated against. When a gifted engineer or scientist is able to solve complex problems in their fields, race -- and perhaps an accent -- is less likely an issue than in other fields.

Regardless of how many racist white southerners refuse to attend TJ because of "all those Asians," the school will remain dominant in STEM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The racism demonstrated against Asian Americans in this thread is incredible. Especially not surprising given that NOVA is still a white Republican stronghold (although diminishing year by year, as it slowly turns more solidly blue).

There's still enormous discrimination against Asian American students in college admissions, with Asian Americans having to score, on average, 140 points higher on the SAT for admission into Harvard. Harvard is being sued by a coalition of Asian American groups because of their discriminatory admissions practices. IMHO, a lawsuit that is long overdue. I remember when I applied to law school, I had to score in the mid-170s for admission to Harvard Law, where my African American friend was able to score a full 15 points lower. Yet, he was the product of an elite private high school, and I was the graduate of a grubby public.

Newer Asian American immigrants tend to focus on STEM fields because they believe that they are less likely to be discriminated against. When a gifted engineer or scientist is able to solve complex problems in their fields, race -- and perhaps an accent -- is less likely an issue than in other fields.

Regardless of how many racist white southerners refuse to attend TJ because of "all those Asians," the school will remain dominant in STEM.

True.