TJ admissions now verifying free and reduced price meal status for successful 2026 applicants

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reform is done by giving equal opportunities to everyone not by rigging the system to get the results you want.

What do you propose that is truly equal opportunity?

How do you define equal opportunity?

All kids in FCPS have a legit shot regardless of their family’s income or background.

In the past 2 years, a Longfellow kid without experience factors has 0 chance of getting in. How does that fly with your definition of equal opportunity? Or “privileged” kids can be “collateral damage” in your crusade for equity?

Weird my kid with 0 experience factors got in from Longfellow. Not sure what you're talking about.

Other than your kid that is. You are the same parent with a kid from Carson who got in without experience factors. You are special. We know what we are talking about. You can live with your alternate facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many folks posting comments here are either delusional or have no clue and would write anything to support their point of view that defies common logic. TJ math 4 article detailing email from tj 4 math teachers was not a surprise given all the tj kids now admitted are not tested for math even in the essay portion. TJ math is generally much harder than regular high school math, and even those with aptitude in math have to work hard to get good grade in these classes. Based on the email from math 4 teachers, this tj class was offered extra support, extra practice tests and quizzes, much easier test still the scores were the lowest ever, many students did not bother to even show-up for remedial 8th period classes. The practice final exam contained similar questions that were in final exam still many student got it wrong. Read the full email from the teachers to get better perspective. Unfortunately the low level school board politician or the brain dead TJ principal and the equity crusaders will not care about any of this simply because they don’t care about common sense reforms, but this will not go away because students without solid understanding of math 4 will face problems with math 5 and calculus ab and bc. I expect this problem will continue until they update the admission process to identify strong math students or dumb down the math curriculum significantly.

There were 2024 kids in Math 4. And the kids from 2025 who took geometry in 8th.

And many kids are still recovering from the world being turned upside down. Not getting help? Not doing the test corrections? That’s a motivation issue, not because the kids weren’t strong in math.

Sorry - can’t blame it all on admissions.

Did you even read the email from the math 4 teachers which explicitly says they can’t blame it on teachers, exam or pandemic, it is on the student themselves. Teachers did everything possible to help the students but students need to help themselves. It is a moviation issue so now TJ is sopposed to fix the motivation issue also ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don’t need a TJ just to make people who scored high on one IQ test feel like special snowflakes. Nor do we need one just so some dim-witted pork barrel politician like Karen Corbett Sanders can brag about how she got more TJ seats allocated to her own district.

Turn TJ back into a neighborhood school.

Top kids still need TJ. Whoever can catch up with the advanced education TJ used offer are qualified kids. We need both intelligence and diligence to make achievements.

Top kids are inbound for the top schools Langley McLean and Chantilly etc which can all handle advanced math. The school has outlived it's purpose, both sides are insufferable time to shut it down.

If those kids are the best fits, why not sending them to TJ? Why TJ should accept students who are not qualified? TJ is merit-based school, not welfare school.

I think you mean "was," not "is."

Anyhow, the TJ you coveted in the past is gone and not coming back. Up to you to decide whether you want them to attend a watered-down TJ or one of the neighborhood schools that will have even more strong kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many folks posting comments here are either delusional or have no clue and would write anything to support their point of view that defies common logic. TJ math 4 article detailing email from tj 4 math teachers was not a surprise given all the tj kids now admitted are not tested for math even in the essay portion. TJ math is generally much harder than regular high school math, and even those with aptitude in math have to work hard to get good grade in these classes. Based on the email from math 4 teachers, this tj class was offered extra support, extra practice tests and quizzes, much easier test still the scores were the lowest ever, many students did not bother to even show-up for remedial 8th period classes. The practice final exam contained similar questions that were in final exam still many student got it wrong. Read the full email from the teachers to get better perspective. Unfortunately the low level school board politician or the brain dead TJ principal and the equity crusaders will not care about any of this simply because they don’t care about common sense reforms, but this will not go away because students without solid understanding of math 4 will face problems with math 5 and calculus ab and bc. I expect this problem will continue until they update the admission process to identify strong math students or dumb down the math curriculum significantly.

There were 2024 kids in Math 4. And the kids from 2025 who took geometry in 8th.

And many kids are still recovering from the world being turned upside down. Not getting help? Not doing the test corrections? That’s a motivation issue, not because the kids weren’t strong in math.

