Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Siphoning off the best students from schools and aggregating them in a "selective public school" is just another form of segregation and damages the students "left behind" both psychologically and academically. Let's commit to raising the quality of all our public schools and students not just the privileged at TJ.
If your child is psychologically damaged because other students go to TJ, he/she didn't have high self esteem in the first place. The AP/IB classes available at all FCPS high schools offer students "left behind" an excellent quality of education. Have you looked at a high school course catalog recently? My very bright middle schooler won't be going to TJ and he will be emotionally just fine, and is on track to take calculus BC in 11th. There are also countless AP science options. I don't feel like my DC will be denied a good quality education.
This puzzles me too. Less than 2% of FCPS kids in each class get into TJ. From a very affluent highly educated county. The "left behind" kids still learn in some of the best high schools in the country and go on to take 8-10 APS. Yes, it is disappointing to apply to TJ and not be accepted. But that's life. Your kid will also probably not be accepted at some selective colleges, if they aim high. And will not get every job they apply for. I know a lot of kids who applied to TJ and were not accepted. Most are very happy in their base school. Many come to believe that getting rejected was a blessing in disguise because they get a more normal HS experience, with less pressure. TJ is a great opportunity. But it not the only great opportunity in FCPS. Teach your kid to learn to deal with disappointment without being psychologically damaged.
BTW-- TJ parent with a younger D.C. who wants to apply for TJ next year. She wants to go badly. I think she is a long shot. I'm glad my older D.C. has the opportunity to attend TJ. If my younger D.C. does not, my job is to make sure she is fine in her base school, which also has amazing things going on.