DOJ civil rights probe into TJ admissions policies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/21/politics/doj-t...-high-school-fairfax

How does this impact next year's admissions process? Should students prepare for just the essay or will they be tested in middle school math, science and English?

Maybe they could get rid of experience factors and go back to an objective test. Keeping the 1.5% seat allocation will ensure that every middle school has representation at the school every jurisdiction funds with taxes.

But bottom half of fcps schools dont have enough applicants to fill even the 1.5% seat allocation, making it difficult to get to the desired diversity chart. Experience factors and non-academic criteria like essays help get to the predetermined ethnicity mix, whether it is stem qualified or not.

True.

Experience factors =

1) Economic Disadvantage: free or reduced-price lunch (FARMs)

2) English as a Second Language (ESL): enrolled in school programs designed for non-native English speakers, and

3) Special Education Needs: Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or Section 504 plans.

Experience factors account for 40% of the TJ admission standard total.

TJ admit 12% students with experience factors and they also add 10% seat for that. I don’t care about what kind of ethnicity they are.
Thanks God that admission are thinking about the forgotten group of students.

Ironically, the merit qualified FARMs are not guaranteed to receive an offer, as there is no STEM evaluation. The ridiculous essay is a cover to pick random FARMs students based on ethnicity, and not the hardworking and qualified. So that is why the DOJ civil rights probe?

Proof?

Check admissions site for more info. There is no STEM evaluation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/21/politics/doj-t...-high-school-fairfax

How does this impact next year's admissions process? Should students prepare for just the essay or will they be tested in middle school math, science and English?

Maybe they could get rid of experience factors and go back to an objective test. Keeping the 1.5% seat allocation will ensure that every middle school has representation at the school every jurisdiction funds with taxes.

But bottom half of fcps schools dont have enough applicants to fill even the 1.5% seat allocation, making it difficult to get to the desired diversity chart. Experience factors and non-academic criteria like essays help get to the predetermined ethnicity mix, whether it is stem qualified or not.

True.

Experience factors =

1) Economic Disadvantage: free or reduced-price lunch (FARMs)

2) English as a Second Language (ESL): enrolled in school programs designed for non-native English speakers, and

3) Special Education Needs: Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or Section 504 plans.

Experience factors account for 40% of the TJ admission standard total.

But they are all struggling at TJ with Cs & Ds, when they could thrive at their base school with As and Bs. Why are they being used as political props to satisfy a mere diversity chart?

Ugh, none of those factors, 1,2, or 3 qualifies a student for TJ, but what proof is there that they are struggling with C's & D's? And can NAACP really get traction if kids who aren't admitted have lesser scores on objective testing, even if it appears to be disparate impact if you only take race into account?

We don't know their grades other than anecdotally. But anecdotally, kids from some schools struggle more than others, especially in math.
We also know that the kids going back to their base school tend to be more prevalent at less academically rigorous schools

FCPS has basically given up on actually helping these kids teach their potential but also don't want to feel bad about having given up on these kids. So they try to get them into TJ where they will frequently fail and call it a day.

NAACP can't actually win a lawsuit but they can make woke white people feel bad.

I see that back in the 2016-17 school year, well before the admissions changes, 25 TJ kids had left over the course of the school year through April. This year the number is 13.

It doesn't seem kids are bailing on TJ more than in the past. Maybe the curriculum has adjusted to accommodate less advanced students, but that's a different question.

Wasn’t last year 50 kids left from freshman class?

significantly higher than that. In a scramble to backfill those vacancies, there’s aggressive outreach to top feeder base schools, urging students to apply as froshmores in 10th grade. Leaving those seats unfilled would draw criticism of the non-merit essay admission process. But entering TJ in 10th is a nightmare, without having the advantage of getting acclimated as freshman.

Proof?

Aren't you the one flooding this forum pleading top feeders to apply as froshmores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/21/politics/doj-t...-high-school-fairfax

How does this impact next year's admissions process? Should students prepare for just the essay or will they be tested in middle school math, science and English?

Maybe they could get rid of experience factors and go back to an objective test. Keeping the 1.5% seat allocation will ensure that every middle school has representation at the school every jurisdiction funds with taxes.

