Anonymous
Post 06/11/2026 22:04     Subject: Advice for new TJ Parents
Could also be that Latin isn’t conversational like other languages…many teens feel inhibited when speaking in an unfamiliar language. Some are very shy about it and doubly shy about making mistakes as happens often when learning a new language. Of course there are also many TJ kids who grew up speaking several languages. Or learned English later on. I think TJ has some excellent language teachers in multiple languages. Something for everyone.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2026 10:19     Subject: Advice for new TJ Parents
Anonymous wrote:I definitely know TJ students who seriously value the Spanish they learned at TJ. And I know students who wanted an A more than they wanted to learn Spanish. And I know students who accomplished both, and students who accomplished neither.
My kid came in with French & stayed with French and now she’s pretty good at French.
Plenty of kids like Latin, too. It helps if you actually want to learn the language well, so just choose a language you are excited to learn.


I think there a4re a lot of kids that have good experiences with latin
I think the proportion of kids with good spanish experience is lower.
Maybe there is self selection and the kids who are less language proficient default to spanish more often or maybe it's the faculty or maybe spanish is a much harder language.
Whatever the case may be, the attrition in spanish is much much higher than other languages.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2026 10:17     Subject: Advice for new TJ Parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:TJ has AP French. It’s a good class, too.
Also, you realize there are kids at TJ who do really well in Spanish, right?
BTW There’s an interesting correlation between students who are strong at learning languages and strong at math. TJ has a good number of students who have high aptitudes in both. I think you could also say students who put the time in studying and practicing the concepts do well.


Having a high aptitude for learning languages and having the time to do all of the extra work required for Spanish are 2 different things. The Spanish classes have a lot of homework. Other classes have a lot of homework, projects, & tests (especially freshman year IBET projects). Having 10 pages of writing Spanish sentences as homework is unnecessary at a school where the students are there because they want to focus on STEM.



So that’s the rub: you value foreign languages less than the STEM courses and therefore don’t think kids should have to work hard in those classes. Sure, TJ is a STEM magnet, but foreign language is still considered a core high school course.


Foreign language is considered an elective, that is why students are able to take the class pass/fail.

https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/se119.pdf


Also, you are correct. I value learning a foreign language at TJ less than the STEM classes. Students can use Duolingo or any number of other sources to learn Spanish. They only have the option to take TJ specific STEM courses (that aren’t available at any other high school) while at TJ. Spanish isn’t “special” at TJ, it just requires significantly more time to complete all of the homework.


And we are about 5 minutes away from an actual babblefish
Anonymous
Post 06/10/2026 20:06     Subject: Advice for new TJ Parents
I definitely know TJ students who seriously value the Spanish they learned at TJ. And I know students who wanted an A more than they wanted to learn Spanish. And I know students who accomplished both, and students who accomplished neither.
My kid came in with French & stayed with French and now she’s pretty good at French.
Plenty of kids like Latin, too. It helps if you actually want to learn the language well, so just choose a language you are excited to learn.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 23:14     Subject: Advice for new TJ Parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:TJ has AP French. It’s a good class, too.
Also, you realize there are kids at TJ who do really well in Spanish, right?
BTW There’s an interesting correlation between students who are strong at learning languages and strong at math. TJ has a good number of students who have high aptitudes in both. I think you could also say students who put the time in studying and practicing the concepts do well.


Having a high aptitude for learning languages and having the time to do all of the extra work required for Spanish are 2 different things. The Spanish classes have a lot of homework. Other classes have a lot of homework, projects, & tests (especially freshman year IBET projects). Having 10 pages of writing Spanish sentences as homework is unnecessary at a school where the students are there because they want to focus on STEM.



So that’s the rub: you value foreign languages less than the STEM courses and therefore don’t think kids should have to work hard in those classes. Sure, TJ is a STEM magnet, but foreign language is still considered a core high school course.


