TC Williams: what does a family new to Alexandria need to know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Riddle me this. If TC is so amazing, why will ACPS not allow a cohort of kids to attend TJ, specifically citing "brain drain"? 5-10 kids a year is brain drain? Seems like they need every single literate kid they can get.

Sigh. Because the deal that Fairfax offered was a disruptive, misleading, rip-off. First, sending kids to TJ from outside of Fairfax requires three (not two) rounds of transportation per day - trip to school; trip from school regular hours; and late bus, required due to co-curriculars - no late bus, no co-curriculars. All three are required. Second, ACPS would not have played any decisional role in admissions, at all. Third, the number you cited was the proposed range for the cap - not the actual enrollment; it's possible that, in any given year, no one would have been enrolled. Fourth, Alexandria would have been required to accept responsibility for unknown and undeclared future capital improvements, with no ceiling. FCPS offered ACPS a simply lousy deal for the students, families, and school system. The former superintendent was 100% right to turn it down.

Sigh. Lots here to find wrong. FCPS and other jurisdictions only 2 two buses (FCPS has a Weds. late bus).

All non-sports Extracurriculars are during the school day at 8th period. That's right-- extracurriculars built into the school day. For sports (and band) parents provide transportation/carpool/kids drive. Not hard for Alexandria, since TJ is, you know, in Alexandria.

Alexandria would have the right to have admin on the TJ advisory board, and appoint teachers to help review applications

It's possible no one from ACPS would be accepted in a given year. But unlikely. Especially because parents of STEM smart kids would be more likely to stay in ACPS if TJ were an option. And ACPS would not have to pay tuition for kids it didn't send.

And the Capital improvements are done, and the funding is set. Non-FCPS jurisdictions pay a sum above TJ tuition per pupil (seems like $1000 to $2000 a year per kid is what I remember) to offset renovation bond costs. APS, FCCS,PWCS and LCCS seem to be.ieve that whatecpver this amount is, it's reasonable.


Besides being factually incorrect on every single point, you're right.

Nice list

[Anonymous]

Home school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Riddle me this. If TC is so amazing, why will ACPS not allow a cohort of kids to attend TJ, specifically citing "brain drain"? 5-10 kids a year is brain drain? Seems like they need every single literate kid they can get.

Sigh. Because the deal that Fairfax offered was a disruptive, misleading, rip-off. First, sending kids to TJ from outside of Fairfax requires three (not two) rounds of transportation per day - trip to school; trip from school regular hours; and late bus, required due to co-curriculars - no late bus, no co-curriculars. All three are required. Second, ACPS would not have played any decisional role in admissions, at all. Third, the number you cited was the proposed range for the cap - not the actual enrollment; it's possible that, in any given year, no one would have been enrolled. Fourth, Alexandria would have been required to accept responsibility for unknown and undeclared future capital improvements, with no ceiling. FCPS offered ACPS a simply lousy deal for the students, families, and school system. The former superintendent was 100% right to turn it down.

Sigh. Lots here to find wrong. FCPS and other jurisdictions only 2 two buses (FCPS has a Weds. late bus).

All non-sports Extracurriculars are during the school day at 8th period. That's right-- extracurriculars built into the school day. For sports (and band) parents provide transportation/carpool/kids drive. Not hard for Alexandria, since TJ is, you know, in Alexandria.

Alexandria would have the right to have admin on the TJ advisory board, and appoint teachers to help review applications

It's possible no one from ACPS would be accepted in a given year. But unlikely. Especially because parents of STEM smart kids would be more likely to stay in ACPS if TJ were an option. And ACPS would not have to pay tuition for kids it didn't send.

And the Capital improvements are done, and the funding is set. Non-FCPS jurisdictions pay a sum above TJ tuition per pupil (seems like $1000 to $2000 a year per kid is what I remember) to offset renovation bond costs. APS, FCCS,PWCS and LCCS seem to be.ieve that whatecpver this amount is, it's reasonable.


Besides being factually incorrect on every single point, you're right.