But bottom half of fcps schools dont have enough applicants to fill even the 1.5% seat allocation, making it difficult to get to the desired diversity chart. Experience factors and non-academic criteria like essays help get to the predetermined ethnicity mix, whether it is stem qualified or not.

True.

Experience factors =

1) Economic Disadvantage: free or reduced-price lunch (FARMs)

2) English as a Second Language (ESL): enrolled in school programs designed for non-native English speakers, and

3) Special Education Needs: Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or Section 504 plans.

Experience factors account for 40% of the TJ admission standard total.

I’m slightly annoyed that I’ve seen people post that their child had an experience factor with a 504 plan. I called the TJ admissions office and specifically asked and was told that 504s don’t count, only IEPs. The admissions team must not be checking for IEPs and just trusting people who check the special education box.

Luckily my child still got in without having the bonus experience points.

That would be on the school then for again messing up the form. It should say IEP not special ed if that is what they mean. Just like the 2026 year they created issues when they asked “are you eligible (or “have received” maybe?) for free lunch” when ALL kids were eligible for it that year due to Covid. We checked no because I knew what it meant but the more accurate answer was yes for all kids I. Public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Republicans continue to push this crap for political purposes.

They should just close TJ down.

Agree.

Why do you agree that TJ should shut down? There are Governors schools all over the state, why should the only Governors school in our area close down? Should Fairfax have to pay taxes to the state to support all of the other schools and not have even one school for our own students?

Because the constant attack from Republicans is detracting from our kids receiving an education.

If it wasn't already clear, Republicans are against education. Education is like kryptonite to MAGA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/21/politics/doj-t...-high-school-fairfax

How does this impact next year's admissions process? Should students prepare for just the essay or will they be tested in middle school math, science and English?

Maybe they could get rid of experience factors and go back to an objective test. Keeping the 1.5% seat allocation will ensure that every middle school has representation at the school every jurisdiction funds with taxes.

But bottom half of fcps schools dont have enough applicants to fill even the 1.5% seat allocation, making it difficult to get to the desired diversity chart. Experience factors and non-academic criteria like essays help get to the predetermined ethnicity mix, whether it is stem qualified or not.

True.

Experience factors =

1) Economic Disadvantage: free or reduced-price lunch (FARMs)

2) English as a Second Language (ESL): enrolled in school programs designed for non-native English speakers, and

3) Special Education Needs: Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or Section 504 plans.

Experience factors account for 40% of the TJ admission standard total.

But they are all struggling at TJ with Cs & Ds, when they could thrive at their base school with As and Bs. Why are they being used as political props to satisfy a mere diversity chart?

Proof?

There is no proof. This is just their assumption based on their grievances.

[Anonymous]

Curious how many young scholars get into TJ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ was great for decades. It is still great. What has changed is the political climate because of right wing media and the constant use of children in culture wars- gay rights bans, transgender bathroom/sports bans, book bans, ban on teaching African American history, TJ admissions process challenges, public school funding reductions, etc etc. A certain party is trying to dismantle not only TJ but public education in general. But most parents are too stupid and too busy fighting among and forgetting the bigger picture.

This is the exact opposite of the truth.

The democrats are the party pushing culture wars. Boys allowed in girls’ school bathrooms? - Obama. 87 genders and mandatory pronouns? Democrats did that, not the republicans. “Include” violent, chair-throwing kids in every class instead of suspension, expulsion, or separate schools? Obama’s DEI did that. Discourage or ban suspensions for school violence? That was Obama’s “Dear Colleagues” letter in 2014, and the policies which followed. Whole-language and Lucy Calkins replacing phonics? Democrats again. VMPI? Democrats. Abolishing gifted and talented in NYC and Seattle? Democrats.

All of these withering blows to public education come from democrats; not republicans.

DP here.

You basically proved the point the PP made.

The polarization of what should be non-issues is exactly why TJ is a fixation for people like you. Why the GOP keeps going at it because it riles you up. It fills you with indignant righteousness that you feel you need to stand up for.

