Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why in the world would someone who doesn’t like Science or Math go to TJ in the first place?

I have no idea!!!! Seems crazy to me. There is another post where people are asking about electives to take for students who don’t like math and people are shocked to find out AP Calculus is a REQUIRED course at TJ. One parent thought their kid could stop math at Algebra II and pulled her kid from TJ after 9th grade.

The humanities courses at TJ, with the driven academic peer group, are an underrated part of the school. They're really good.

I noticed that they appear to assign actual texts, unlike base schools. I was impressed by this.

I'm curious about speakers that have speech articulation problems and world language. Mine is doing one of the other languages but I'm considering encouraging Latin instead. Thoughts?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many people whose children were accepted to TJ appear shocked to know that AP Calculus is required at TJ.

Math:
4 years of math - Does not include Algebra 1 which is required for application/admission. Math sequence must terminate in at least AP Calculus (AB or BC).

Science - Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Geosystems are required courses for all students.

Foreign Language:
3 years of the same language - Must have three consecutive years of the same language – Footnote #4 (2 years of 2 different languages does not apply for the TJ Diploma).

World History/Social Studies: Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government, and World History/Geography I and World History/Geography II. AP World History satisfies the requirement for World History/Geography II. *****Please note that 9th graders do not take a course from this list unless it is their only free choice elective, meaning that your student will need to either complete summer school or use an elective in 10-12th grades to complete this requirement.

Health/PE - 2 years

Virtual Course Requirement - Students shall successfully complete one virtual course, which may be a noncredit-bearing course, or may be a course required to earn this diploma that is offered online.

Fine Arts - not required

Career and Technology Education - The credit is earned via Design & Technology required for all matriculating students. (this class is taken in 9th grade)

3 Required Electives: Computer Science, Senior Research/Mentorship, & an additional credit in Math, Science, Technology, Fine Arts, or a fourth consecutive credit in a world language must be taken to fulfill these ‘elective’ credits.

9th grade - one free elective (60% or more of students take the required computer science elective).
10th grade- two free electives if 3 years of world language have been completed. One free elective if world language requirement has not been completed.
11th grade - 3 free electives if wold language requirement is complete. 2 free electives if world language has not been completed.
12th - 3 free electives

Free Electives must include - 1 history/studies course and 1 computer science elective.

Students who complete the world language requirement before 10th grade have 7 free choice electives and 2 required electives (computer science and world history/social studies are the 2 required electives)

Students who complete the world language requirement before 11th grade have 6 free choice electives and 2 required electives (computer science and world history/social studies are the 2 required electives)

Students who don’t complete the world language requirement until they have finished 11th grade have 5 free choice electives and 2 required electives (computer science and world history/social studies are the 2 required electives)

If your student takes band/orchestra this takes up most of their electives. To have more electives during the school year students often take PE during the summer before 9th/10th grade in order to have 2 additional credits available.

***these classes are all harder than at base high school

Thank you for the information! Such important information should have been provided to 8th graders and parents at TJ application information session.

NP.

I’m the parent of a current freshman at TJ. He loves science, math, technology, and a challenge. TJ appears to be the perfect fit for him.

He has mentioned a few kids who seem entirely focused on liberal arts, but their parents forced them to go to TJ for no other reason than the parents view TJ as “number one!”

I agree with the PP: the information the OP provided should be clearly spelled out for all prospective TJ students going forward.

There's a big difference between the following kids going to TJ:

Kid 1: doesn't like math and struggles with it, but really bright in another area (should not go)
Kid 2: math is not their priority, but they will handle the courseload through AP Calc AB just fine and will also find options in the course catalogue to challenge them and enjoy the rigorous peer group and academic culture (should go)

The TJ math track includes three levels beyond basic Calculus AB. If a student is hesitant from the start to go beyond minimum required Calc AB, it’s worth asking whether TJ is the right fit — especially when most peers at TJ advance further. Even at base schools, many students go beyond Calc AB, with some even skipping it entirely to take Calc BC and follow it up with Multivariable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why in the world would someone who doesn’t like Science or Math go to TJ in the first place?

I have no idea!!!! Seems crazy to me. There is another post where people are asking about electives to take for students who don’t like math and people are shocked to find out AP Calculus is a REQUIRED course at TJ. One parent thought their kid could stop math at Algebra II and pulled her kid from TJ after 9th grade.

The humanities courses at TJ, with the driven academic peer group, are an underrated part of the school. They're really good.

I noticed that they appear to assign actual texts, unlike base schools. I was impressed by this.

