Rigor at TJ compared to regular FCPS high Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bottom 10% at TJ will be top 10% at Langley and McLean etc.

Bottom 10% at TJ get a B or C in Calc AB, and that's about it with math. Top 10% at Langley and McLean get an A in Calc BC, and follow it up with Multi Variable, and Linear Alegbra

More so now with the essay based admission. Bottom 10% leave after freshman, the next bottom 10% write five line essays and that's about it

Just the opposite. The bottom 10% was worse when people were only getting in because they bought the test answers. At least now it's based on merit.

bought test answers from where? I read conspiracy theories being floated here. But in a real world, buyers can only exist when there is both a seller and a product present in the transaction. Who is the seller? Do they have a site where they sell this product?

It was the place that shall not be named. Continue to disbelieve what happened. That way you can continue to misunderstand one of the reasons for the admissions change (there were others too).

Let me get this. There was a place that cant be named, that sold a product that cant be mentioned, at a location that cannot be disclosed, that caused the admission change?

*chuckles* The place is called Curie Learning Centers.

The product is/was their flagship TJ prep course that featured, among many other things, a question bank for the secured Quant-Q exam that was inappropriately derived from their previous students reporting back on the questions they'd seen when they took the exam. While Curie didn't do anything illegal, what they did was unethical, as they used materials given to them by students who had signed an agreement not to disclose any materials from the Quant-Q. It's been confirmed many times by TJ students who attended Curie and the veracity of the story is no longer up for debate among serious people. The flagship course ran about $5,000 per student (not the $20K that has been mentioned here before) and ran for a 16-month period beginning for most students at the star of their 7th grade year and running up through the administration of the Student Information Sheet in January of 8th grade.

Curie has multiple locations in Loudoun and western Fairfax Counties.

To say that the Curie matter "caused" the admissions changes is perhaps not quite appropriate, but it absolutely highlighted the need for reform because of the program's success in securing admission to TJ and the growth of its claims year over year.

And before anyone comes at me with the snarky "look, another advertisement for Curie" nonsense, understand this:

I don't care at all how much money Dr. R is able to bilk off of insecure families - I only care that the families are not rewarded in admissions processes for having the money to burn.

Why the fixation on Curie? have you been through their wringer?

I fixate on Curie because TJ kids who went to Curie confirmed that they behaved unethically AND because they published the first and last names of the kids who got in using their services - and in so doing proved that they serve the South Asian community exclusively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bottom 10% at TJ will be top 10% at Langley and McLean etc.

Bottom 10% at TJ get a B or C in Calc AB, and that's about it with math. Top 10% at Langley and McLean get an A in Calc BC, and follow it up with Multi Variable, and Linear Alegbra

More so now with the essay based admission. Bottom 10% leave after freshman, the next bottom 10% write five line essays and that's about it

Just the opposite. The bottom 10% was worse when people were only getting in because they bought the test answers. At least now it's based on merit.

bought test answers from where? I read conspiracy theories being floated here. But in a real world, buyers can only exist when there is both a seller and a product present in the transaction. Who is the seller? Do they have a site where they sell this product?

It was the place that shall not be named. Continue to disbelieve what happened. That way you can continue to misunderstand one of the reasons for the admissions change (there were others too).

Let me get this. There was a place that cant be named, that sold a product that cant be mentioned, at a location that cannot be disclosed, that caused the admission change?

*chuckles* The place is called Curie Learning Centers.

The product is/was their flagship TJ prep course that featured, among many other things, a question bank for the secured Quant-Q exam that was inappropriately derived from their previous students reporting back on the questions they'd seen when they took the exam. While Curie didn't do anything illegal, what they did was unethical, as they used materials given to them by students who had signed an agreement not to disclose any materials from the Quant-Q. It's been confirmed many times by TJ students who attended Curie and the veracity of the story is no longer up for debate among serious people. The flagship course ran about $5,000 per student (not the $20K that has been mentioned here before) and ran for a 16-month period beginning for most students at the star of their 7th grade year and running up through the administration of the Student Information Sheet in January of 8th grade.

Curie has multiple locations in Loudoun and western Fairfax Counties.

To say that the Curie matter "caused" the admissions changes is perhaps not quite appropriate, but it absolutely highlighted the need for reform because of the program's success in securing admission to TJ and the growth of its claims year over year.

