Anonymous
Post 03/22/2024 08:54     Subject: Minimum math at TJ

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can parents request this ALEKS evaluation before accepting TJ offer so we know child wont struggle after getting into TJ?
You could pay $20 for a month of ALEKS access; the algebra 1 course will start with an adaptive test of their algebra 1 knowledge so ALEKS knows what topics to focus on.

They probably should include this suggestion in the TJ offer email, so parents know if their child is ready before accepting it.


TJ used to be very clear that when you go to TJ your grades will suffer and it would not help you get into a better college. They stopped emphasizing this because it eeduced the applicant pool and was scaring off too many mediocre students. They need to start again.
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2024 08:24     Subject: Minimum math at TJ

TJ needs to provide choice to graduate with just Algebra 2 and not require everyone to take precalc or calculus, similar to base school. Parents are not told that by accepting TJ you lose the option to graduate with algebra 2. Moreover how does TJ expect algebra 1 kid to graduate with calc AB, when it takes five years at base school.

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/high-school-course-sequencing/mathematics
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2024 13:30     Subject: Minimum math at TJ

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can parents request this ALEKS evaluation before accepting TJ offer so we know child wont struggle after getting into TJ?
You could pay $20 for a month of ALEKS access; the algebra 1 course will start with an adaptive test of their algebra 1 knowledge so ALEKS knows what topics to focus on.

They probably should include this suggestion in the TJ offer email, so parents know if their child is ready before accepting it.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2024 01:29     Subject: Minimum math at TJ

Anonymous wrote:Can parents request this ALEKS evaluation before accepting TJ offer so we know child wont struggle after getting into TJ?
You could pay $20 for a month of ALEKS access; the algebra 1 course will start with an adaptive test of their algebra 1 knowledge so ALEKS knows what topics to focus on.
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2024 18:15     Subject: Minimum math at TJ

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have heard that a family from a very competitive region in Ashburn moved to Western Loudoun region in 8th grade and their kid easily got into TJ.

Nice try. Ashburn has convenient access to everything especially enrichment centers


Nothing stops from going to those. However, In Western Loudoun, the automatic per school quota seats are less competitive.

Oh yeah. Get admitted from schools that don't even teach Agebra1 properly, only to get into bottom of class at TJ? No, thanks!
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2024 17:44     Subject: Minimum math at TJ

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have heard that a family from a very competitive region in Ashburn moved to Western Loudoun region in 8th grade and their kid easily got into TJ.

Nice try. Ashburn has convenient access to everything especially enrichment centers


Nothing stops from going to those. However, In Western Loudoun, the automatic per school quota seats are less competitive.
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2024 10:24     Subject: Minimum math at TJ

Can parents request this ALEKS evaluation before accepting TJ offer so we know child wont struggle after getting into TJ?
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2024 09:05     Subject: Minimum math at TJ

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:About how many TJ kids each year end up taking math beyond MVC and linear algebra? Anyone have a guess how the numbers will change for class of 2025 and beyond?


The numbers that I vaguley remember seeing from last years admitted class had about 1/4 of the class only having Algebra 1 H and a good number having taken Algebra 2. I would guess that 3/4 of the students at TJ will be able to take MVC and Linear Algebra based on the math that they had when they entered.


So just a handful of students will be taking the math that is after MVC/LA — differential equations? MVC/LA senior year is probably the most common senior year math for TJ kids?


Yes. About half the class does this. The rest are split between higher and lower.


This is surprising to me as that is then the same math being taken by kids at other high schools— always thought kids at TJ and point of TJ was accelerated math (and science). So strange to me more kids at TJ not on path higher than what other top kids at other AP schools taking.

The same math is taught at TJ, but with greater depth and graded more rigorously. The top third of the class progresses beyond Multivariable, the middle third typically peaks at BC or Multivariable, and the bottom of the class, particularly in recent years, continues to struggle, starting with Math 1 and finishing with much lower math than kids in base schools. If math doesn't come naturally, there's no point doing TJ.

why? wont it make it difficult for kids to get into good colleges?


Why? Because the studetns at TJ are supposed to be focused on STEM and highly interested in math and science. They should be able to dive deeper into math concepts and understand them at that depth.

There is no hidding the fact that the admissions changes were made because of the NAACP threat of a law suit surrounding the lack of Black and Hispanic kids at TJ. I like that they removed the quant test because I do think to rewarded people who could ay for years of prepping. And yes, that would include my child if he decided he wanted to apply to TJ in a few years. He has been at RSM and taking math competition classes since 4th grade. I can see where that gives hima leg up on a quant test. I can also see that there are other kids who are smart and good at math that have not had the same opportunities to participate in programs like RSM or AoPS or mathnasium or anything along those lines for a variety of reasons.

