transportation to TJ is a stumbling block

[Anonymous]

So I see eliminating the $100 test fee as a positive step, but transportation still remains a stumbling block for many in the populations they hope to reach most. If you are getting bused to an elementary school "depot," the student may still be a substantial distance from their house. A merit based lottery may not change/remove some of the biggest barriers. If it takes a student 90 minutes to get there each way and leaves you without the opportunity to participate in after-school activities, some may see that as more trouble than it's worth.

I have heard this from several families. I'm not saying there is an easy answer, but for some, that is an easier roadblock to bypass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I see eliminating the $100 test fee as a positive step, but transportation still remains a stumbling block for many in the populations they hope to reach most. If you are getting bused to an elementary school "depot," the student may still be a substantial distance from their house. A merit based lottery may not change/remove some of the biggest barriers. If it takes a student 90 minutes to get there each way and leaves you without the opportunity to participate in after-school activities, some may see that as more trouble than it's worth.

I have heard this from several families. I'm not saying there is an easy answer, but for some, that is an easier roadblock to bypass.

cool story op. so what are you proposing? door to door pick-ups and drop offs?

[Anonymous]

That's why there's the eight period. Also, people are going to come up with millions of roadblocks as to why we should keep the status quo. Most of them are self serving attempts to keep TJ an exclusive club for their own kids, not real concern.

[Anonymous]

I don't see how you can fix this, given the size of Fairfax county.

Public transit isn't going to fix this either...even in nyc, where there is a subway stop right at Stuyvesant, kids still endure 90+ minute commutes on multiple trains and buses to get there. Most of the working class immigrants served by Stuy live all the way out in Queens, etc.

[Anonymous]

Agree! I posted about this on another thread. My DS TJ's bus depot was a Title I ES - although only 5 miles from TJ, the bus ride was one hour each way as the bus had to go multiple stops to get enough kids to fill the bus.

Lottery alone will not do the trick - the board and FCPS have to put in logistical support (more direct buses, late buses for kids who want to do sports that don't exist now at TJ)

[Anonymous]

That's true, but TJ is actually closer to the most under-represented Regions, and furthest from where most of the kids currently come from.

[Anonymous]

Finally a well reason argument to keep TJ as it is. You should be proud op- be sure to contact the school board immediately so that you can share this insight

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finally a well reason argument to keep TJ as it is. You should be proud op- be sure to contact the school board immediately so that you can share this insight

I did not read OP's post as arguing against lottery - just pointing out that other adjustments may be necessary to support the change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finally a well reason argument to keep TJ as it is. You should be proud op- be sure to contact the school board immediately so that you can share this insight

Laughable

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's true, but TJ is actually closer to the most under-represented Regions, and furthest from where most of the kids currently come from.

Yep. This is not going to be a major issue. They'll actually save money on taking fewer kids from deep western Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's true, but TJ is actually closer to the most under-represented Regions, and furthest from where most of the kids currently come from.

Yep. This is not going to be a major issue. They'll actually save money on taking fewer kids from deep western Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

I endured 90 minute commutes to TJ from the western tip of Prince William County. For sports after school (not covered by 8th period) there were carpools with older kids. The same issue affects any kind of center school in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- calm your accusatory tone. I'm not suggesting this as a reason to keep it the way it is, but if the Board thinks this fixes the problem, it doesn't. If you think it does, you're blind and you want a quick fix to make yourself feel better. Working class families where parents are working more than one job to make ends meet and taking long commutes themselves may see it as a major roadblock. It's FAR if you don't have a car. Assuming that all "poor kids" live around TJ is also ridiculous. The county is big. And I was one of those immigrant kids in NYC going to a specialized HS with a 60+ minute commute each way. It is a different high school experience with a commute like that. Throw in potentially needing a job to help the family, and it can eliminate the option. NYC also has a far more extensive public transportation network than Fairfax. Maybe it means they need to think of multiple options or do a survey of prospective families. Maybe the school needs to help create a serious incentive for car-pools, use of public busing options (a fairfax county bus may get them closer to home than being dropped at the local elementary school and allow them to stay after school). NYC public school kids get a free bus/train pass to use on public transportation), late bus options so kids can participate in after-school activities, etc. Just because you can get in, doesn't mean it's easy to attend. Think outside the box a bit.

[Anonymous]

Unlike Stuyvesant which is located in Manhattan, TJ is actually relatively close to some of the poorest parts of the county and farther from some of the wealthier areas they draw more kids from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- calm your accusatory tone. I'm not suggesting this as a reason to keep it the way it is, but if the Board thinks this fixes the problem, it doesn't. If you think it does, you're blind and you want a quick fix to make yourself feel better. Working class families where parents are working more than one job to make ends meet and taking long commutes themselves may see it as a major roadblock. It's FAR if you don't have a car. Assuming that all "poor kids" live around TJ is also ridiculous. The county is big. And I was one of those immigrant kids in NYC going to a specialized HS with a 60+ minute commute each way. It is a different high school experience with a commute like that. Throw in potentially needing a job to help the family, and it can eliminate the option. NYC also has a far more extensive public transportation network than Fairfax. Maybe it means they need to think of multiple options or do a survey of prospective families. Maybe the school needs to help create a serious incentive for car-pools, use of public busing options (a fairfax county bus may get them closer to home than being dropped at the local elementary school and allow them to stay after school). NYC public school kids get a free bus/train pass to use on public transportation), late bus options so kids can participate in after-school activities, etc. Just because you can get in, doesn't mean it's easy to attend. Think outside the box a bit.

Agreed.

What the board is saying is that they can’t URM to even apply and they are blaming prep centers and Asians for this.

But as an URM, if my kid can excel at his base school, I’m not going to force him to go to TJ is it means that I can login more hours at work to pay the bills.
This isn’t AZ.