Nice list

At least one of the sending divisions doesn't think so and is preparing to drop out of its TJ agreement. And you can see the late buses - drive up and look, or call TJ and ask. Every bus-authorized student has to have access to a late bus. The advisory position would play no role in admissions decisions. There were negotiating efforts on all of those points; no traction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Current TC parent here. "Yale or Jail" is a myth. TC's size is a help and not a hindrance - every elective, every team, every co-curricular, every club, every special program under one roof. And the size means that there is basically somebody for everybody at TC. TC is a busy place, but a kid with his/her head on right and an accommodating home environment can do well. I'm a demanding parent, ivy, lawyer, not from Alexandria, etc., and I think a goodly amount of the complaining about TC that I see on this board really isn't accurate or fair.

-- Contact TC now and procure the course catalog. There's a posted e-version as well but a bit cumbersome. Please, ASAP, go through the course offerings and programs with DC.

-- Collect all of DC's recent school records if you are going to try for a special program.

-- Find out, now, who DC's counselor will be, and reach out to the TC front office. Can be helpful in breaking occasional log-jams with class scheduling.

ACPS is just a contentious community. There's a disuniform quality of teaching (but that's everywhere), and the school has been through multiple principals in just a few years. The school board, which is much more of a direct-management body than other school boards in the area, is just a terrible embarrassment - totally unqualified, unrealistic, not candid. There are problems, and real ones. But the problems that you might observe that specifically affect TC are relatively few, they can usually be mitigated or fully solved. A capable student with an engaged parent can do very well, other parents are engaged and the overall TC family community is intelligent and supportive. Many of the fac and admin are genuinely good or even excellent. Some of the co-curriculars are spectacular.

Good luck. Don't assume a disaster and don't believe over-generalized condemnation. As a TC parent, you'll have to be active and alert, but not much more than you would have to be elsewhere. The experience is valuable and we truly believe that our DD benefits from being at TC.

I have kids at TC, and I agree with all of what this person said. I'm also a demanding parent, a lawyer, went to ivies for undergrad, law school, and graduate school, but I am from Alexandria and I went to TC. (And, yes, I do have a TC crew sticker on my car, as did my parents in the 80s for me and my equally successful siblings.)

I'll add that my kids have learned be very effective self-advocates, a valuable and life-long skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Riddle me this. If TC is so amazing, why will ACPS not allow a cohort of kids to attend TJ, specifically citing "brain drain"? 5-10 kids a year is brain drain? Seems like they need every single literate kid they can get.

Sigh. Because the deal that Fairfax offered was a disruptive, misleading, rip-off. First, sending kids to TJ from outside of Fairfax requires three (not two) rounds of transportation per day - trip to school; trip from school regular hours; and late bus, required due to co-curriculars - no late bus, no co-curriculars. All three are required. Second, ACPS would not have played any decisional role in admissions, at all. Third, the number you cited was the proposed range for the cap - not the actual enrollment; it's possible that, in any given year, no one would have been enrolled. Fourth, Alexandria would have been required to accept responsibility for unknown and undeclared future capital improvements, with no ceiling. FCPS offered ACPS a simply lousy deal for the students, families, and school system. The former superintendent was 100% right to turn it down.

Sigh. Lots here to find wrong. FCPS and other jurisdictions only 2 two buses (FCPS has a Weds. late bus).

All non-sports Extracurriculars are during the school day at 8th period. That's right-- extracurriculars built into the school day. For sports (and band) parents provide transportation/carpool/kids drive. Not hard for Alexandria, since TJ is, you know, in Alexandria.

Alexandria would have the right to have admin on the TJ advisory board, and appoint teachers to help review applications

It's possible no one from ACPS would be accepted in a given year. But unlikely. Especially because parents of STEM smart kids would be more likely to stay in ACPS if TJ were an option. And ACPS would not have to pay tuition for kids it didn't send.

And the Capital improvements are done, and the funding is set. Non-FCPS jurisdictions pay a sum above TJ tuition per pupil (seems like $1000 to $2000 a year per kid is what I remember) to offset renovation bond costs. APS, FCCS,PWCS and LCCS seem to be.ieve that whatecpver this amount is, it's reasonable.


Besides being factually incorrect on every single point, you're right.

Nice list

At least one of the sending divisions doesn't think so and is preparing to drop out of its TJ agreement. And you can see the late buses - drive up and look, or call TJ and ask. Every bus-authorized student has to have access to a late bus. The advisory position would play no role in admissions decisions. There were negotiating efforts on all of those points; no traction.

