Reply to TJHSST Admissions Revised Proposal to be sent on 10/6

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So has the SB or Braband explained or discussed what is the key cause that led to such lack of diversity at TJ?

Is it the test prep culture? 
Is it the pipeline that is not diverse enough? 
Is it that admission decisions are racially biased? 
Is it that the pressure-cooker culture at TJ is non desired by some students and families?

Not a FX resident and am just watching this from the sideline and wondering if these basic questions have been explored and answered before such a solution (aka lottery, partial or full) is proposed.  [/quote]

1.  The test prep culture thing is a bit of a red herring.  It’s a screener for the semi-final pool. And if you can’t make that cut without test prep, you won’t survive TJ. In the finalist round, there are always kids with very high tests who don’t get in and much more average ones that do. No one knows the secret sauce, but the proctored essays and problem solving essay plus teacher recs seem to play large roles.

2.  The Pipeline definitely isn’t diverse enough. But that is partly an SES issue. They want AA kids at TJ. Great. But FCPS is only 9% AA, and those students are disproportionately low SES. Hispanic kids are disproportionately low SES and ELL.  If FCPS can figure out how to bring kids who are at a disadvantage starting with poorer pre-natal nutrition and hearing fewer words as a baby up to speed with kids who get every advantage, they will be the first ones to do so. I think we aren’t being honest enough about the fact that some kids start on third base, and some start on the third string.  It’s less of a pipeline issue than a pre-pipeline issue. Although, the kids who get summer enrichment, private supports for LDs, tutors, music lessons, museum visits, great nutrition and a family value on education will always be ahead.

3.  No.  When admissions views files, they don’t have names and there is no indication of race or gender. Which is how we get such a lopsided result.  It is worth me noting, although no one does, that girls and boys apply is about equal numbers, but the acceptance rate is usually 60% male.

4. Definitely yes.  TJ isn’t for anyone, and families should be honest about what they are getting into academically. It’s very intense, and takes the whole family to support the kid.  On one hand, I can see why no AA kids want to go because no AA kids are there. OTOH, am AA kid with TJ level credentials in NOVA will have multiple free ride offers are the top private schools, who also have to show diversity. And these schools are actually more racially diverse and will get them to an Ivy with a lot more balanced HS experience. Which is why I doubt TJ will ever get significantly higher numbers of AAs. Unless they are true STEM nerds, they have better options. [/quote]

Sorry for typos. iPhone. Late.  I cleaned it up a little. [/quote]

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