Sorry - can’t blame it all on admissions.

Most of 2024 kids finished their math 4 last semester. I would think the majority of math 4 kids now are from class of 2025, and these kids should already finish algebra 2 in middle school, which already pretty advanced. Virtual learning and learning attitude should be the reason that they were left behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many folks posting comments here are either delusional or have no clue and would write anything to support their point of view that defies common logic. TJ math 4 article detailing email from tj 4 math teachers was not a surprise given all the tj kids now admitted are not tested for math even in the essay portion. TJ math is generally much harder than regular high school math, and even those with aptitude in math have to work hard to get good grade in these classes. Based on the email from math 4 teachers, this tj class was offered extra support, extra practice tests and quizzes, much easier test still the scores were the lowest ever, many students did not bother to even show-up for remedial 8th period classes. The practice final exam contained similar questions that were in final exam still many student got it wrong. Read the full email from the teachers to get better perspective. Unfortunately the low level school board politician or the brain dead TJ principal and the equity crusaders will not care about any of this simply because they don’t care about common sense reforms, but this will not go away because students without solid understanding of math 4 will face problems with math 5 and calculus ab and bc. I expect this problem will continue until they update the admission process to identify strong math students or dumb down the math curriculum significantly.

There were 2024 kids in Math 4. And the kids from 2025 who took geometry in 8th.

And many kids are still recovering from the world being turned upside down. Not getting help? Not doing the test corrections? That’s a motivation issue, not because the kids weren’t strong in math.

Sorry - can’t blame it all on admissions.

Yet we were told the 2025 kids would be stronger than prior TJ classes because they were the ones who "really" wanted to be at TJ rather than the test-prep, parent-pushed TJ students who preceded them.

Sounds like that was a lie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many folks posting comments here are either delusional or have no clue and would write anything to support their point of view that defies common logic. TJ math 4 article detailing email from tj 4 math teachers was not a surprise given all the tj kids now admitted are not tested for math even in the essay portion. TJ math is generally much harder than regular high school math, and even those with aptitude in math have to work hard to get good grade in these classes. Based on the email from math 4 teachers, this tj class was offered extra support, extra practice tests and quizzes, much easier test still the scores were the lowest ever, many students did not bother to even show-up for remedial 8th period classes. The practice final exam contained similar questions that were in final exam still many student got it wrong. Read the full email from the teachers to get better perspective. Unfortunately the low level school board politician or the brain dead TJ principal and the equity crusaders will not care about any of this simply because they don’t care about common sense reforms, but this will not go away because students without solid understanding of math 4 will face problems with math 5 and calculus ab and bc. I expect this problem will continue until they update the admission process to identify strong math students or dumb down the math curriculum significantly.

How many kids out of 550 are in this bucket?. Did they drop out?

TJ will spend any amount of money and resources to ensure that those kids do not fail or drop out.

[Anonymous]

Everyone on this page should follow the discussion on Progressives gone wild in San Francisco and the blowback from "regular" Dems (SFO is overwhelmingly dem and has recalled 3 progressive school board members and a progressive DA)

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1063188.page

Our School Board should see the writing on the wall and quit.

Most people are sick on virtue signaling that is eating away at community values

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reform is done by giving equal opportunities to everyone not by rigging the system to get the results you want.

What do you propose that is truly equal opportunity?

How do you define equal opportunity?

All kids in FCPS have a legit shot regardless of their family’s income or background.

In the past 2 years, a Longfellow kid without experience factors has 0 chance of getting in. How does that fly with your definition of equal opportunity? Or “privileged” kids can be “collateral damage” in your crusade for equity?

Weird my kid with 0 experience factors got in from Longfellow. Not sure what you're talking about.

Was your kid an AIME qualifier? A Mathcounts Nationals competitor? A Science Olympiad nationals competitor? Taking Pre-Calc or Calc in 8th grade? If the answer to all of these is no, it proves that the new process is letting less qualified kids leapfrog the outliers who need TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many folks posting comments here are either delusional or have no clue and would write anything to support their point of view that defies common logic. TJ math 4 article detailing email from tj 4 math teachers was not a surprise given all the tj kids now admitted are not tested for math even in the essay portion. TJ math is generally much harder than regular high school math, and even those with aptitude in math have to work hard to get good grade in these classes. Based on the email from math 4 teachers, this tj class was offered extra support, extra practice tests and quizzes, much easier test still the scores were the lowest ever, many students did not bother to even show-up for remedial 8th period classes. The practice final exam contained similar questions that were in final exam still many student got it wrong. Read the full email from the teachers to get better perspective. Unfortunately the low level school board politician or the brain dead TJ principal and the equity crusaders will not care about any of this simply because they don’t care about common sense reforms, but this will not go away because students without solid understanding of math 4 will face problems with math 5 and calculus ab and bc. I expect this problem will continue until they update the admission process to identify strong math students or dumb down the math curriculum significantly.

There were 2024 kids in Math 4. And the kids from 2025 who took geometry in 8th.

And many kids are still recovering from the world being turned upside down. Not getting help? Not doing the test corrections? That’s a motivation issue, not because the kids weren’t strong in math.

Sorry - can’t blame it all on admissions.

Did you even read the email from the math 4 teachers which explicitly says they can’t blame it on teachers, exam or pandemic, it is on the student themselves. Teachers did everything possible to help the students but students need to help themselves. It is a moviation issue so now TJ is sopposed to fix the motivation issue also ?

You mean one teacher’s opinion?

I wonder if that same teacher is on here trashing class of 2025/26.

It means don’t try to twist it to fit your narrative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reform is done by giving equal opportunities to everyone not by rigging the system to get the results you want.

What do you propose that is truly equal opportunity?

How do you define equal opportunity?

All kids in FCPS have a legit shot regardless of their family’s income or background.

In the past 2 years, a Longfellow kid without experience factors has 0 chance of getting in. How does that fly with your definition of equal opportunity? Or “privileged” kids can be “collateral damage” in your crusade for equity?

Weird my kid with 0 experience factors got in from Longfellow. Not sure what you're talking about.

Was your kid an AIME qualifier? A Mathcounts Nationals competitor? A Science Olympiad nationals competitor? Taking Pre-Calc or Calc in 8th grade? If the answer to all of these is no, it proves that the new process is letting less qualified kids leapfrog the outliers who need TJ.

Was every single admitted student in the past one of these things? No, of course not.

So irrational.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone on this page should follow the discussion on Progressives gone wild in San Francisco and the blowback from "regular" Dems (SFO is overwhelmingly dem and has recalled 3 progressive school board members and a progressive DA)

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1063188.page

Our School Board should see the writing on the wall and quit.

Most people are sick on virtue signaling that is eating away at community values

One value our community has is providing educational resources for the community. Not just a handful of wealthy middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many folks posting comments here are either delusional or have no clue and would write anything to support their point of view that defies common logic. TJ math 4 article detailing email from tj 4 math teachers was not a surprise given all the tj kids now admitted are not tested for math even in the essay portion. TJ math is generally much harder than regular high school math, and even those with aptitude in math have to work hard to get good grade in these classes. Based on the email from math 4 teachers, this tj class was offered extra support, extra practice tests and quizzes, much easier test still the scores were the lowest ever, many students did not bother to even show-up for remedial 8th period classes. The practice final exam contained similar questions that were in final exam still many student got it wrong. Read the full email from the teachers to get better perspective. Unfortunately the low level school board politician or the brain dead TJ principal and the equity crusaders will not care about any of this simply because they don’t care about common sense reforms, but this will not go away because students without solid understanding of math 4 will face problems with math 5 and calculus ab and bc. I expect this problem will continue until they update the admission process to identify strong math students or dumb down the math curriculum significantly.

There were 2024 kids in Math 4. And the kids from 2025 who took geometry in 8th.

And many kids are still recovering from the world being turned upside down. Not getting help? Not doing the test corrections? That’s a motivation issue, not because the kids weren’t strong in math.

Sorry - can’t blame it all on admissions.

Yet we were told the 2025 kids would be stronger than prior TJ classes because they were the ones who "really" wanted to be at TJ rather than the test-prep, parent-pushed TJ students who preceded them.

Sounds like that was a lie.