I'm curious about speakers that have speech articulation problems and world language. Mine is doing one of the other languages but I'm considering encouraging Latin instead. Thoughts?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why in the world would someone who doesn’t like Science or Math go to TJ in the first place?

I have no idea!!!! Seems crazy to me. There is another post where people are asking about electives to take for students who don’t like math and people are shocked to find out AP Calculus is a REQUIRED course at TJ. One parent thought their kid could stop math at Algebra II and pulled her kid from TJ after 9th grade.

The humanities courses at TJ, with the driven academic peer group, are an underrated part of the school. They're really good.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many people whose children were accepted to TJ appear shocked to know that AP Calculus is required at TJ.

Math:
4 years of math - Does not include Algebra 1 which is required for application/admission. Math sequence must terminate in at least AP Calculus (AB or BC).

Science - Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Geosystems are required courses for all students.

Foreign Language:
3 years of the same language - Must have three consecutive years of the same language – Footnote #4 (2 years of 2 different languages does not apply for the TJ Diploma).

World History/Social Studies: Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government, and World History/Geography I and World History/Geography II. AP World History satisfies the requirement for World History/Geography II. *****Please note that 9th graders do not take a course from this list unless it is their only free choice elective, meaning that your student will need to either complete summer school or use an elective in 10-12th grades to complete this requirement.

Health/PE - 2 years

Virtual Course Requirement - Students shall successfully complete one virtual course, which may be a noncredit-bearing course, or may be a course required to earn this diploma that is offered online.

Fine Arts - not required

Career and Technology Education - The credit is earned via Design & Technology required for all matriculating students. (this class is taken in 9th grade)

3 Required Electives: Computer Science, Senior Research/Mentorship, & an additional credit in Math, Science, Technology, Fine Arts, or a fourth consecutive credit in a world language must be taken to fulfill these ‘elective’ credits.

9th grade - one free elective (60% or more of students take the required computer science elective).
10th grade- two free electives if 3 years of world language have been completed. One free elective if world language requirement has not been completed.
11th grade - 3 free electives if wold language requirement is complete. 2 free electives if world language has not been completed.
12th - 3 free electives

Free Electives must include - 1 history/studies course and 1 computer science elective.

Students who complete the world language requirement before 10th grade have 7 free choice electives and 2 required electives (computer science and world history/social studies are the 2 required electives)

Students who complete the world language requirement before 11th grade have 6 free choice electives and 2 required electives (computer science and world history/social studies are the 2 required electives)

Students who don’t complete the world language requirement until they have finished 11th grade have 5 free choice electives and 2 required electives (computer science and world history/social studies are the 2 required electives)

If your student takes band/orchestra this takes up most of their electives. To have more electives during the school year students often take PE during the summer before 9th/10th grade in order to have 2 additional credits available.

***these classes are all harder than at base high school

Thank you for the information! Such important information should have been provided to 8th graders and parents at TJ application information session.

NP.

I’m the parent of a current freshman at TJ. He loves science, math, technology, and a challenge. TJ appears to be the perfect fit for him.

He has mentioned a few kids who seem entirely focused on liberal arts, but their parents forced them to go to TJ for no other reason than the parents view TJ as “number one!”

I agree with the PP: the information the OP provided should be clearly spelled out for all prospective TJ students going forward.

There's a big difference between the following kids going to TJ:

Kid 1: doesn't like math and struggles with it, but really bright in another area (should not go)
Kid 2: math is not their priority, but they will handle the courseload through AP Calc AB just fine and will also find options in the course catalogue to challenge them and enjoy the rigorous peer group and academic culture (should go)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why in the world would someone who doesn’t like Science or Math go to TJ in the first place?

I have no idea!!!! Seems crazy to me. There is another post where people are asking about electives to take for students who don’t like math and people are shocked to find out AP Calculus is a REQUIRED course at TJ. One parent thought their kid could stop math at Algebra II and pulled her kid from TJ after 9th grade.

The humanities courses at TJ, with the driven academic peer group, are an underrated part of the school. They're really good.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can they tkae their foreign language online? My kid has been taking Japanese but I know that TJ dropped that languge.

Yes, foreign language credits can be taken online. My son is not at TJ yet, but from what everyone says Spanish is incredibly hard at TJ. Did your kid do the JIP Immersion Program?

Yes, it was the natural progression in MS and they like having a class with all their ES friends. It is a bummer that TJ dropped the class because I know they used to offer it.

Did your child go to GFES?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many people whose children were accepted to TJ appear shocked to know that AP Calculus is required at TJ.