LCPS is considering dropping, if that is what you mean, because they now they now have AOS for their students, without the huge trek. AOS Is also high quality STEM magnet, and was years is the making, planning, and building. But still a lot of resistance in LCPS among parents to pulling out of TJ. So it will be interesting to see what LCPS decides to do. Right now, their kids have two amazing opportunities..

And every jurisdiction buses separately. For FCPS, there is Wednesday late bus for part of the year, and that's it. Now-- because of 8th period, TJ does not release from the standard school day until after 4:00, and TJ buses don't hit Western county depots until 5, or neighborhoods until 5:30. TJ has a longer school day, and a much later release than other HSs, so it may look to you like there are late buses if you drive by the school-- because the ordinary buses leave and are on the roads really late by FCPS HS standards. (BTW, when the Wednesday Late bus is running, it leave at 6:30 and runs until after 8. If you don't see a fleet of buses leaving TJ at 6:30, those are not late buses). I guess PWCS or LCPS could run late busses. But I would think not, because these kids are always on the FB groups looking to form band and sports carpools.

The Advisory Admin does not play a role in admissions decisions-- they advise. But the teachers from member jurisdictions absolutely do. Who do you think decides TJ admissions? The people reading the applications play a big role.

Just give it up. 4 other local jurisdictions were fine with the TJ terms. LCPS would continue to be fine, except they have a real, competitive viable alternative now. ACPS not being a part of TJ has almost nothing o do with late buses or management, or emissions decisions. ACPS has always been clear that they do not want to lose top kids. That's stupid, because many top kids have parents move to a different jusisdiction for ES/MS, but that's the given rationale.

[Anonymous]

Here you go. Link to late bus info for TJ. Leave at 6:30. Weds only for FCPS. M-TH for LCPS. Which makes some sense, given the distance.

https://www.tjhsst.edu/studentservices/faq/transportation.html#late

ACPS would set it's own transportation policy. But hard to believe they would offer more that FCPs, since TJ is right there. Vs up to an hour away for FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Sorry I don't understand all this discussion about TJ... but do Alexandria kids have an opportunity to attend TJ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry I don't understand all this discussion about TJ... but do Alexandria kids have an opportunity to attend TJ?

Nope. Fairfax County, Arlington County, Falls Church City, Loudoun County and PW County all sends kids. Alexandria is the only commutable public school district in VA that does not. And TJ has an Alexandria address. PP is trying to justify this. It really can't be justified, but when ACPS does, they say they can't afford to have bright kids leave. Even if you are looking at fewer than 10 kids a year max. At one point, I think they on,y agreed to 2-3 seats a class. What happens is bright kids have parents who move to Fairfax, Arlington or Falls Church so their kid can apply, which causes an even bigger brain drain. Or apply to private. The No TJ thing has certainly not brought ACPS up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Move to Wakefield.

Why? Wakefield has a much smaller number of bright kids than TC.

And less fights in the halls.

Fewer fights. Are you a Wakefield grad?

Nope. Also not a pretentious jackass trying to pretend TC is something it isn't.

Call me pretentious, if that makes you feel better, but answer me this: why would anyone give your opinion any weight when you demonstrate clearly through your writing that you received a shitty education?

Perhaps... but my shitty education has gotten me far. My kids won't be subjected to TC.

But they're subjected to you and your shitty education....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry I don't understand all this discussion about TJ... but do Alexandria kids have an opportunity to attend TJ?

No, any child in Fairfax County or an adjoining jurisdiction can apply to TJ EXCEPT for Alexandria City children. So you can get kids who live super far away from TJ who can apply and be accepted, but children who live in Alexandria City proper are automatically ineligible in order to prevent a "brain drain". People should really understand this before they move to Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry I don't understand all this discussion about TJ... but do Alexandria kids have an opportunity to attend TJ?

No, any child in Fairfax County or an adjoining jurisdiction can apply to TJ EXCEPT for Alexandria City children. So you can get kids who live super far away from TJ who can apply and be accepted, but children who live in Alexandria City proper are automatically ineligible in order to prevent a "brain drain". People should really understand this before they move to Alexandria.

