Reply to TJ admissions now verifying free and reduced price meal status for successful 2026 applicants

Forum Index » Advanced Academic Programs (AAP)

Reply to "TJ admissions now verifying free and reduced price meal status for successful 2026 applicants "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I don't think there should be a boost for Algebra II or Pre Calc in 8th grade because I think it only increases the math acceleration race that is not healthy. How many of the kids in those classes are there because their parents want them at TJ and how many are there because they love math and are naturally good at math? [/quote]

Who cares why the kids are in those classes?  If they're taking Algebra II or Pre-Calc in 8th and have earned As in all of their math classes, they're undoubtedly more qualified to handle TJ math than kids who are only taking Algebra I in 8th and have not yet been graded on any math of any real substance.  Those kids are also undoubtedly naturally good at math, as they would not be capable of earning As in such accelerated classes.  I'd take the kid who has proven math ability over the kid who hasn't yet demonstrated any math ability.  [/quote]

I do.

There are kids who are not accepted into TJ that confuse people and I would bet that those are kids who wrote in their essay that they don't want to attend TJ. They can't tell their parents that because their parents are so focused on TJ. They can't tank their classes because it would cause a problem at home. So they write that they don't want to attend TJ in the timed essay that their parents will not see.

That tells me that there are kids who are checking off all the boxes but are not interested in TJ. Which leads me to wonder why they are in Algebra II or Pre Calc in 8th grade. Sure, they seem to be up to the task but they are not taking the class because they want to take the classes.

While I think that is a small percentage of the kids applying, it happens. Just like there are kids who go to TJ because their parents bribe them to attend. It is a small percentage of the kids who attend but it happens.

When I see the parents of a 2nd grader worried about what they need to do so their kid can go to TJ, I know that is the parent talking and not the kid.

TJ should be a decision made by the kid because they want that type of program and experience, not because the parents want it for the kid. [/quote]

I think I saw a similar post earlier and I assume its the same person :) - So how sure are you about this? Are you a current/former TJ faculty? Did you actually grade any essays? I can't vouch other kids, but at least in our case, we have long accepted and moved on from TJ, but my kid is unable to do so. She couldn't digest why her perfect GPA, always outshined others in classes, stem electives/activities, awards etc couldn't secure admission but others who barely had anything to say for themselves got in. The only comfort she has is there are many others from her school, some of them are better than her in her opinion also didn't get in and they are all equally disappointed. Its wrong to assume that everyone of them wrote in their essays that they didn't want TJ, even if they could lie to parents, but its easy for kids to sense interest in each other ex: they tend to pair up with other kids who are equally motivated so one kid will not be a drag on others in group etc. Btw, you can easily understand if the kid is really interested or doing it because of parents. I can very easily see if my DD is doing something (academics or otherwise) out of interest or because I pushed to do. If you can't see in your kid, then you probably don't understand your kid well enough. Sorry for being sarcastic :)

[/quote]

If you've truly moved on, I hope you're sharing with DD that life isn't always fair and that she and the other qualified but disappointed kids in her cohort can go on to have a great experience in their base schools.

Honestly, I wouldn't want my kid at the new incarnation of TJ.  It's become a demonstration project by which our current School Board gets to showcase its commitment to equity by treating the new TJ admits like precious plants in a greenhouse, or bacteria in a Petri dish to be carefully cultivated.  If they could, they'd accelerate the graduation of the Class of 2025 to next year so they had their graduation photos packaged and up on the FCPS web page before the fall 2023 School Board elections.

Meanwhile, there will be more really talented kids at many of the base schools, and they'll hopefully get to enjoy a great HS experience without being lab rats.  [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics