Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pat Hynes
@VotePatHynes
·
Mar 20
Does sound like TJ. DiBlasio’s proposed solution for NY is to admit the top students from every middle school - geographic equality as a stand-in for equity. Might work. Look at SF’s experience with Lowell HS - geography-plus. FCPS will begin TJ reform plan this year.
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Has anyone been following this?

No, but this is a terrible idea. It came up a few years ago and a bunch of parents said outright that they'll simply rent in less-desirable school middle school boundaries to increase their kids' chances if FCPS goes this route. FCPS is loathe to admit it, but they're well-aware that the county has a vested interest in not losing the TJ and AAP parents. I think they'll talk a big game but never follow through.

LOL!

And... where exactly are these parents going to go?

Too funny pp!

LCPS to AOS and AET. MCPs to RMIB and Blair. Basis. Someone will give these kids the STEM education they want.

There are articles interviewing Amazon and they chose NOVA despite the high COL because of its “STEM pipeline” AAP to TJ to VT. Although VT is having issues. And VA pledged a billion dollars towards STEM education to get Amazon. Not a billion dollars in infrastructure. A billion dollars in education. TJ has a big impact on regional economic success and VA’s quest to become less dependent on the federal government. You may not like it. You may laugh. But it’s true.

It’s a governors school. Ultimately, this goes through Richmond, not the SM. Every year the Eastern County Rep bring this up because they hate the imbalance between the Carson RRMs admit numbers and Eastern country admission numbers. And every year it does in committee with the Eastern County Rep being the only vote for.

From the outside looking in, messing with TJs success in the wake of Amazon is insane. It’s meant to be 100% merit based. It is not meant to be Harvard. It’s meant to be MiT. You could change its mission, but then you get a mediocre school.

And yes. TJ moves heaven and Earth to get qualified URMs and low SES to apply. If you fit these categories, you can do a two year MS program with mentoring and summer institute and TJ and TJ prepping classes and access to things like robotics teams to prepare you. Paid for by the Jack Kent Cook Foundation. It has not moved the needle.

If FCPS wanted better representation, they pull IB out of the Eastern County HSs and make them more attractive places to send smart kids. People commuting would love to live in Annandale or Alexandria vs Herndon.

But if this did come to pass, yes. Parents would rent an apartment their kids 8th grade year. Pick the least competitive HS, and tutor their kids like heck. It would make it easier, not harder, to game the system.

Early oughts TJ grad here. Pre-emergence of test prep, back when the student body was demonstrably better rounded. The school's demographic diversity (which wasn't great to begin with, but at least nominally mirrored the county breakdown) has tanked since then, with no appreciable improvement in college placement results (same or fewer Ivy admits/attendees, UVA admits down). Maybe there's more scholarship money floating around now, but we had Intel finalists and state science fair winners in addition to regional and state championship sports teams and robust curricular music programs (3 full class periods of chorus!). To my mind, two things have changed - the addition of the 4th history credit requirement for the FCPS advanced degree, which meant that with TJ grad requirements, students could no longer take a non-academic curricular elective without taking summer school, and the rise of test prep/parental involvement. I'm very curious about whether admissions testing can ever stay ahead of the test prep mills...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You will pry FCPS’s systemic racism from its cold, dead hand.

FCPS and TJ do loads of outreach and FCPS has the Young Scholars program. You can't blame everything on the school system.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pat Hynes
@VotePatHynes
·
Mar 20
Does sound like TJ. DiBlasio’s proposed solution for NY is to admit the top students from every middle school - geographic equality as a stand-in for equity. Might work. Look at SF’s experience with Lowell HS - geography-plus. FCPS will begin TJ reform plan this year.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Has anyone been following this?

No, but this is a terrible idea. It came up a few years ago and a bunch of parents said outright that they'll simply rent in less-desirable school middle school boundaries to increase their kids' chances if FCPS goes this route. FCPS is loathe to admit it, but they're well-aware that the county has a vested interest in not losing the TJ and AAP parents. I think they'll talk a big game but never follow through.

LOL!

And... where exactly are these parents going to go?

Too funny pp!

LCPS to AOS and AET. MCPs to RMIB and Blair. Basis. Someone will give these kids the STEM education they want.