And before anyone comes at me with the snarky "look, another advertisement for Curie" nonsense, understand this:

I don't care at all how much money Dr. R is able to bilk off of insecure families - I only care that the families are not rewarded in admissions processes for having the money to burn.

Why the fixation on Curie? have you been through their wringer?

Not the PP but providing test questions to those who can afford it did have an impact on TJ. It's largely why its rankings have dropped.

Delusional much? Not a shred of proof. If you have proof, show it.

TJ students have confirmed it publicly on TJ Vents. They’re identified by name too, both on Facebook and on the Curie lists.

It’s not up for debate among serious people whether or not this happened. Deny it all you want, but you will sound and be uninformed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/college-credit-high-school/international

Why is it that fcps offers IB program in Mount Vernon/Lewis/Justice/..., but not in McClean/Langley/Oakton/...?

You chose not to include Marshall and Robinson. Those are not low SES schools.

They're all the same. It's a standard program. I know that's not what your real estate agent told you but it's true.

Our prior real estate agent kept encouraging us to move out of our Title 1 pyramid because she said the schools were bad. She wanted us to move to the Langley pyramid. We got a new real estate agent. Not that we have anything against Langley but we disagreed strongly that our schools were bad and were very happy with how are kids were doing and we love our neighborhood. Our kids are in college and high school now and we have no regrets.

I call shenanigans. The people who can afford Langley but instead choose Title 1 number around zero.

Wrong. We can afford Langley but bought a 7 figure home in our title 1 pyramid because of the amazing community we live in. We love living inside the beltway, have an easy commute everywhere, and live with a diverse and interesting populace that has broadened my world view. I’m super active in the school, see daily how amazing the teachers and administrators are, and know that we made the right decision for our family. The fear of poor people on DCUM is so irrational. Most of the poor families we’ve met are immigrants who are trying so hard to live the American dream. They want the best for their children just like rich people do. Y’all are afraid of a ghost. I’ll stay here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bottom 10% at TJ will be top 10% at Langley and McLean etc.

Bottom 10% at TJ get a B or C in Calc AB, and that's about it with math. Top 10% at Langley and McLean get an A in Calc BC, and follow it up with Multi Variable, and Linear Alegbra

More so now with the essay based admission. Bottom 10% leave after freshman, the next bottom 10% write five line essays and that's about it

Just the opposite. The bottom 10% was worse when people were only getting in because they bought the test answers. At least now it's based on merit.

bought test answers from where? I read conspiracy theories being floated here. But in a real world, buyers can only exist when there is both a seller and a product present in the transaction. Who is the seller? Do they have a site where they sell this product?

It was the place that shall not be named. Continue to disbelieve what happened. That way you can continue to misunderstand one of the reasons for the admissions change (there were others too).

Let me get this. There was a place that cant be named, that sold a product that cant be mentioned, at a location that cannot be disclosed, that caused the admission change?

*chuckles* The place is called Curie Learning Centers.

The product is/was their flagship TJ prep course that featured, among many other things, a question bank for the secured Quant-Q exam that was inappropriately derived from their previous students reporting back on the questions they'd seen when they took the exam. While Curie didn't do anything illegal, what they did was unethical, as they used materials given to them by students who had signed an agreement not to disclose any materials from the Quant-Q. It's been confirmed many times by TJ students who attended Curie and the veracity of the story is no longer up for debate among serious people. The flagship course ran about $5,000 per student (not the $20K that has been mentioned here before) and ran for a 16-month period beginning for most students at the star of their 7th grade year and running up through the administration of the Student Information Sheet in January of 8th grade.

Curie has multiple locations in Loudoun and western Fairfax Counties.

To say that the Curie matter "caused" the admissions changes is perhaps not quite appropriate, but it absolutely highlighted the need for reform because of the program's success in securing admission to TJ and the growth of its claims year over year.

And before anyone comes at me with the snarky "look, another advertisement for Curie" nonsense, understand this:

I don't care at all how much money Dr. R is able to bilk off of insecure families - I only care that the families are not rewarded in admissions processes for having the money to burn.

Why the fixation on Curie? have you been through their wringer?

I fixate on Curie because TJ kids who went to Curie confirmed that they behaved unethically AND because they published the first and last names of the kids who got in using their services - and in so doing proved that they serve the South Asian community exclusively.