Maybe they feel bullied by the toxic parents and kids who constantly trash them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many folks posting comments here are either delusional or have no clue and would write anything to support their point of view that defies common logic. TJ math 4 article detailing email from tj 4 math teachers was not a surprise given all the tj kids now admitted are not tested for math even in the essay portion. TJ math is generally much harder than regular high school math, and even those with aptitude in math have to work hard to get good grade in these classes. Based on the email from math 4 teachers, this tj class was offered extra support, extra practice tests and quizzes, much easier test still the scores were the lowest ever, many students did not bother to even show-up for remedial 8th period classes. The practice final exam contained similar questions that were in final exam still many student got it wrong. Read the full email from the teachers to get better perspective. Unfortunately the low level school board politician or the brain dead TJ principal and the equity crusaders will not care about any of this simply because they don’t care about common sense reforms, but this will not go away because students without solid understanding of math 4 will face problems with math 5 and calculus ab and bc. I expect this problem will continue until they update the admission process to identify strong math students or dumb down the math curriculum significantly.

There were 2024 kids in Math 4. And the kids from 2025 who took geometry in 8th.

And many kids are still recovering from the world being turned upside down. Not getting help? Not doing the test corrections? That’s a motivation issue, not because the kids weren’t strong in math.

Sorry - can’t blame it all on admissions.

Did you even read the email from the math 4 teachers which explicitly says they can’t blame it on teachers, exam or pandemic, it is on the student themselves. Teachers did everything possible to help the students but students need to help themselves. It is a moviation issue so now TJ is sopposed to fix the motivation issue also ?

You mean one teacher’s opinion?

I wonder if that same teacher is on here trashing class of 2025/26.

It means don’t try to twist it to fit your narrative.

Clearly you fit the bill of folks who would say anything to justify their point of view without looking at the evidence. The email represented all math 4 teachers, it said so in the email. No individual teacher would sent the email as to not get targeted by the school board or the principal. You are the one trying to say anything to justify your narrative but this will keep coming back and you can keep shifting your narrative. I bet you are not in a job that uses analytical reasoning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone on this page should follow the discussion on Progressives gone wild in San Francisco and the blowback from "regular" Dems (SFO is overwhelmingly dem and has recalled 3 progressive school board members and a progressive DA)

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1063188.page

Our School Board should see the writing on the wall and quit.

Most people are sick on virtue signaling that is eating away at community values

One value our community has is providing educational resources for the community. Not just a handful of wealthy middle schools.

You obviously hate Carson, Longfellow, Cooper, and Rocky Run MS, so you think capping the number of TJ students from those schools will stick it to the "wealthy middle schools."

Instead, it will just make Langley, McLean, Oakton, and Chantilly HS more attractive, as education-focused parents hedge their bets by moving into those pyramids.

And the students at schools like Annandale, Lewis, Justice, and Mount Vernon who would have been role models at those schools? They'll more likely be at TJ instead - which over time will become more like an AAP program at the HS level.

This is what happens when you equate "educational resources" with enrollment at a single HS in a system with 25 high or secondary schools. It's the law of unintended consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone on this page should follow the discussion on Progressives gone wild in San Francisco and the blowback from "regular" Dems (SFO is overwhelmingly dem and has recalled 3 progressive school board members and a progressive DA)

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1063188.page

Our School Board should see the writing on the wall and quit.

Most people are sick on virtue signaling that is eating away at community values

One value our community has is providing educational resources for the community. Not just a handful of wealthy middle schools.

You obviously hate Carson, Longfellow, Cooper, and Rocky Run MS, so you think capping the number of TJ students from those schools will stick it to the "wealthy middle schools."

Instead, it will just make Langley, McLean, Oakton, and Chantilly HS more attractive, as education-focused parents hedge their bets by moving into those pyramids.

And the students at schools like Annandale, Lewis, Justice, and Mount Vernon who would have been role models at those schools? They'll more likely be at TJ instead - which over time will become more like an AAP program at the HS level.

This is what happens when you equate "educational resources" with enrollment at a single HS in a system with 25 high or secondary schools. It's the law of unintended consequences.

Do you really think that there are parents who have the money to live in McLean or Langley who are choosing to live in a neighborhood that feeds into Annadale, Lewis, Justice, or Mt. Vernon? The parents who have extra money who live in those schools boundaries send their kids to private schools.

My kid will attend Carson as his base school and I still support the 1.5% seat allocation by MS. TJ is supposed to draw from all of FCPS. I have no problem with tweaking the current system, raise the GPA to a 3.75 and include all classes, not just the core classes. Require Algebra 1 and Geometry. Make sure the essay and practical problem are done in a proctored environment. Balance the bonuses for income and SPED better.