There are articles interviewing Amazon and they chose NOVA despite the high COL because of its “STEM pipeline” AAP to TJ to VT. Although VT is having issues. And VA pledged a billion dollars towards STEM education to get Amazon. Not a billion dollars in infrastructure. A billion dollars in education. TJ has a big impact on regional economic success and VA’s quest to become less dependent on the federal government. You may not like it. You may laugh. But it’s true.

It’s a governors school. Ultimately, this goes through Richmond, not the SM. Every year the Eastern County Rep bring this up because they hate the imbalance between the Carson RRMs admit numbers and Eastern country admission numbers. And every year it does in committee with the Eastern County Rep being the only vote for.

From the outside looking in, messing with TJs success in the wake of Amazon is insane. It’s meant to be 100% merit based. It is not meant to be Harvard. It’s meant to be MiT. You could change its mission, but then you get a mediocre school.

And yes. TJ moves heaven and Earth to get qualified URMs and low SES to apply. If you fit these categories, you can do a two year MS program with mentoring and summer institute and TJ and TJ prepping classes and access to things like robotics teams to prepare you. Paid for by the Jack Kent Cook Foundation. It has not moved the needle.

If FCPS wanted better representation, they pull IB out of the Eastern County HSs and make them more attractive places to send smart kids. People commuting would love to live in Annandale or Alexandria vs Herndon.

But if this did come to pass, yes. Parents would rent an apartment their kids 8th grade year. Pick the least competitive HS, and tutor their kids like heck. It would make it easier, not harder, to game the system.

They are not coming to MCPS. It already uses the same approach.

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting because I've taught in middle schools in FCPS in three different schools. I worked in a middle class, non-TJ feeder school for 7 years (think Robinson, Fairfax, Lake Braddock or West Springfield). I enjoyed working there, taught math and the kids were bright and hard-working. A few were interested in TJ but there really wasn't much support from teachers, guidance or admin. beyond doing the bare minimum. I had zero guidance on filling out recommendations, what TJ is looking for and we basically said "good luck" with only a few kids getting in. (It's still the case for these schools).

I then went to teach at a Title I middle school. The kids had other struggles beyond only math. I spent way more time teaching the language of math, teaching and reinforcing concepts. I did have some students who were advanced and a few pursued TJ. Very rarely we had more than a handful of kids who attended. Like my previous school, there was very little support to mentor kids, write recommendations, or even pay attention to the TJ deadlines. The few kids who made it in really had to manage and advocate to get through the process.

I now teach in a major TJ feeder (home with a sick kid today). And it is like working in a completely different school system. We attend multiple meetings with admins and other teachers to discuss, coordinate and manage the TJ application process. TJ counselors and admins provide us guidance on best practices. Our teaching is accelerated as a matter of course (and sadly, our ESOL and SPED students struggle and really get the short end of the stick unless they have parents who are aggressively managing IEPs and 504's and ESOL support). It is night and day.

So, in some ways, I think spreading TJ spots to the middle school level would address some of the inequity that is sort of baked in the cake in FCPS. I look at my first school, where there were as many kids in Alg. 1 in 7th as my current school and see that there is such a different approach to TJ. Getting a more uniform approach probably would address things, but absent there being a sense of demand, schools are site run and they really do focus on the issues that impact as many kids as possible. For the rare TJ applicant, they don't get the support that they would if they went to my current school. Even though all of the schools are in FCPS.

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting because I've taught in middle schools in FCPS in three different schools. I worked in a middle class, non-TJ feeder school for 7 years (think Robinson, Fairfax, Lake Braddock or West Springfield). I enjoyed working there, taught math and the kids were bright and hard-working. A few were interested in TJ but there really wasn't much support from teachers, guidance or admin. beyond doing the bare minimum. I had zero guidance on filling out recommendations, what TJ is looking for and we basically said "good luck" with only a few kids getting in. (It's still the case for these schools).

I then went to teach at a Title I middle school. The kids had other struggles beyond only math. I spent way more time teaching the language of math, teaching and reinforcing concepts. I did have some students who were advanced and a few pursued TJ. Very rarely we had more than a handful of kids who attended. Like my previous school, there was very little support to mentor kids, write recommendations, or even pay attention to the TJ deadlines. The few kids who made it in really had to manage and advocate to get through the process.

I now teach in a major TJ feeder (home with a sick kid today). And it is like working in a completely different school system. We attend multiple meetings with admins and other teachers to discuss, coordinate and manage the TJ application process. TJ counselors and admins provide us guidance on best practices. Our teaching is accelerated as a matter of course (and sadly, our ESOL and SPED students struggle and really get the short end of the stick unless they have parents who are aggressively managing IEPs and 504's and ESOL support). It is night and day.