+1. But want to add. This isn't a TJ decision or an FCPS decision. It is 100% Alexandria's decision not to allow its students to apply. Does anyone want to spout the party line again about Alexandria being as good as Fairfax or Arlington for white and Asian kids, or affluent kids, or bright and motivated kids? Because it really sucks that a bright, motivated kid in Frairfax can attend TJ, the best public high school in the country, but if the exact same kid lives 1/2 mile away, ACPS won't let them, because TC (GS 2) needs every smart white/ Asian, affluent kid it can get to keep TC from becoming GS 1. ACPS just sucks when it comes to doing what's right by kids vs covering their own a**es. Which is why any parent who care about their kids education goes private or moves to FCPS/APS. The TJ thing is symptomatic of a much, much bigger problem in ACPS--

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current TC parent here. "Yale or Jail" is a myth. TC's size is a help and not a hindrance - every elective, every team, every co-curricular, every club, every special program under one roof. And the size means that there is basically somebody for everybody at TC. TC is a busy place, but a kid with his/her head on right and an accommodating home environment can do well. I'm a demanding parent, ivy, lawyer, not from Alexandria, etc., and I think a goodly amount of the complaining about TC that I see on this board really isn't accurate or fair.

-- Contact TC now and procure the course catalog. There's a posted e-version as well but a bit cumbersome. Please, ASAP, go through the course offerings and programs with DC.

-- Collect all of DC's recent school records if you are going to try for a special program.

-- Find out, now, who DC's counselor will be, and reach out to the TC front office. Can be helpful in breaking occasional log-jams with class scheduling.

ACPS is just a contentious community. There's a disuniform quality of teaching (but that's everywhere), and the school has been through multiple principals in just a few years. The school board, which is much more of a direct-management body than other school boards in the area, is just a terrible embarrassment - totally unqualified, unrealistic, not candid. There are problems, and real ones. But the problems that you might observe that specifically affect TC are relatively few, they can usually be mitigated or fully solved. A capable student with an engaged parent can do very well, other parents are engaged and the overall TC family community is intelligent and supportive. Many of the fac and admin are genuinely good or even excellent. Some of the co-curriculars are spectacular.

Good luck. Don't assume a disaster and don't believe over-generalized condemnation. As a TC parent, you'll have to be active and alert, but not much more than you would have to be elsewhere. The experience is valuable and we truly believe that our DD benefits from being at TC.

I have kids at TC, and I agree with all of what this person said. I'm also a demanding parent, a lawyer, went to ivies for undergrad, law school, and graduate school, but I am from Alexandria and I went to TC. (And, yes, I do have a TC crew sticker on my car, as did my parents in the 80s for me and my equally successful siblings.)

I'll add that my kids have learned be very effective self-advocates, a valuable and life-long skill.

This is really my issue with TJ. The UMC cohort that has tried to really carve out their own special place, and make an elite little haven out of a very troubled student population. It never sounds like the well off parents in Alexandria are trying to build a better TC Williams for all the kids.

[Anonymous]

You know what's NOT a myth? TC has an on-site day care for apprize 100 babies / toddlers for HS parents, they drop their kiddos and scoot on to school. It sends the wrong message, IMHO, that it's okay to have children that early. That's the population that is closer to jail than Yale

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current TC parent here. "Yale or Jail" is a myth. TC's size is a help and not a hindrance - every elective, every team, every co-curricular, every club, every special program under one roof. And the size means that there is basically somebody for everybody at TC. TC is a busy place, but a kid with his/her head on right and an accommodating home environment can do well. I'm a demanding parent, ivy, lawyer, not from Alexandria, etc., and I think a goodly amount of the complaining about TC that I see on this board really isn't accurate or fair.

-- Contact TC now and procure the course catalog. There's a posted e-version as well but a bit cumbersome. Please, ASAP, go through the course offerings and programs with DC.

-- Collect all of DC's recent school records if you are going to try for a special program.

-- Find out, now, who DC's counselor will be, and reach out to the TC front office. Can be helpful in breaking occasional log-jams with class scheduling.