How did the kids who went to Curie Learning behaved unethically when Curie has a math question bank of 100,000 questions from which they create study material and random weekly, monthly unit tests? My son went there and we were very happy with their services. Make sure you ask for festival discounts. Friday samosas are great too. It's not exclusive for South Asian community, anyone who can handle their samosa spice level is happy there. I was told they do party catering as well, but never tried though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/college-credit-high-school/international

Why is it that fcps offers IB program in Mount Vernon/Lewis/Justice/..., but not in McClean/Langley/Oakton/...?

You chose not to include Marshall and Robinson. Those are not low SES schools.

They're all the same. It's a standard program. I know that's not what your real estate agent told you but it's true.

Our prior real estate agent kept encouraging us to move out of our Title 1 pyramid because she said the schools were bad. She wanted us to move to the Langley pyramid. We got a new real estate agent. Not that we have anything against Langley but we disagreed strongly that our schools were bad and were very happy with how are kids were doing and we love our neighborhood. Our kids are in college and high school now and we have no regrets.

I call shenanigans. The people who can afford Langley but instead choose Title 1 number around zero.

Wrong. We can afford Langley but bought a 7 figure home in our title 1 pyramid because of the amazing community we live in. We love living inside the beltway, have an easy commute everywhere, and live with a diverse and interesting populace that has broadened my world view. I’m super active in the school, see daily how amazing the teachers and administrators are, and know that we made the right decision for our family. The fear of poor people on DCUM is so irrational. Most of the poor families we’ve met are immigrants who are trying so hard to live the American dream. They want the best for their children just like rich people do. Y’all are afraid of a ghost. I’ll stay here.

Where are Title 1 pyramids inside the beltway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't even even in different high schools in FCPS. My sophomore at Langley has a friend who switched from another FCPS school and was getting all 100's and now is horrified to be struggling at Langley with B and C's. And yet I'm sure the high school the kid is at previously would do better in college admissions.

Sounds like your kid and their friend are in general ed classes. Obviously general ed at Langley is at a higher level than general ed at Mt. Vernon. But then again those other general ed kids aren't applying to UVA so I wouldn't worry about them.

However, teachers who teach AP/IB use prior year AP/IB format questions on their classroom tests. So the rigor across AP/IB schools is essentially standardized to that difficulty.

I don't know why you would assume these are gen ed classes. Even the AP and honors classes at lower tiered schools are worse than at say a Langley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/college-credit-high-school/international

Why is it that fcps offers IB program in Mount Vernon/Lewis/Justice/..., but not in McClean/Langley/Oakton/...?

You chose not to include Marshall and Robinson. Those are not low SES schools.

They're all the same. It's a standard program. I know that's not what your real estate agent told you but it's true.

Our prior real estate agent kept encouraging us to move out of our Title 1 pyramid because she said the schools were bad. She wanted us to move to the Langley pyramid. We got a new real estate agent. Not that we have anything against Langley but we disagreed strongly that our schools were bad and were very happy with how are kids were doing and we love our neighborhood. Our kids are in college and high school now and we have no regrets.

I call shenanigans. The people who can afford Langley but instead choose Title 1 number around zero.

Wrong. We can afford Langley but bought a 7 figure home in our title 1 pyramid because of the amazing community we live in. We love living inside the beltway, have an easy commute everywhere, and live with a diverse and interesting populace that has broadened my world view. I’m super active in the school, see daily how amazing the teachers and administrators are, and know that we made the right decision for our family. The fear of poor people on DCUM is so irrational. Most of the poor families we’ve met are immigrants who are trying so hard to live the American dream. They want the best for their children just like rich people do. Y’all are afraid of a ghost. I’ll stay here.

Where are Title 1 pyramids inside the beltway?

Alexandria, maybe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't even even in different high schools in FCPS. My sophomore at Langley has a friend who switched from another FCPS school and was getting all 100's and now is horrified to be struggling at Langley with B and C's. And yet I'm sure the high school the kid is at previously would do better in college admissions.

Sounds like your kid and their friend are in general ed classes. Obviously general ed at Langley is at a higher level than general ed at Mt. Vernon. But then again those other general ed kids aren't applying to UVA so I wouldn't worry about them.

However, teachers who teach AP/IB use prior year AP/IB format questions on their classroom tests. So the rigor across AP/IB schools is essentially standardized to that difficulty.

If you think IB rigor at Mount Vernon is similar to AP rigor at Langley, you’re delusional.

Yes, it's well known that IB is far more challenging than any AP course.

