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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous].[b]..not lowering academic standards to achieve that. How can we achieve racial balance at TJ without lowering academic standards? [/b]

I fully support schools like Harvard and Yale using holistic admissions to create a balanced class. However, they are able to do that without having to fundamentally change their academic standards that make them excellent and sought-after because they have tens of thousands of applicants for a limited number of seats, most of which are extremely qualified based on test scores (except recently), GPA, course rigor, extracurriculars, etc... Chances are, even if the accepted URMs qualifications are slightly lower than the average accepted student, they are still most likely sufficiently qualified to function in the existing curriculum.

The problem with the current TJ admissions proposals is there is really nothing to show that the applicant is capable of handling an advanced STEM curriculum. The test wasn't perfect, but at least it showed ability to be able to pass it,  which showed understanding of a certain level of material (not just ability to take a test). A 3.5 GPA unfortunately doesn't say much about ability in FCPS, without knowing the courses taken, the grades in the science and math classes, whether the courses are gen ed, honors or aap, and the middle school's grade curve. For example, if many of the kids who end up getting in happen to be gen ed students with B's in science and math, the TJ curriculum and standards will necessarily have to be lowered. This is a ludicrous result. I don't believe that the institution that are currently moving towards holistic admissions would do so if it meant they had to fundamentally lower their educational standards in order to achieve diversity.

How can we achieve diversity without changing the excellence that makes TJ sought-after in the first place? [/quote]

There is no other way - a system that's racially balanced but academically lacking or a system that academically excels but racially unbalanced. Can not have both ways.[/quote]

Bingo.

"However, they are able to do that without having to fundamentally change their academic standards that make them excellent and sought-after because they have tens of thousands of applicants"

Not true! SAT data by race at Harvard shows that "BIPOCS" have average scores far below the acceptable level for Asians and whites.
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