Youngkin and TJ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the issue with taking the top 1.5% of each MS?

Seems like we’d end up with a highly-qualified cohort.

I think it's an awesome idea, providing that you have a comprehensive enough application that you can even identify the top 1.5%. The current process is not it.

I'll tell you - I'm probably the loudest pro-reform advocate on here, but you're right. I vastly prefer it to what we had before, but the process definitely needs some additional factors in it.

I would advocate for a re-engineered teacher recommendation form first and foremost, that emphasizes the student's total contribution to the classroom.

I would be okay with optional exam submissions too, to be honest. Took the SHSAT? Submit that! Want to submit your Cogats or SOLs? Sure! And layer those in as a piece of the application. That would give the Admissions Committee an opportunity to identify and take some students who are exceptional exam performers but whose communication skills might be a little lacking or are too shy to be ready to contribute in class. It's one way to circumvent the problem of exams being expensive for districts to assess.

And of course, I would ensure that SPS questions include a discussion of a student's proudest STEM achievement, but also their proudest non-STEM achievement. TJ is a better place when students are able to find their niche.

On your last comment, I think non-STEM achievements are fair to consider, but TJ should maintain top priority on STEM by far. Students who are not top-tier STEM achievers should be able to find their niche elsewhere. For example, if the Lewis Leadership Academy takes off and succeeds, that should be the type of program that humanities-focused students could aim for.

That is some serious wishful thinking on display there.