FCPS does offer every student a path to Algebra 1 in 7th grade and I think that any of those kids should have the ability to do well at a school like TJ. I like setting seats aside for every MS so that the kids who come from backgrounds that cannot access the enrichment opportunities or parents who can help them with Khan Academy or maybe even steady enough internet to get to Khan Academy have a chance to attend TJ. They might not end up in the Multivariate classes but they will be exposed to kids with strong academic interests, very capable teachers, and opportunities that they would not have at their base school.

I do think that the requirement should be completing Geometry by 8th grade because I do think that identifies kids who are more able t handle the more rigorous math at TJ. I would hope that a higher standard would encourage the MS with fewer kids in Algebra 1 to find a way to work more closely with those kids in Advanced Math or LIV programs to strengthen their math foundations so that the kids are more capable of succeeding in Algebra and Geometry and then at TJ.

TJ is a public school that should serve all the kids of FCPS and the other countries that pay into it. There is nothing wrong with looking at how we admit students to make TJ more accessible to those students. But they need to find that balance and try to find away to address the legitimate concerns that kids are being excluded because of a lack of access to out of school enrichment.


Is it correct to say seats are set aside for every MS?l or just idea that more kids have chance because of lottery v test scores only? Or is it actually a controlled lottery where pick 2 or whatever number of kids but equally— so 2 from Cooper, 2 from Poe, 2 from Glasgow, etc.


Every MS is guaranteed seats for the top 1.5% of kids who meet the admission criteria. Not all schools have kids with a 3.5 GPA, Honors Science, Honors LA/Social Studies, and Algebra 1 H by 8th grade but the kids who do meet those requirements and apply will be admitted to TJ. The number of seats is determined by the size of the school or 8th grade class, I am not sure which, but is somewhere between 6-9 seats.


for a middle school that have plenty of applicants that meet admission criteria, how is the top 1.5% calculated?


It's irrelevant because there are far more than 1.5% are well qualified and seats aren't limited.

it's pretty much a race quota based lottery?

To be politically correct, better to avoid the word "race". So, it's pretty much a student's ethnic origin quota based lottery.


It's also a RACE BLIND process that isn't a lottery. It just makes some parents whose kids didn't make the cut feel better to claim this.

And the parents of kids at the bottom of the class are wondering why they were offered admissions only to be subject to the ALEKS remediation
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2024 08:58     Subject: Minimum math at TJ

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that a family from a very competitive region in Ashburn moved to Western Loudoun region in 8th grade and their kid easily got into TJ.

Nice try. Ashburn has convenient access to everything especially enrichment centers
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2024 08:42     Subject: Minimum math at TJ

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:About how many TJ kids each year end up taking math beyond MVC and linear algebra? Anyone have a guess how the numbers will change for class of 2025 and beyond?


The numbers that I vaguley remember seeing from last years admitted class had about 1/4 of the class only having Algebra 1 H and a good number having taken Algebra 2. I would guess that 3/4 of the students at TJ will be able to take MVC and Linear Algebra based on the math that they had when they entered.


So just a handful of students will be taking the math that is after MVC/LA — differential equations? MVC/LA senior year is probably the most common senior year math for TJ kids?


Yes. About half the class does this. The rest are split between higher and lower.


This is surprising to me as that is then the same math being taken by kids at other high schools— always thought kids at TJ and point of TJ was accelerated math (and science). So strange to me more kids at TJ not on path higher than what other top kids at other AP schools taking.

The same math is taught at TJ, but with greater depth and graded more rigorously. The top third of the class progresses beyond Multivariable, the middle third typically peaks at BC or Multivariable, and the bottom of the class, particularly in recent years, continues to struggle, starting with Math 1 and finishing with much lower math than kids in base schools. If math doesn't come naturally, there's no point doing TJ.

why? wont it make it difficult for kids to get into good colleges?


Why? Because the studetns at TJ are supposed to be focused on STEM and highly interested in math and science. They should be able to dive deeper into math concepts and understand them at that depth.

There is no hidding the fact that the admissions changes were made because of the NAACP threat of a law suit surrounding the lack of Black and Hispanic kids at TJ. I like that they removed the quant test because I do think to rewarded people who could ay for years of prepping. And yes, that would include my child if he decided he wanted to apply to TJ in a few years. He has been at RSM and taking math competition classes since 4th grade. I can see where that gives hima leg up on a quant test. I can also see that there are other kids who are smart and good at math that have not had the same opportunities to participate in programs like RSM or AoPS or mathnasium or anything along those lines for a variety of reasons.

FCPS does offer every student a path to Algebra 1 in 7th grade and I think that any of those kids should have the ability to do well at a school like TJ. I like setting seats aside for every MS so that the kids who come from backgrounds that cannot access the enrichment opportunities or parents who can help them with Khan Academy or maybe even steady enough internet to get to Khan Academy have a chance to attend TJ. They might not end up in the Multivariate classes but they will be exposed to kids with strong academic interests, very capable teachers, and opportunities that they would not have at their base school.

