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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
Everyone focuses on race and the effect on Asians, but this really [i]isn't[/i] about race as much as it is about [b]socioeconomic status[/b] which are, admittedly, intertwined. If there are poor Asian kids attending Sandburg MS, then they will benefit from the policy change. It's the wealthy families in Chantilly and Great Falls pyramids that stand to lose spots, which is why there is so much vocal outrage.[/quote]

There are a few problems with focusing on socioeconomic status.  This year and last year, the FARMS thing was self reported and technically everyone qualified, so TJ isn't necessarily getting many true FARMS kids.  Lower middle class kids who are just barely above the FARMS threshold are treated exactly the same as the wealthy kids, even though they have vastly different opportunities/privileges.  Even the highest FARMS schools have some fraction of wealthy, privileged kids who will snag many of the TJ spots for those schools.  Even the lowest FARMS schools have some FARMS kids or not-quite-FARMS lower income kids.  Many lower middle class Asian families prioritize education enough that they'll find a way to be in a good school, even if they're sacrificing many extras to do so.  Now, those kids have almost no shot at TJ.

It's a very flawed system.  If FCPS really wants to find underprivileged kids, they should look at[b] parental education levels[/b] and not specific school, self reported FARMS status, or race.  
[/quote]

I actually agree with you that this would be a stronger metric, but there isn't a way to do that. And besides, you'd just get parents under-reporting their education level to game the system anyway.

The new TJ admissions model works to create better representation because Northern Virginia is so deeply segregated into ethnic enclaves. If the upshot of this new policy is that population centers like those in Herndon, Ashburn, Chantilly, and Brambleton actually desegregate themselves, and end up raising the academic profile of some of the underrepresented middle schools, that's sort of a win-win. And as an added benefit, those students will spend a significant amount of time among kids from different backgrounds while they're in middle school, which will leave them better able to navigate a rapidly diversifying college and professional climate.[/quote]
Except for the Asian students getting hate crimed in the hallways by their new peers.[/quote]

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