Math:
4 years of math - Does not include Algebra 1 which is required for application/admission. Math sequence must terminate in at least AP Calculus (AB or BC).

Science - Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Geosystems are required courses for all students.

Foreign Language:
3 years of the same language - Must have three consecutive years of the same language – Footnote #4 (2 years of 2 different languages does not apply for the TJ Diploma).

World History/Social Studies: Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government, and World History/Geography I and World History/Geography II. AP World History satisfies the requirement for World History/Geography II. *****Please note that 9th graders do not take a course from this list unless it is their only free choice elective, meaning that your student will need to either complete summer school or use an elective in 10-12th grades to complete this requirement.

Health/PE - 2 years

Virtual Course Requirement - Students shall successfully complete one virtual course, which may be a noncredit-bearing course, or may be a course required to earn this diploma that is offered online.

Fine Arts - not required

Career and Technology Education - The credit is earned via Design & Technology required for all matriculating students. (this class is taken in 9th grade)

3 Required Electives: Computer Science, Senior Research/Mentorship, & an additional credit in Math, Science, Technology, Fine Arts, or a fourth consecutive credit in a world language must be taken to fulfill these ‘elective’ credits.

9th grade - one free elective (60% or more of students take the required computer science elective).
10th grade- two free electives if 3 years of world language have been completed. One free elective if world language requirement has not been completed.
11th grade - 3 free electives if wold language requirement is complete. 2 free electives if world language has not been completed.
12th - 3 free electives

Free Electives must include - 1 history/studies course and 1 computer science elective.

Students who complete the world language requirement before 10th grade have 7 free choice electives and 2 required electives (computer science and world history/social studies are the 2 required electives)

Students who complete the world language requirement before 11th grade have 6 free choice electives and 2 required electives (computer science and world history/social studies are the 2 required electives)

Students who don’t complete the world language requirement until they have finished 11th grade have 5 free choice electives and 2 required electives (computer science and world history/social studies are the 2 required electives)

If your student takes band/orchestra this takes up most of their electives. To have more electives during the school year students often take PE during the summer before 9th/10th grade in order to have 2 additional credits available.

***these classes are all harder than at base high school.

Thank you for the information! Such important information should have been provided to 8th graders and parents at TJ application information session.

NP.

I’m the parent of a current freshman at TJ. He loves science, math, technology, and a challenge. TJ appears to be the perfect fit for him.

He has mentioned a few kids who seem entirely focused on liberal arts, but their parents forced them to go to TJ for no other reason than the parents view TJ as “number one!”

I agree with the PP: the information the OP provided should be clearly spelled out for all prospective TJ students going forward.

FCPS should have a liberal arts magnet high school to serve the students with advanced liberal arts needs. TJ should served the students with interests and advanced capability in STEM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many people whose children were accepted to TJ appear shocked to know that AP Calculus is required at TJ.

Math:
4 years of math - Does not include Algebra 1 which is required for application/admission. Math sequence must terminate in at least AP Calculus (AB or BC).

Science - Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Geosystems are required courses for all students.

Foreign Language:
3 years of the same language - Must have three consecutive years of the same language – Footnote #4 (2 years of 2 different languages does not apply for the TJ Diploma).

World History/Social Studies: Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government, and World History/Geography I and World History/Geography II. AP World History satisfies the requirement for World History/Geography II. *****Please note that 9th graders do not take a course from this list unless it is their only free choice elective, meaning that your student will need to either complete summer school or use an elective in 10-12th grades to complete this requirement.

Health/PE - 2 years

Virtual Course Requirement - Students shall successfully complete one virtual course, which may be a noncredit-bearing course, or may be a course required to earn this diploma that is offered online.

Fine Arts - not required

Career and Technology Education - The credit is earned via Design & Technology required for all matriculating students. (this class is taken in 9th grade)

3 Required Electives: Computer Science, Senior Research/Mentorship, & an additional credit in Math, Science, Technology, Fine Arts, or a fourth consecutive credit in a world language must be taken to fulfill these ‘elective’ credits.

9th grade - one free elective (60% or more of students take the required computer science elective).
10th grade- two free electives if 3 years of world language have been completed. One free elective if world language requirement has not been completed.
11th grade - 3 free electives if wold language requirement is complete. 2 free electives if world language has not been completed.
12th - 3 free electives

Free Electives must include - 1 history/studies course and 1 computer science elective.