You just listed a bunch of “it’s the democrats fault” immediately instead of giving a nuanced response. Think about that for a moment. Digest why you are so angry.

If you are upset your kid didn’t get into TJ- sure, you are right to be upset. But is your kid happy now? Are they going to a good college? If this has nothing to do with your kid…. Then really digest why you are upset. Why you are so quick to retaliate against any criticism against the GOP.

Is it productive? Because as a person reading your comments- it seems really sad.

And btw- there as Asians from feeder schools getting Cs in classes too. Don’t assume that the kids getting in from feeders aren’t struggling. TJ challenges all of the kids.

First, my child has been accepted at TJ.

Second, I will continue to call out the left’s obsession with identity politics and their insistence on waging culture-wars against this great nation.

Finally, when your own family have suffered under obscene human rights abuses and virtual slavery, which were universal under the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and you see the same socialist ideologies and attempts at cultural engineering creeping into the American politik, you might begin to understand the importance of using your Constitutional right to speak out against what the leftists are trying to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ was great for decades. It is still great. What has changed is the political climate because of right wing media and the constant use of children in culture wars- gay rights bans, transgender bathroom/sports bans, book bans, ban on teaching African American history, TJ admissions process challenges, public school funding reductions, etc etc. A certain party is trying to dismantle not only TJ but public education in general. But most parents are too stupid and too busy fighting among and forgetting the bigger picture.

Exactly.

BINGO!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ was great for decades. It is still great. What has changed is the political climate because of right wing media and the constant use of children in culture wars- gay rights bans, transgender bathroom/sports bans, book bans, ban on teaching African American history, TJ admissions process challenges, public school funding reductions, etc etc. A certain party is trying to dismantle not only TJ but public education in general. But most parents are too stupid and too busy fighting among and forgetting the bigger picture.

This is the exact opposite of the truth.

The democrats are the party pushing culture wars. Boys allowed in girls’ school bathrooms? - Obama. 87 genders and mandatory pronouns? Democrats did that, not the republicans. “Include” violent, chair-throwing kids in every class instead of suspension, expulsion, or separate schools? Obama’s DEI did that. Discourage or ban suspensions for school violence? That was Obama’s “Dear Colleagues” letter in 2014, and the policies which followed. Whole-language and Lucy Calkins replacing phonics? Democrats again. VMPI? Democrats. Abolishing gifted and talented in NYC and Seattle? Democrats.

All of these withering blows to public education come from democrats; not republicans.

DP here.

You basically proved the point the PP made.

The polarization of what should be non-issues is exactly why TJ is a fixation for people like you. Why the GOP keeps going at it because it riles you up. It fills you with indignant righteousness that you feel you need to stand up for.

You just listed a bunch of “it’s the democrats fault” immediately instead of giving a nuanced response. Think about that for a moment. Digest why you are so angry.

If you are upset your kid didn’t get into TJ- sure, you are right to be upset. But is your kid happy now? Are they going to a good college? If this has nothing to do with your kid…. Then really digest why you are upset. Why you are so quick to retaliate against any criticism against the GOP.

Is it productive? Because as a person reading your comments- it seems really sad.

And btw- there as Asians from feeder schools getting Cs in classes too. Don’t assume that the kids getting in from feeders aren’t struggling. TJ challenges all of the kids.

First, my child has been accepted at TJ.

Second, I will continue to call out the left’s obsession with identity politics and their insistence on waging culture-wars against this great nation.

Finally, when your own family have suffered under obscene human rights abuses and virtual slavery, which were universal under the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and you see the same socialist ideologies and attempts at cultural engineering creeping into the American politik, you might begin to understand the importance of using your Constitutional right to speak out against what the leftists are trying to do.

This is some looney toons stuff right here. Yes the USSR was an absolute nightmare, but not socialist by any means. A good education would help you learn the difference between socialist economies and socialist authoritarian govts. You might also understand that people are protecting the vulnerable and historically oppressed in this country to try not to repeat OUR humans rights abuses of the past.

So while you wring your hands over our schools trying to be more available to more people, our government is actually working to strip those availabilities away and make access less available.