So, in some ways, I think spreading TJ spots to the middle school level would address some of the inequity that is sort of baked in the cake in FCPS. I look at my first school, where there were as many kids in Alg. 1 in 7th as my current school and see that there is such a different approach to TJ. Getting a more uniform approach probably would address things, but absent there being a sense of demand, schools are site run and they really do focus on the issues that impact as many kids as possible. For the rare TJ applicant, they don't get the support that they would if they went to my current school. Even though all of the schools are in FCPS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pat Hynes
@VotePatHynes
·
Mar 20
Does sound like TJ. DiBlasio’s proposed solution for NY is to admit the top students from every middle school - geographic equality as a stand-in for equity. Might work. Look at SF’s experience with Lowell HS - geography-plus. FCPS will begin TJ reform plan this year.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Has anyone been following this?

No, but this is a terrible idea. It came up a few years ago and a bunch of parents said outright that they'll simply rent in less-desirable school middle school boundaries to increase their kids' chances if FCPS goes this route. FCPS is loathe to admit it, but they're well-aware that the county has a vested interest in not losing the TJ and AAP parents. I think they'll talk a big game but never follow through.

LOL!

And... where exactly are these parents going to go?

Too funny pp!

LCPS to AOS and AET. MCPs to RMIB and Blair. Basis. Someone will give these kids the STEM education they want.

There are articles interviewing Amazon and they chose NOVA despite the high COL because of its “STEM pipeline” AAP to TJ to VT. Although VT is having issues. And VA pledged a billion dollars towards STEM education to get Amazon. Not a billion dollars in infrastructure. A billion dollars in education. TJ has a big impact on regional economic success and VA’s quest to become less dependent on the federal government. You may not like it. You may laugh. But it’s true.

It’s a governors school. Ultimately, this goes through Richmond, not the SM. Every year the Eastern County Rep bring this up because they hate the imbalance between the Carson RRMs admit numbers and Eastern country admission numbers. And every year it does in committee with the Eastern County Rep being the only vote for.

From the outside looking in, messing with TJs success in the wake of Amazon is insane. It’s meant to be 100% merit based. It is not meant to be Harvard. It’s meant to be MiT. You could change its mission, but then you get a mediocre school.

And yes. TJ moves heaven and Earth to get qualified URMs and low SES to apply. If you fit these categories, you can do a two year MS program with mentoring and summer institute and TJ and TJ prepping classes and access to things like robotics teams to prepare you. Paid for by the Jack Kent Cook Foundation. It has not moved the needle.

If FCPS wanted better representation, they pull IB out of the Eastern County HSs and make them more attractive places to send smart kids. People commuting would love to live in Annandale or Alexandria vs Herndon.

But if this did come to pass, yes. Parents would rent an apartment their kids 8th grade year. Pick the least competitive HS, and tutor their kids like heck. It would make it easier, not harder, to game the system.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pat Hynes
@VotePatHynes
·
Mar 20
Does sound like TJ. DiBlasio’s proposed solution for NY is to admit the top students from every middle school - geographic equality as a stand-in for equity. Might work. Look at SF’s experience with Lowell HS - geography-plus. FCPS will begin TJ reform plan this year.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Has anyone been following this?

No, but this is a terrible idea. It came up a few years ago and a bunch of parents said outright that they'll simply rent in less-desirable school middle school boundaries to increase their kids' chances if FCPS goes this route. FCPS is loathe to admit it, but they're well-aware that the county has a vested interest in not losing the TJ and AAP parents. I think they'll talk a big game but never follow through.

LOL!

And... where exactly are these parents going to go?

Too funny pp!

LCPS to AOS and AET. MCPs to RMIB and Blair. Basis. Someone will give these kids the STEM education they want.

There are articles interviewing Amazon and they chose NOVA despite the high COL because of its “STEM pipeline” AAP to TJ to VT. Although VT is having issues. And VA pledged a billion dollars towards STEM education to get Amazon. Not a billion dollars in infrastructure. A billion dollars in education. TJ has a big impact on regional economic success and VA’s quest to become less dependent on the federal government. You may not like it. You may laugh. But it’s true.