Nice try, but very wrong. Gen Ed at Langley is more challenging than IB at Mount Vernon.

Do you have a student at Langley in Gen Ed classes and a student at Mount Vernon in IB classes? My guess is the answer is NO.

I am a parent of student who graduated from Mount Vernon this past spring. I also have a child who graduated two years ago from one of the private schools in the DMV. The private high school has as high or even higher SES population as the students at Langley High School. The private school sends 99% of its graduates to four year colleges, so their Gen Ed classes are all college prep. My private school kid's Gen Ed classes were very similar to the Honors courses at Mount Vernon. My private school DC also took a couple of AP courses. Mount Vernon offers AP Govt and AP Stats. Both of my children were taking AP Govt at the exact same time. They were using the exact same textbook. They had very comparable homework assignments. You know what was different? My Mount Vernon student had fewer students in his class than my private high school kid did. At the end of the year, they took the exact same AP exam.

The big difference inside an Honors class or an IB at Mount Vernon is the size (teacher/student ratio) - especially as you get into the IB classes in 11th and 12th grade. Mount Vernon has 11 students per teacher. Langley has 16 students per teacher. My DC had 6 (six) students in his IB math class last year. How many students are in AP Calculus at Langley? There are extremely bright, motivated, high achieving students at Mount Vernon HS. They are being challenged in the classroom. There just aren't huge numbers of them. That's the difference.

DP. That's what I thought too. But I know a couple kids who recently graduated from Lewis and they were not prepared for college, as in, returning home during their freshman year or choosing community college or taking a gap year that turned into another and so on.

Did they take AP and honors classes, or gen ed classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bottom 10% at TJ will be top 10% at Langley and McLean etc.

No, bottom 5% at TJ will be in the top 5% at Langley and McLean since so many posters claim that the new TJ admission system vastly improved the quality of the already No. 1 ranked high school in the country TJ even further.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bottom 10% at TJ will be top 10% at Langley and McLean etc.

Bottom 10% at TJ get a B or C in Calc AB, and that's about it with math. Top 10% at Langley and McLean get an A in Calc BC, and follow it up with Multi Variable, and Linear Alegbra

More so now with the essay based admission. Bottom 10% leave after freshman, the next bottom 10% write five line essays and that's about it

Just the opposite. The bottom 10% was worse when people were only getting in because they bought the test answers. At least now it's based on merit.

bought test answers from where? I read conspiracy theories being floated here. But in a real world, buyers can only exist when there is both a seller and a product present in the transaction. Who is the seller? Do they have a site where they sell this product?

It was the place that shall not be named. Continue to disbelieve what happened. That way you can continue to misunderstand one of the reasons for the admissions change (there were others too).

Let me get this. There was a place that cant be named, that sold a product that cant be mentioned, at a location that cannot be disclosed, that caused the admission change?

*chuckles* The place is called Curie Learning Centers.

The product is/was their flagship TJ prep course that featured, among many other things, a question bank for the secured Quant-Q exam that was inappropriately derived from their previous students reporting back on the questions they'd seen when they took the exam. While Curie didn't do anything illegal, what they did was unethical, as they used materials given to them by students who had signed an agreement not to disclose any materials from the Quant-Q. It's been confirmed many times by TJ students who attended Curie and the veracity of the story is no longer up for debate among serious people. The flagship course ran about $5,000 per student (not the $20K that has been mentioned here before) and ran for a 16-month period beginning for most students at the star of their 7th grade year and running up through the administration of the Student Information Sheet in January of 8th grade.

Curie has multiple locations in Loudoun and western Fairfax Counties.

To say that the Curie matter "caused" the admissions changes is perhaps not quite appropriate, but it absolutely highlighted the need for reform because of the program's success in securing admission to TJ and the growth of its claims year over year.

And before anyone comes at me with the snarky "look, another advertisement for Curie" nonsense, understand this:

I don't care at all how much money Dr. R is able to bilk off of insecure families - I only care that the families are not rewarded in admissions processes for having the money to burn.

Why the fixation on Curie? have you been through their wringer?

I fixate on Curie because TJ kids who went to Curie confirmed that they behaved unethically AND because they published the first and last names of the kids who got in using their services - and in so doing proved that they serve the South Asian community exclusively.

How did the kids who went to Curie Learning behave unethically when Curie has a math question bank of 100,000 questions from which they create study material and random weekly, monthly unit tests? My son went there and we were very happy with their services. Make sure you ask for festival discounts. Friday samosas are great too. It's not exclusive for South Asian community, anyone who can handle their samosa spice level is happy there. I was told they do party catering as well, but never tried though.