Foreign language is considered an elective, that is why students are able to take the class pass/fail.

https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/se119.pdf


Also, you are correct. I value learning a foreign language at TJ less than the STEM classes. Students can use Duolingo or any number of other sources to learn Spanish. They only have the option to take TJ specific STEM courses (that aren’t available at any other high school) while at TJ. Spanish isn’t “special” at TJ, it just requires significantly more time to complete all of the homework.


At least for my kid, homework wasn't the issue.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 23:12     Subject: Advice for new TJ Parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:TJ has AP French. It’s a good class, too.
Also, you realize there are kids at TJ who do really well in Spanish, right?
BTW There’s an interesting correlation between students who are strong at learning languages and strong at math. TJ has a good number of students who have high aptitudes in both. I think you could also say students who put the time in studying and practicing the concepts do well.


Having a high aptitude for learning languages and having the time to do all of the extra work required for Spanish are 2 different things. The Spanish classes have a lot of homework. Other classes have a lot of homework, projects, & tests (especially freshman year IBET projects). Having 10 pages of writing Spanish sentences as homework is unnecessary at a school where the students are there because they want to focus on STEM.



So that’s the rub: you value foreign languages less than the STEM courses and therefore don’t think kids should have to work hard in those classes. Sure, TJ is a STEM magnet, but foreign language is still considered a core high school course.


Foreign language is considered an elective, that is why students are able to take the class pass/fail.

https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/se119.pdf


Also, you are correct. I value learning a foreign language at TJ less than the STEM classes. Students can use Duolingo or any number of other sources to learn Spanish. They only have the option to take TJ specific STEM courses (that aren’t available at any other high school) while at TJ. Spanish isn’t “special” at TJ, it just requires significantly more time to complete all of the homework.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 23:05     Subject: Advice for new TJ Parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:TJ has AP French. It’s a good class, too.
Also, you realize there are kids at TJ who do really well in Spanish, right?
BTW There’s an interesting correlation between students who are strong at learning languages and strong at math. TJ has a good number of students who have high aptitudes in both. I think you could also say students who put the time in studying and practicing the concepts do well.


Having a high aptitude for learning languages and having the time to do all of the extra work required for Spanish are 2 different things. The Spanish classes have a lot of homework. Other classes have a lot of homework, projects, & tests (especially freshman year IBET projects). Having 10 pages of writing Spanish sentences as homework is unnecessary at a school where the students are there because they want to focus on STEM.



So that’s the rub: you value foreign languages less than the STEM courses and therefore don’t think kids should have to work hard in those classes. Sure, TJ is a STEM magnet, but foreign language is still considered a core high school course.


Foreign language is considered an elective, that is why students are able to take the class pass/fail.

https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/se119.pdf
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 21:59     Subject: Advice for new TJ Parents
Anonymous wrote:TJ has AP French. It’s a good class, too.
Also, you realize there are kids at TJ who do really well in Spanish, right?
BTW There’s an interesting correlation between students who are strong at learning languages and strong at math. TJ has a good number of students who have high aptitudes in both. I think you could also say students who put the time in studying and practicing the concepts do well.


I'd love to hear more about a kid that crushed Spanish. My kid had fluent Spanish speakers in his class and they couldn't keep up. It's one thing to speak Spanish and it's another to understand the exact rules of formal, European grammar for Spanish.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 21:38     Subject: Advice for new TJ Parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:TJ has AP French. It’s a good class, too.
Also, you realize there are kids at TJ who do really well in Spanish, right?
BTW There’s an interesting correlation between students who are strong at learning languages and strong at math. TJ has a good number of students who have high aptitudes in both. I think you could also say students who put the time in studying and practicing the concepts do well.


Having a high aptitude for learning languages and having the time to do all of the extra work required for Spanish are 2 different things. The Spanish classes have a lot of homework. Other classes have a lot of homework, projects, & tests (especially freshman year IBET projects). Having 10 pages of writing Spanish sentences as homework is unnecessary at a school where the students are there because they want to focus on STEM.