So enough with the Cuba/USSR/Venezuela comparisons and "leftists" because the people moving us closer and closer to that reality by eveyr minute are on the right.
That so

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ was great for decades. It is still great. What has changed is the political climate because of right wing media and the constant use of children in culture wars- gay rights bans, transgender bathroom/sports bans, book bans, ban on teaching African American history, TJ admissions process challenges, public school funding reductions, etc etc. A certain party is trying to dismantle not only TJ but public education in general. But most parents are too stupid and too busy fighting among and forgetting the bigger picture.

Exactly.

BINGO!

Sorry, I see the opposite (Except TJ is still great, I agree with you there.) And by calling most parents stupid, you discredit your whole poorly supported statement.

Just one example why I cannot get behind your politically motivated statement. I love the generalized Book Ban argument. Practically anyone can write and publish a "book" these days. It makes sense to not allow any "book" ever written into school libraries. There should be governance of what is considered academically helpful in schools and not to simply permit anything in schools. After all, kids today have more resources available at their fingertips than at any point in time in human history. Kids curious about niche topics can certainly access a significant amount of information they need about those things outside of school.

I think it is you who cannot see the forest through the trees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Republicans continue to push this crap for political purposes.

They should just close TJ down.

The dems need to stop giving them ammunition.

It was never proven that the admissions were discriminating against qualifying children who weren't Asian simply because they weren't Asian, only that the school's Asian population was a much higher percentage than the overall system population of Asians.

Adjusting the process specifically to change the racial/ethnic demographics is discrimination, and in this country it is illegal.

If you don't want your opponent to take advantage of your obvious screw ups, stop screwing up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Republicans continue to push this crap for political purposes.

They should just close TJ down.

Agree.

Why do you agree that TJ should shut down? There are Governors schools all over the state, why should the only Governors school in our area close down? Should Fairfax have to pay taxes to the state to support all of the other schools and not have even one school for our own students?

Because the constant attack from Republicans is detracting from our kids receiving an education.

If it wasn't already clear, Republicans are against education. Education is like kryptonite to MAGA

This is the exact opposite of the truth. It is democrats and their unions who protect incompetent teachers. Democrats pushed the shift away from phonics to “whole language” and later Lucy Calkins.” Democrats came up with the bizarre “common core math” curriculum.

And it was progressive democrats in NYC and in Seattle who succeeded in abolishing their advanced academic programs entirely.

Google it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Republicans continue to push this crap for political purposes.

They should just close TJ down.

The dems need to stop giving them ammunition.

It was never proven that the admissions were discriminating against qualifying children who weren't Asian simply because they weren't Asian, only that the school's Asian population was a much higher percentage than the overall system population of Asians.

Adjusting the process specifically to change the racial/ethnic demographics is discrimination, and in this country it is illegal.

If you don't want your opponent to take advantage of your obvious screw ups, stop screwing up.

It doesn't matter what the dems do since they'll just make stuff up. These guys are crazy and see conspiracies everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Republicans continue to push this crap for political purposes.

They should just close TJ down.

The dems need to stop giving them ammunition.

It was never proven that the admissions were discriminating against qualifying children who weren't Asian simply because they weren't Asian, only that the school's Asian population was a much higher percentage than the overall system population of Asians.

Adjusting the process specifically to change the racial/ethnic demographics is discrimination, and in this country it is illegal.

If you don't want your opponent to take advantage of your obvious screw ups, stop screwing up.

It doesn't matter what the dems do since they'll just make stuff up. These guys are crazy and see conspiracies everywhere.

Yup, more and more unhinged ..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Republicans continue to push this crap for political purposes.

They should just close TJ down.

The dems need to stop giving them ammunition.

It was never proven that the admissions were discriminating against qualifying children who weren't Asian simply because they weren't Asian, only that the school's Asian population was a much higher percentage than the overall system population of Asians.

Adjusting the process specifically to change the racial/ethnic demographics is discrimination, and in this country it is illegal.

If you don't want your opponent to take advantage of your obvious screw ups, stop screwing up.

It doesn't matter what the dems do since they'll just make stuff up. These guys are crazy and see conspiracies everywhere.

DEI?