I too would like to understand what happened. Can someone provide a link to the news article or board docs that talks about the one apparent russian kid who caused fcps to overhaul TJ admissions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bottom 10% at TJ will be top 10% at Langley and McLean etc.

Bottom 10% at TJ get a B or C in Calc AB, and that's about it with math. Top 10% at Langley and McLean get an A in Calc BC, and follow it up with Multi Variable, and Linear Alegbra

More so now with the essay based admission. Bottom 10% leave after freshman, the next bottom 10% write five line essays and that's about it

Just the opposite. The bottom 10% was worse when people were only getting in because they bought the test answers. At least now it's based on merit.

bought test answers from where? I read conspiracy theories being floated here. But in a real world, buyers can only exist when there is both a seller and a product present in the transaction. Who is the seller? Do they have a site where they sell this product?

It was the place that shall not be named. Continue to disbelieve what happened. That way you can continue to misunderstand one of the reasons for the admissions change (there were others too).

Let me get this. There was a place that cant be named, that sold a product that cant be mentioned, at a location that cannot be disclosed, that caused the admission change?

*chuckles* The place is called Curie Learning Centers.

The product is/was their flagship TJ prep course that featured, among many other things, a question bank for the secured Quant-Q exam that was inappropriately derived from their previous students reporting back on the questions they'd seen when they took the exam. While Curie didn't do anything illegal, what they did was unethical, as they used materials given to them by students who had signed an agreement not to disclose any materials from the Quant-Q. It's been confirmed many times by TJ students who attended Curie and the veracity of the story is no longer up for debate among serious people. The flagship course ran about $5,000 per student (not the $20K that has been mentioned here before) and ran for a 16-month period beginning for most students at the star of their 7th grade year and running up through the administration of the Student Information Sheet in January of 8th grade.

Curie has multiple locations in Loudoun and western Fairfax Counties.

To say that the Curie matter "caused" the admissions changes is perhaps not quite appropriate, but it absolutely highlighted the need for reform because of the program's success in securing admission to TJ and the growth of its claims year over year.

And before anyone comes at me with the snarky "look, another advertisement for Curie" nonsense, understand this:

I don't care at all how much money Dr. R is able to bilk off of insecure families - I only care that the families are not rewarded in admissions processes for having the money to burn.

Why the fixation on Curie? have you been through their wringer?

I fixate on Curie because TJ kids who went to Curie confirmed that they behaved unethically AND because they published the first and last names of the kids who got in using their services - and in so doing proved that they serve the South Asian community exclusively.

How did the kids who went to Curie Learning behave unethically when Curie has a math question bank of 100,000 questions from which they create study material and random weekly, monthly unit tests? My son went there and we were very happy with their services. Make sure you ask for festival discounts. Friday samosas are great too. It's not exclusive for South Asian community, anyone who can handle their samosa spice level is happy there. I was told they do party catering as well, but never tried though.

I too would like to understand what happened. Can someone provide a link to the news article or board docs that talks about the one apparent russian kid who caused fcps to overhaul TJ admissions?

It has been explained. You may have the mentality that cheating is ok as long as you don't get caught. Well, it's not ok and FCPS chose this method of addressing the problem rather than other methods, such as publicly calling out a particular prep class or particular students who benefitted or participated in the scam. Not sure how you think you should complain now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/college-credit-high-school/international

Why is it that fcps offers IB program in Mount Vernon/Lewis/Justice/..., but not in McClean/Langley/Oakton/...?

You chose not to include Marshall and Robinson. Those are not low SES schools.

They're all the same. It's a standard program. I know that's not what your real estate agent told you but it's true.

Our prior real estate agent kept encouraging us to move out of our Title 1 pyramid because she said the schools were bad. She wanted us to move to the Langley pyramid. We got a new real estate agent. Not that we have anything against Langley but we disagreed strongly that our schools were bad and were very happy with how are kids were doing and we love our neighborhood. Our kids are in college and high school now and we have no regrets.

I call shenanigans. The people who can afford Langley but instead choose Title 1 number around zero.