ACPS is just a contentious community. There's a disuniform quality of teaching (but that's everywhere), and the school has been through multiple principals in just a few years. The school board, which is much more of a direct-management body than other school boards in the area, is just a terrible embarrassment - totally unqualified, unrealistic, not candid. There are problems, and real ones. But the problems that you might observe that specifically affect TC are relatively few, they can usually be mitigated or fully solved. A capable student with an engaged parent can do very well, other parents are engaged and the overall TC family community is intelligent and supportive. Many of the fac and admin are genuinely good or even excellent. Some of the co-curriculars are spectacular.

Good luck. Don't assume a disaster and don't believe over-generalized condemnation. As a TC parent, you'll have to be active and alert, but not much more than you would have to be elsewhere. The experience is valuable and we truly believe that our DD benefits from being at TC.

I have kids at TC, and I agree with all of what this person said. I'm also a demanding parent, a lawyer, went to ivies for undergrad, law school, and graduate school, but I am from Alexandria and I went to TC. (And, yes, I do have a TC crew sticker on my car, as did my parents in the 80s for me and my equally successful siblings.)

I'll add that my kids have learned be very effective self-advocates, a valuable and life-long skill.

This is really my issue with TJ. The UMC cohort that has tried to really carve out their own special place, and make an elite little haven out of a very troubled student population. It never sounds like the well off parents in Alexandria are trying to build a better TC Williams for all the kids.

You are grasping at straws. Nothing in PP's post refers to carving out a separate place for UMC kids. Would you rather they avoided TC entirely so you could dump on it further? You ought to be angrier at the folks who leave ACPS and then post snippy things from their new homes in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current TC parent here. "Yale or Jail" is a myth. TC's size is a help and not a hindrance - every elective, every team, every co-curricular, every club, every special program under one roof. And the size means that there is basically somebody for everybody at TC. TC is a busy place, but a kid with his/her head on right and an accommodating home environment can do well. I'm a demanding parent, ivy, lawyer, not from Alexandria, etc., and I think a goodly amount of the complaining about TC that I see on this board really isn't accurate or fair.

-- Contact TC now and procure the course catalog. There's a posted e-version as well but a bit cumbersome. Please, ASAP, go through the course offerings and programs with DC.

-- Collect all of DC's recent school records if you are going to try for a special program.

-- Find out, now, who DC's counselor will be, and reach out to the TC front office. Can be helpful in breaking occasional log-jams with class scheduling.

ACPS is just a contentious community. There's a disuniform quality of teaching (but that's everywhere), and the school has been through multiple principals in just a few years. The school board, which is much more of a direct-management body than other school boards in the area, is just a terrible embarrassment - totally unqualified, unrealistic, not candid. There are problems, and real ones. But the problems that you might observe that specifically affect TC are relatively few, they can usually be mitigated or fully solved. A capable student with an engaged parent can do very well, other parents are engaged and the overall TC family community is intelligent and supportive. Many of the fac and admin are genuinely good or even excellent. Some of the co-curriculars are spectacular.

Good luck. Don't assume a disaster and don't believe over-generalized condemnation. As a TC parent, you'll have to be active and alert, but not much more than you would have to be elsewhere. The experience is valuable and we truly believe that our DD benefits from being at TC.

I have kids at TC, and I agree with all of what this person said. I'm also a demanding parent, a lawyer, went to ivies for undergrad, law school, and graduate school, but I am from Alexandria and I went to TC. (And, yes, I do have a TC crew sticker on my car, as did my parents in the 80s for me and my equally successful siblings.)

I'll add that my kids have learned be very effective self-advocates, a valuable and life-long skill.

This is really my issue with TJ. The UMC cohort that has tried to really carve out their own special place, and make an elite little haven out of a very troubled student population. It never sounds like the well off parents in Alexandria are trying to build a better TC Williams for all the kids.

You are grasping at straws. Nothing in PP's post refers to carving out a separate place for UMC kids. Would you rather they avoided TC entirely so you could dump on it further? You ought to be angrier at the folks who leave ACPS and then post snippy things from their new homes in Arlington.

Look- I certainly don't have the answer to TC's problem. I certainly don't think they should get rid of the daycare, as it's obviously needed. But honestly every post I read about the school has a weird tone to it. I think it's great when middle class families come together with the community and create a place for all kids to thrive. It just doesn't sound like that's what's happening over there. Certainly posts talking about elite cohorts and school within a school don't help.