Reply to TJ 1.5% accepted?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Does TJ automatically accept the top 1.5% of each middle school? When you have many more than 1.5% taking the same classes and getting all A’s, what happens next?[/quote]
The top 1.5% doesn't refer to GPA or courses taken.  
All kids applying to TJ write a bunch of personal essays and a problem solving essay.  The essays are graded, and the kids' scores are based on the essay scores, unweighted GPA, and experience factors (FARMS, IEP, ESOL).  The unweighted GPA is not a huge factor, and they don't even look at courses taken or math level.

If a school has 600 8th graders, then it is guaranteed 1.5% of 600 = 9 TJ spots.  The 9 kids with the highest scores are offered admissions.  [/quote]

But the highest scores are not the smartest  or most prepared, due to the new system eliminating math level, objective testing, courses taken and teacher recommendations,  correct?[/quote]
That is correct.  They may be the smartest.  They may not be. The ranking is mostly based on the essays and experience factors.[/quote]

The idea was to get as close to a lottery as possible, which was the solution that the FCPS board tried to push the hardest.

Put a low threshold so that many would qualify and then try to keep the information available on the student to the minimum possible. Then, you get closer to the desired "should represent FCPS demographics". The main problem for FCPS board from achieving this is because of self selection bias and the pool of students who are applying do not represent FCPS demographics.

Just like most opportunists who took advantage of the riots in 2020 to pursue their own interests, FCPS board did the same. [/quote]

Not really.. The idea was to address the rampant cheating that had tainted selection since many were buying early access to the entrance exam.[/quote]

I am sorry your child did not get in. Please do not be bitter, as it would impact your child.

I understand your frustration and why you are agitated, but calm down for your kids sake.[/quote]

There were test banks at certain prep schools with questions kids memorized and told the schools. The test banks gave the students at those schools an advantage. We have seen issues with the AMC tests along these lines as well. MathCounts reminds parents to not take pictures of questions and post them because there are kids in other sections taking the tests later. There is plenty of evidence of cheating/unfair advantages in higher level math competitions and tests.

[/quote]

Students claimed that many of the same questions they had studied from the question bank were used even.  It was definitely a big advantage to have seen many of the questions beforehand.  I'm glad the school board sought to level the playing field.[/quote]

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