+1000

Wrong. We can afford Langley but bought a 7 figure home in our title 1 pyramid because of the amazing community we live in. We love living inside the beltway, have an easy commute everywhere, and live with a diverse and interesting populace that has broadened my world view. I’m super active in the school, see daily how amazing the teachers and administrators are, and know that we made the right decision for our family. The fear of poor people on DCUM is so irrational. Most of the poor families we’ve met are immigrants who are trying so hard to live the American dream. They want the best for their children just like rich people do. Y’all are afraid of a ghost. I’ll stay here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bottom 10% at TJ will be top 10% at Langley and McLean etc.

Bottom 10% at TJ get a B or C in Calc AB, and that's about it with math. Top 10% at Langley and McLean get an A in Calc BC, and follow it up with Multi Variable, and Linear Alegbra

More so now with the essay based admission. Bottom 10% leave after freshman, the next bottom 10% write five line essays and that's about it

Just the opposite. The bottom 10% was worse when people were only getting in because they bought the test answers. At least now it's based on merit.

bought test answers from where? I read conspiracy theories being floated here. But in a real world, buyers can only exist when there is both a seller and a product present in the transaction. Who is the seller? Do they have a site where they sell this product?

It was the place that shall not be named. Continue to disbelieve what happened. That way you can continue to misunderstand one of the reasons for the admissions change (there were others too).

Let me get this. There was a place that cant be named, that sold a product that cant be mentioned, at a location that cannot be disclosed, that caused the admission change?

*chuckles* The place is called Curie Learning Centers.

The product is/was their flagship TJ prep course that featured, among many other things, a question bank for the secured Quant-Q exam that was inappropriately derived from their previous students reporting back on the questions they'd seen when they took the exam. While Curie didn't do anything illegal, what they did was unethical, as they used materials given to them by students who had signed an agreement not to disclose any materials from the Quant-Q. It's been confirmed many times by TJ students who attended Curie and the veracity of the story is no longer up for debate among serious people. The flagship course ran about $5,000 per student (not the $20K that has been mentioned here before) and ran for a 16-month period beginning for most students at the star of their 7th grade year and running up through the administration of the Student Information Sheet in January of 8th grade.

Curie has multiple locations in Loudoun and western Fairfax Counties.

To say that the Curie matter "caused" the admissions changes is perhaps not quite appropriate, but it absolutely highlighted the need for reform because of the program's success in securing admission to TJ and the growth of its claims year over year.

And before anyone comes at me with the snarky "look, another advertisement for Curie" nonsense, understand this:

I don't care at all how much money Dr. R is able to bilk off of insecure families - I only care that the families are not rewarded in admissions processes for having the money to burn.

Why the fixation on Curie? have you been through their wringer?

I fixate on Curie because TJ kids who went to Curie confirmed that they behaved unethically AND because they published the first and last names of the kids who got in using their services - and in so doing proved that they serve the South Asian community exclusively.

How did the kids who went to Curie Learning behave unethically when Curie has a math question bank of 100,000 questions from which they create study material and random weekly, monthly unit tests? My son went there and we were very happy with their services. Make sure you ask for festival discounts. Friday samosas are great too. It's not exclusive for South Asian community, anyone who can handle their samosa spice level is happy there. I was told they do party catering as well, but never tried though.

I too would like to understand what happened. Can someone provide a link to the news article or board docs that talks about the one apparent russian kid who caused fcps to overhaul TJ admissions?

It has been explained. You may have the mentality that cheating is ok as long as you don't get caught. Well, it's not ok and FCPS chose this method of addressing the problem rather than other methods, such as publicly calling out a particular prep class or particular students who benefitted or participated in the scam. Not sure how you think you should complain now.

They're well aware of the cheating and test buying that went on but are just playing dumb because they prefer a system that was easily gamed by those with resources. They hate that the new system is inclusive and attempts to server the whole county not just the wealthy areas.

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Anonymous wrote:Bottom 10% at TJ will be top 10% at Langley and McLean etc.

Bottom 10% at TJ get a B or C in Calc AB, and that's about it with math. Top 10% at Langley and McLean get an A in Calc BC, and follow it up with Multi Variable, and Linear Alegbra

More so now with the essay based admission. Bottom 10% leave after freshman, the next bottom 10% write five line essays and that's about it

Just the opposite. The bottom 10% was worse when people were only getting in because they bought the test answers. At least now it's based on merit.

bought test answers from where? I read conspiracy theories being floated here. But in a real world, buyers can only exist when there is both a seller and a product present in the transaction. Who is the seller? Do they have a site where they sell this product?

