Reply to Alexandria's ban on Thomas Jefferson magnet school

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]ACPS resident here who went to a magnet school comparable to TJ in another state (and ranked the same or higher in national high school rankings over the years). I am happy with the policy staying as it is even though I know it means my own kids won't have a shot at the magnet school experience I had.

To the poster looking for data v. anecdotes about high achieving students: to participate in TJ is not just $X per jurisdiction resident who gets in; it requires yearly lump sum payments to TJ (in the hundreds of thousands of dollars range) regardless of whether any Alexandria city resident kids get in/attend. Meaning, it is likely that some years ACPS would be transferring large sums of money to a school that serves no city residents. Even in years where city resident kids got in, the projected number last time I looked was potentially 2-4 students. That's a really small number of students for such a large outlay of taxpayer dollars.

Given the huge needs for improved or new facilities in ACPS and our serious budget constraints in the city as a whole, I would much rather have that money invested in our own schools where we know Alexandria resident students will benefit. As a taxpayer, I would consider sending hundreds of thousands of dollars to TJ a misuse of funds. Indeed, in recent years TC improved science facilities and created a great STEM/Health Sciences program in collaboration with George Washington University. I'm glad our tax dollars went to those things - that will benefit lots of city resident students - than to TJ just for the possibility that a handful of students (my kids included) might get in.

Of course people can vote with their feet. [b]I know people who moved to Fairfax in the elementary school years because of the ACPS policy[/b]. They wanted their kid to have a shot at TJ. Their kid didn't get in to TJ. I'm sure there are others who did the same with various levels of success. We're staying put because we love our community and because we know our kids can excel at TC.  [/quote]

You're very cavalierly dismissing those peers who are no longer in ACPS.  That's why ACPS should allow their residents to go to TJ.  Not because of the 2-4 kids who might go to TJ but because of the many students who would attend TC but for that.[/quote]

And God knows TC could use the help.  9 of the top 11 HSs in VA are FCPS in the New US News rankings.. 23 of the 25 FCPS high schools were in the top 100 in VA, with Lee and Mt. Vernon missing the cut.  (But Lee only barely missing it at #122).   Mt. Vernon is #211.  It has a daycare center on the school property for students’ children, grants fewer than 5 IB diplomas a year, and any parents with education or money AP place their kids out or send their kids to private.

Arlington Schools came in: 13 (Yorktown), 23 (WL) and 69 (Wakefield).

FC Public Schools (Mason) was 12th

Loudoun has 15 schools ranked 16 to 157.

I excluded “adult” and “alternative” HSs from all jurisdictions.

Then we get to ACPS.   TC Williams was ranked #259 in VA.  By far the worst of any school in APS, Falls Church Public Schools, FCPS or LCPS   With proficiency tests and graduation rate noted as “well below state median”.  Also, ranked  130 places below any other NOVA HS except Mt. Vernon. This is where you want to send your kid?  Because in the battle for Yale vs Jail, it looks like jail is winning.  I certainly wouldn’t send my kid there . 83% graduation rate? 74 percent non-Asian minority?, 46% low income? 46% not proficient in math and 31% not proficient in English?

Alexandria is an easy commute to DC and has some good housing stock. It’s baffling that their schools suck so badly.
 Because they should be attracting smart, affluent parents.   Encouraging smart kids to stay by making TJ an option, and making Tac desirable to TJ finalists not chosen would probably help.

But hey, if you are fine with your kid going to the 259th best high school in VA (out of 330 schools ranked) good for you. [/quote]

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