So that’s the rub: you value foreign languages less than the STEM courses and therefore don’t think kids should have to work hard in those classes. Sure, TJ is a STEM magnet, but foreign language is still considered a core high school course.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 14:09     Subject: Advice for new TJ Parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Latin- a large group of TJ kids compete at the Virginia Latin convention. It’s a lot of fun- they spend the weekend in Richmond. There are so many activities involving Latin and I encourage everyone to consider it.

Summer PE is great for sophomore PE. Plan getting your drivers license early to get it done and out of the way. Freshman PE is hard.

At TJ, a lot of kids will take summer school because it is easier to get As. I know a lot of people prioritize vacations- but most of the kids I know do it over Christmas break because internships are super important too.

Do a sport at TJ. It helps if your kid socializes with upper classes.

Also- be prepared to volunteer a lot. The kids have so many activities and things don’t get done without parental involvement. It’s worth it!


As silly as this sounds, this is a high priority for us in addition to TJ academics. How competitive is to make football, basketball?


Football is not hard. The cut is more of a nudge.
Basketball is a bit tougher. There is a cut.


Thank you! This is helpful!
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 10:09     Subject: Advice for new TJ Parents
Anonymous wrote:TJ has AP French. It’s a good class, too.
Also, you realize there are kids at TJ who do really well in Spanish, right?
BTW There’s an interesting correlation between students who are strong at learning languages and strong at math. TJ has a good number of students who have high aptitudes in both. I think you could also say students who put the time in studying and practicing the concepts do well.


Having a high aptitude for learning languages and having the time to do all of the extra work required for Spanish are 2 different things. The Spanish classes have a lot of homework. Other classes have a lot of homework, projects, & tests (especially freshman year IBET projects). Having 10 pages of writing Spanish sentences as homework is unnecessary at a school where the students are there because they want to focus on STEM.

Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 09:45     Subject: Advice for new TJ Parents
Anonymous wrote:TJ has AP French. It’s a good class, too.
Also, you realize there are kids at TJ who do really well in Spanish, right?
BTW There’s an interesting correlation between students who are strong at learning languages and strong at math. TJ has a good number of students who have high aptitudes in both. I think you could also say students who put the time in studying and practicing the concepts do well.


I hear French is starting to drift towards Spanish.

No doubt. There are kids at TJ that crush everything.
This is not and had not been the majority of TJ student with Spanish, not now nor under the previous merit-based admission process.

Anonymous
Post 06/07/2026 21:21     Subject: Advice for new TJ Parents
TJ has AP French. It’s a good class, too.
Also, you realize there are kids at TJ who do really well in Spanish, right?
BTW There’s an interesting correlation between students who are strong at learning languages and strong at math. TJ has a good number of students who have high aptitudes in both. I think you could also say students who put the time in studying and practicing the concepts do well.
Anonymous
Post 06/05/2026 00:49     Subject: Advice for new TJ Parents
Lacrosse (guys and gals teams) is a lot of fun at TJ — really nice group of kids on both teams. Someone who has played well on elite/club teams can make varsity as a freshman which is great; also a complete beginner can start at JV and learn the game.

The 4th history class — there are some semester-length electives that a lot of TJ seniors take which are really interesting and more niche than the AP courses. It’s worth waiting to fill that social studies credit; no need to rush to take a summer class or check a box.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2026 15:16     Subject: Advice for new TJ Parents
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Latin- a large group of TJ kids compete at the Virginia Latin convention. It’s a lot of fun- they spend the weekend in Richmond. There are so many activities involving Latin and I encourage everyone to consider it.

Summer PE is great for sophomore PE. Plan getting your drivers license early to get it done and out of the way. Freshman PE is hard.

At TJ, a lot of kids will take summer school because it is easier to get As. I know a lot of people prioritize vacations- but most of the kids I know do it over Christmas break because internships are super important too.

Do a sport at TJ. It helps if your kid socializes with upper classes.

Also- be prepared to volunteer a lot. The kids have so many activities and things don’t get done without parental involvement. It’s worth it!


As silly as this sounds, this is a high priority for us in addition to TJ academics. How competitive is to make football, basketball?


Football is not hard. The cut is more of a nudge.
Basketball is a bit tougher. There is a cut.