It was the place that shall not be named. Continue to disbelieve what happened. That way you can continue to misunderstand one of the reasons for the admissions change (there were others too).

Let me get this. There was a place that cant be named, that sold a product that cant be mentioned, at a location that cannot be disclosed, that caused the admission change?

*chuckles* The place is called Curie Learning Centers.

The product is/was their flagship TJ prep course that featured, among many other things, a question bank for the secured Quant-Q exam that was inappropriately derived from their previous students reporting back on the questions they'd seen when they took the exam. While Curie didn't do anything illegal, what they did was unethical, as they used materials given to them by students who had signed an agreement not to disclose any materials from the Quant-Q. It's been confirmed many times by TJ students who attended Curie and the veracity of the story is no longer up for debate among serious people. The flagship course ran about $5,000 per student (not the $20K that has been mentioned here before) and ran for a 16-month period beginning for most students at the star of their 7th grade year and running up through the administration of the Student Information Sheet in January of 8th grade.

Curie has multiple locations in Loudoun and western Fairfax Counties.

To say that the Curie matter "caused" the admissions changes is perhaps not quite appropriate, but it absolutely highlighted the need for reform because of the program's success in securing admission to TJ and the growth of its claims year over year.

And before anyone comes at me with the snarky "look, another advertisement for Curie" nonsense, understand this:

I don't care at all how much money Dr. R is able to bilk off of insecure families - I only care that the families are not rewarded in admissions processes for having the money to burn.

Why the fixation on Curie? have you been through their wringer?

I fixate on Curie because TJ kids who went to Curie confirmed that they behaved unethically AND because they published the first and last names of the kids who got in using their services - and in so doing proved that they serve the South Asian community exclusively.

How did the kids who went to Curie Learning behaved unethically when Curie has a math question bank of 100,000 questions from which they create study material and random weekly, monthly unit tests? My son went there and we were very happy with their services. Make sure you ask for festival discounts. Friday samosas are great too. It's not exclusive for South Asian community, anyone who can handle their samosa spice level is happy there. I was told they do party catering as well, but never tried though.

Let's back up for a minute here...

The people who behaved unethically at Curie were:

1) The kids who took the Quant-Q, signed the NDA, and then went back to Curie and parroted the longform word problems that they saw on multiple forms of the exam, allowing Curie to prepare students for an exam whose entire value rests in students NOT having prepared for it;

2) The staff members at Curie who designed curriculum around secured materials - although to their credit, they may not have known that the kids signed the NDA.

The Quant-Q is NOT a math exam. It is a quantitative problem-solving assessment that places a high level of value on students taking a problem of a type that they've never seen before and diagnosing how to quickly and elegantly solve it using a combination of advanced reasoning and relatively basic math skills.

A good way to think of it is that it's like a math version of the LSAT. The Quant-Q isn't a math exam any more than the LSAT is a vocabulary test.

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Anonymous wrote:https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/college-credit-high-school/international

Why is it that fcps offers IB program in Mount Vernon/Lewis/Justice/..., but not in McClean/Langley/Oakton/...?

You chose not to include Marshall and Robinson. Those are not low SES schools.

They're all the same. It's a standard program. I know that's not what your real estate agent told you but it's true.

Our prior real estate agent kept encouraging us to move out of our Title 1 pyramid because she said the schools were bad. She wanted us to move to the Langley pyramid. We got a new real estate agent. Not that we have anything against Langley but we disagreed strongly that our schools were bad and were very happy with how are kids were doing and we love our neighborhood. Our kids are in college and high school now and we have no regrets.

I call shenanigans. The people who can afford Langley but instead choose Title 1 number around zero.

Wrong. We can afford Langley but bought a 7 figure home in our title 1 pyramid because of the amazing community we live in. We love living inside the beltway, have an easy commute everywhere, and live with a diverse and interesting populace that has broadened my world view. I’m super active in the school, see daily how amazing the teachers and administrators are, and know that we made the right decision for our family. The fear of poor people on DCUM is so irrational. Most of the poor families we’ve met are immigrants who are trying so hard to live the American dream. They want the best for their children just like rich people do. Y’all are afraid of a ghost. I’ll stay here.

Where are Title 1 pyramids inside the beltway?

The Justice and Falls Church pyramids are Title 1 and inside the Beltway, if I'm not mistaken. Parts of Edison and Lewis are inside the beltway too.