TJ admissions change from Merit to Essay impact to Asian American Students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one, including Asians, want to go to a school that is 75% Asian.

Not true. My black kid has been dreaming since elementary to attend Howard University which is 67.4% Black. But my neighbor's Asian kid is being told he cannot attend TJ because there is a racial quote limit for Asians there.

Doesn't make sense limiting minority students based on their race. What's next? Go after black majority or Hispanic major educational institutions and put limits there? We moved from San Bernardino, where the California State University is majority Hispanic around 70%. No race quota limits nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Merit Test based Admissions:
Class of 2019, Asian American students received 70.20%
Class of 2020, Asian American students received 71.34%
Class of 2021, Asian American students received 74.90%
Class of 2023, Asian American students received 72.87%
Class of 2024, Asian American students received 73.05%

Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students:
Class of 2025, Asian American students received 54.36%
Class of 2026, Asian American students received 59.82%
Class of 2027, Asian American students received 61.64%.
Class of 2028, Asian American students received 57.27%

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

A small cohort that makes up less than 15% of the county's population still dominates TJ admissions. Asians are well represented at TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Merit Test based Admissions:
Class of 2019, Asian American students received 70.20%
Class of 2020, Asian American students received 71.34%
Class of 2021, Asian American students received 74.90%
Class of 2023, Asian American students received 72.87%
Class of 2024, Asian American students received 73.05%

Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students:
Class of 2025, Asian American students received 54.36%
Class of 2026, Asian American students received 59.82%
Class of 2027, Asian American students received 61.64%.
Class of 2028, Asian American students received 57.27%

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

A small cohort that makes up less than 15% of the county's population still dominates TJ admissions. Asians are well represented at TJ.

These admission rates closely follow their proportion of the applicant pool. The admissions process isn't a lottery but the demographic results more or less mimic a lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That was the design. TJ needs the diversity. Inclusive programs will help every student at the school.

Anonymous wrote:Merit Test based Admissions:
Class of 2019, Asian American students received 70.20%
Class of 2020, Asian American students received 71.34%
Class of 2021, Asian American students received 74.90%
Class of 2023, Asian American students received 72.87%
Class of 2024, Asian American students received 73.05%

Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students:
Class of 2025, Asian American students received 54.36%
Class of 2026, Asian American students received 59.82%
Class of 2027, Asian American students received 61.64%.
Class of 2028, Asian American students received 57.27%

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

They need students who don't have parents that pay $$$$ for test prep classes. Just because you can pass one test OBVIOUSLY doesn't make you a relevant student.

If money was what really drove admissions, TJ would be majority white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you consider excellent essay writing skills meritorious?

1. It's subjective.
2. Selecting math and science students on essay writing ability is like picking a basketball team based on their batting average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you consider excellent essay writing skills meritorious?

1. It's subjective.
2. Selecting math and science students on essay writing ability is like picking a basketball team based on their batting average.

The essay is supposed to show math or science reasoning. That makes it an even better test than a math test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Merit Test based Admissions:
Class of 2019, Asian American students received 70.20%
Class of 2020, Asian American students received 71.34%
Class of 2021, Asian American students received 74.90%
Class of 2023, Asian American students received 72.87%
Class of 2024, Asian American students received 73.05%

Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students:
Class of 2025, Asian American students received 54.36%
Class of 2026, Asian American students received 59.82%
Class of 2027, Asian American students received 61.64%.
Class of 2028, Asian American students received 57.27%

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

A small cohort that makes up less than 15% of the county's population still dominates TJ admissions. Asians are well represented at TJ.

These admission rates closely follow their proportion of the applicant pool. The admissions process isn't a lottery but the demographic results more or less mimic a lottery.

One of the several goals of the change in the admissions process was to change the application pool, which has happened. That was a success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one, including Asians, want to go to a school that is 75% Asian.

Why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you consider excellent essay writing skills meritorious?

1. It's subjective.
2. Selecting math and science students on essay writing ability is like picking a basketball team based on their batting average.

The essay is supposed to show math or science reasoning. That makes it an even better test than a math test.

It’s a word problem. Haha

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Merit Test based Admissions:
Class of 2019, Asian American students received 70.20%
Class of 2020, Asian American students received 71.34%
Class of 2021, Asian American students received 74.90%
Class of 2023, Asian American students received 72.87%
Class of 2024, Asian American students received 73.05%

Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students:
Class of 2025, Asian American students received 54.36%
Class of 2026, Asian American students received 59.82%
Class of 2027, Asian American students received 61.64%.
Class of 2028, Asian American students received 57.27%

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

A small cohort that makes up less than 15% of the county's population still dominates TJ admissions. Asians are well represented at TJ.

These admission rates closely follow their proportion of the applicant pool. The admissions process isn't a lottery but the demographic results more or less mimic a lottery.

We can agree on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Merit Test based Admissions:
Class of 2019, Asian American students received 70.20%
Class of 2020, Asian American students received 71.34%
Class of 2021, Asian American students received 74.90%
Class of 2023, Asian American students received 72.87%
Class of 2024, Asian American students received 73.05%

Admissions changed to Essay based, and increased enrollment of 8th grade algebra1 students:
Class of 2025, Asian American students received 54.36%
Class of 2026, Asian American students received 59.82%
Class of 2027, Asian American students received 61.64%.
Class of 2028, Asian American students received 57.27%

https://www.fcps.edu/news/offers-extended-thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-class-2028

Clearly this must be overwhelmingly indisputable evidence that Asians can't write, while 8th graders have mastered the art of "show your work".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you consider excellent essay writing skills meritorious?

1. It's subjective.
2. Selecting math and science students on essay writing ability is like picking a basketball team based on their batting average.

The essay is supposed to show math or science reasoning. That makes it an even better test than a math test.

Have you seen these questions? They are not math and science related except for one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one, including Asians, want to go to a school that is 75% Asian.

You are incorrect. Now with increased algebra1 students being admitted, top half of TJ is 90% Asian. More the incentive for Asian students to apply, guaranteed to be in top half.

Not sure what is the point of this thread. The explanation is pretty simple. The results are extremely strongly correlated to the cultural value of academic achievement. If one takes a random sample of an academically successful student, it's almost always due to the high value of education placed at home from a young age.

If FCPS or our country wants to fix education, they'd have to convince parents to change their core cultural belief. Not going to happen anytime soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:YOU LOST. MOVE ON.

Of course, we lost. This changed admissions process ensures top half of TJ is all Asian. And my non-Asian kid will likely be at the bottom entering as an Algebra 1 student, if we accept the offer. And, all you have to say is, move on, that too in all caps?

Well, look at it on the bright side: they have 4 years to rise to the top, if they're actually interested in math and science (read: are not coerced into attending).

[Anonymous]

All of this feels like a race to nowhere. My half Asian son did not do algebra 1 because he started seventh grade at 11 and I thought middle school would be enough of a transition. He is more than capable of doing the work and will not be behind by doing it next year. Is it even worth it to go to TJ with college the way that it is? I think you all need to reevaluate your priorities. Does your kid want this or do you just want to be able to brag about your kids.