Students who complete the world language requirement before 10th grade have 7 free choice electives and 2 required electives (computer science and world history/social studies are the 2 required electives)

Students who complete the world language requirement before 11th grade have 6 free choice electives and 2 required electives (computer science and world history/social studies are the 2 required electives)

Students who don’t complete the world language requirement until they have finished 11th grade have 5 free choice electives and 2 required electives (computer science and world history/social studies are the 2 required electives)

If your student takes band/orchestra this takes up most of their electives. To have more electives during the school year students often take PE during the summer before 9th/10th grade in order to have 2 additional credits available.

***these classes are all harder than at base high school.

Thank you for the information! Such important information should have been provided to 8th graders and parents at TJ application information session.

NP.

I’m the parent of a current freshman at TJ. He loves science, math, technology, and a challenge. TJ appears to be the perfect fit for him.

He has mentioned a few kids who seem entirely focused on liberal arts, but their parents forced them to go to TJ for no other reason than the parents view TJ as “number one!”

I agree with the PP: the information the OP provided should be clearly spelled out for all prospective TJ students going forward.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can they tkae their foreign language online? My kid has been taking Japanese but I know that TJ dropped that languge.

Yes, foreign language credits can be taken online. My son is not at TJ yet, but from what everyone says Spanish is incredibly hard at TJ. Did your kid do the JIP Immersion Program?

Yes, it was the natural progression in MS and they like having a class with all their ES friends. It is a bummer that TJ dropped the class because I know they used to offer it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can they tkae their foreign language online? My kid has been taking Japanese but I know that TJ dropped that languge.

Yes, foreign language credits can be taken online. My son is not at TJ yet, but from what everyone says Spanish is incredibly hard at TJ. Did your kid do the JIP Immersion Program?

Anonymous wrote:It seems like most TJ students are shooting for colleges that want 4 years of a foreign language, and likely the AP capstone. Are many really stopping at 3 years of a foreign language?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many people whose children were accepted to TJ appear shocked to know that AP Calculus is required at TJ.

Math:
4 years of math - Does not include Algebra 1 which is required for application/admission. Math sequence must terminate in at least AP Calculus (AB or BC).

Science - Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Geosystems are required courses for all students.

Foreign Language:
3 years of the same language - Must have three consecutive years of the same language – Footnote #4 (2 years of 2 different languages does not apply for the TJ Diploma).

World History/Social Studies: Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government, and World History/Geography I and World History/Geography II. AP World History satisfies the requirement for World History/Geography II. *****Please note that 9th graders do not take a course from this list unless it is their only free choice elective, meaning that your student will need to either complete summer school or use an elective in 10-12th grades to complete this requirement.

Health/PE - 2 years

Virtual Course Requirement - Students shall successfully complete one virtual course, which may be a noncredit-bearing course, or may be a course required to earn this diploma that is offered online.

Fine Arts - not required

Career and Technology Education - The credit is earned via Design & Technology required for all matriculating students. (this class is taken in 9th grade)

3 Required Electives: Computer Science, Senior Research/Mentorship, & an additional credit in Math, Science, Technology, Fine Arts, or a fourth consecutive credit in a world language must be taken to fulfill these ‘elective’ credits.

9th grade - one free elective (60% or more of students take the required computer science elective).
10th grade- two free electives if 3 years of world language have been completed. One free elective if world language requirement has not been completed.
11th grade - 3 free electives if wold language requirement is complete. 2 free electives if world language has not been completed.
12th - 3 free electives

Free Electives must include - 1 history/studies course and 1 computer science elective.

Students who complete the world language requirement before 10th grade have 7 free choice electives and 2 required electives (computer science and world history/social studies are the 2 required electives)

Students who complete the world language requirement before 11th grade have 6 free choice electives and 2 required electives (computer science and world history/social studies are the 2 required electives)

Students who don’t complete the world language requirement until they have finished 11th grade have 5 free choice electives and 2 required electives (computer science and world history/social studies are the 2 required electives)

If your student takes band/orchestra this takes up most of their electives. To have more electives during the school year students often take PE during the summer before 9th/10th grade in order to have 2 additional credits available.

***these classes are all harder than at base high school

Thank you for the information! Such important information should have been provided to 8th graders and parents at TJ application information session.

NP.

I’m the parent of a current freshman at TJ. He loves science, math, technology, and a challenge. TJ appears to be the perfect fit for him.

He has mentioned a few kids who seem entirely focused on liberal arts, but their parents forced them to go to TJ for no other reason than the parents view TJ as “number one!”

I agree with the PP: the information the OP provided should be clearly spelled out for all prospective TJ students going forward.