It’s a governors school. Ultimately, this goes through Richmond, not the SM. Every year the Eastern County Rep bring this up because they hate the imbalance between the Carson RRMs admit numbers and Eastern country admission numbers. And every year it does in committee with the Eastern County Rep being the only vote for.

From the outside looking in, messing with TJs success in the wake of Amazon is insane. It’s meant to be 100% merit based. It is not meant to be Harvard. It’s meant to be MiT. You could change its mission, but then you get a mediocre school.

And yes. TJ moves heaven and Earth to get qualified URMs and low SES to apply. If you fit these categories, you can do a two year MS program with mentoring and summer institute and TJ and TJ prepping classes and access to things like robotics teams to prepare you. Paid for by the Jack Kent Cook Foundation. It has not moved the needle.

If FCPS wanted better representation, they pull IB out of the Eastern County HSs and make them more attractive places to send smart kids. People commuting would love to live in Annandale or Alexandria vs Herndon.

But if this did come to pass, yes. Parents would rent an apartment their kids 8th grade year. Pick the least competitive HS, and tutor their kids like heck. It would make it easier, not harder, to game the system.

Anonymous wrote:Pat Hynes
@VotePatHynes
·
Mar 20
Does sound like TJ. DiBlasio’s proposed solution for NY is to admit the top students from every middle school - geographic equality as a stand-in for equity. Might work. Look at SF’s experience with Lowell HS - geography-plus. FCPS will begin TJ reform plan this year.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Has anyone been following this?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pat Hynes
@VotePatHynes
·
Mar 20
Does sound like TJ. DiBlasio’s proposed solution for NY is to admit the top students from every middle school - geographic equality as a stand-in for equity. Might work. Look at SF’s experience with Lowell HS - geography-plus. FCPS will begin TJ reform plan this year.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Has anyone been following this?

No, but this is a terrible idea. It came up a few years ago and a bunch of parents said outright that they'll simply rent in less-desirable school middle school boundaries to increase their kids' chances if FCPS goes this route. FCPS is loathe to admit it, but they're well-aware that the county has a vested interest in not losing the TJ and AAP parents. I think they'll talk a big game but never follow through.

LOL!

And... where exactly are these parents going to go?

Too funny pp!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pat Hynes
@VotePatHynes
·
Mar 20
Does sound like TJ. DiBlasio’s proposed solution for NY is to admit the top students from every middle school - geographic equality as a stand-in for equity. Might work. Look at SF’s experience with Lowell HS - geography-plus. FCPS will begin TJ reform plan this year.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Has anyone been following this?

No, but this is a terrible idea. It came up a few years ago and a bunch of parents said outright that they'll simply rent in less-desirable school middle school boundaries to increase their kids' chances if FCPS goes this route. FCPS is loathe to admit it, but they're well-aware that the county has a vested interest in not losing the TJ and AAP parents. I think they'll talk a big game but never follow through.

LOL!

And... where exactly are these parents going to go?

Too funny pp!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pat Hynes
@VotePatHynes
·
Mar 20
Does sound like TJ. DiBlasio’s proposed solution for NY is to admit the top students from every middle school - geographic equality as a stand-in for equity. Might work. Look at SF’s experience with Lowell HS - geography-plus. FCPS will begin TJ reform plan this year.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Has anyone been following this?

No, but this is a terrible idea. It came up a few years ago and a bunch of parents said outright that they'll simply rent in less-desirable school middle school boundaries to increase their kids' chances if FCPS goes this route. FCPS is loathe to admit it, but they're well-aware that the county has a vested interest in not losing the TJ and AAP parents. I think they'll talk a big game but never follow through.

Anonymous wrote:Oh no, it’s more fear-mongering posts from the republicans running for SB!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pat Hynes
@VotePatHynes
·
Mar 20
Does sound like TJ. DiBlasio’s proposed solution for NY is to admit the top students from every middle school - geographic equality as a stand-in for equity. Might work. Look at SF’s experience with Lowell HS - geography-plus. FCPS will begin TJ reform plan this year.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Has anyone been following this?

No, but this is a terrible idea. It came up a few years ago and a bunch of parents said outright that they'll simply rent in less-desirable school middle school boundaries to increase their kids' chances if FCPS goes this route. FCPS is loathe to admit it, but they're well-aware that the county has a vested interest in not losing the TJ and AAP parents. I think they'll talk a big game but never follow through.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You will pry FCPS’s systemic racism from its cold, dead hand.

So long as white moms roam the county, yes.