I do think that the requirement should be completing Geometry by 8th grade because I do think that identifies kids who are more able t handle the more rigorous math at TJ. I would hope that a higher standard would encourage the MS with fewer kids in Algebra 1 to find a way to work more closely with those kids in Advanced Math or LIV programs to strengthen their math foundations so that the kids are more capable of succeeding in Algebra and Geometry and then at TJ.

TJ is a public school that should serve all the kids of FCPS and the other countries that pay into it. There is nothing wrong with looking at how we admit students to make TJ more accessible to those students. But they need to find that balance and try to find away to address the legitimate concerns that kids are being excluded because of a lack of access to out of school enrichment.


Is it correct to say seats are set aside for every MS?l or just idea that more kids have chance because of lottery v test scores only? Or is it actually a controlled lottery where pick 2 or whatever number of kids but equally— so 2 from Cooper, 2 from Poe, 2 from Glasgow, etc.


Every MS is guaranteed seats for the top 1.5% of kids who meet the admission criteria. Not all schools have kids with a 3.5 GPA, Honors Science, Honors LA/Social Studies, and Algebra 1 H by 8th grade but the kids who do meet those requirements and apply will be admitted to TJ. The number of seats is determined by the size of the school or 8th grade class, I am not sure which, but is somewhere between 6-9 seats.


for a middle school that have plenty of applicants that meet admission criteria, how is the top 1.5% calculated?


It's irrelevant because there are far more than 1.5% are well qualified and seats aren't limited.

it's pretty much a race quota based lottery?

To be politically correct, better to avoid the word "race". So, it's pretty much a student's ethnic origin quota based lottery.


It's also a RACE BLIND process that isn't a lottery. It just makes some parents whose kids didn't make the cut feel better to claim this.
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2024 08:32     Subject: Minimum math at TJ

I have heard that a family from a very competitive region in Ashburn moved to Western Loudoun region in 8th grade and their kid easily got into TJ.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 23:27     Subject: Re:Minimum math at TJ

Anonymous wrote:Is there a way to determine if DC is ready for TJ Math? does TJ provide an assessment or self evaluation tool that DC can use to decide if they are ready for TJ Math?

The current approach is to admit first, and then evaluate using ALEKS.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2024 17:43     Subject: Minimum math at TJ

Anonymous wrote:They don't look at race on the application. So Asian and white students can go to these other schools for a year, and try to pick up an automatic quota seat.

isn't student race a required field on the application?
Problem with these "other schools" is they are not teaching beyond Algebra 1. Once they start teaching something advanced like precalculus in 8th grade at these "other schools" then there might be some interest. But the immediate urgency at this other schools is teaching grade level math to students that are already there now. Social engineering can wait.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2024 16:20     Subject: Minimum math at TJ

They don't look at race on the application. So Asian and white students can go to these other schools for a year, and try to pick up an automatic quota seat.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2024 14:09     Subject: Minimum math at TJ

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:About how many TJ kids each year end up taking math beyond MVC and linear algebra? Anyone have a guess how the numbers will change for class of 2025 and beyond?


The numbers that I vaguley remember seeing from last years admitted class had about 1/4 of the class only having Algebra 1 H and a good number having taken Algebra 2. I would guess that 3/4 of the students at TJ will be able to take MVC and Linear Algebra based on the math that they had when they entered.


So just a handful of students will be taking the math that is after MVC/LA — differential equations? MVC/LA senior year is probably the most common senior year math for TJ kids?


Yes. About half the class does this. The rest are split between higher and lower.


This is surprising to me as that is then the same math being taken by kids at other high schools— always thought kids at TJ and point of TJ was accelerated math (and science). So strange to me more kids at TJ not on path higher than what other top kids at other AP schools taking.

The same math is taught at TJ, but with greater depth and graded more rigorously. The top third of the class progresses beyond Multivariable, the middle third typically peaks at BC or Multivariable, and the bottom of the class, particularly in recent years, continues to struggle, starting with Math 1 and finishing with much lower math than kids in base schools. If math doesn't come naturally, there's no point doing TJ.

why? wont it make it difficult for kids to get into good colleges?


Why? Because the studetns at TJ are supposed to be focused on STEM and highly interested in math and science. They should be able to dive deeper into math concepts and understand them at that depth.

There is no hidding the fact that the admissions changes were made because of the NAACP threat of a law suit surrounding the lack of Black and Hispanic kids at TJ. I like that they removed the quant test because I do think to rewarded people who could ay for years of prepping. And yes, that would include my child if he decided he wanted to apply to TJ in a few years. He has been at RSM and taking math competition classes since 4th grade. I can see where that gives hima leg up on a quant test. I can also see that there are other kids who are smart and good at math that have not had the same opportunities to participate in programs like RSM or AoPS or mathnasium or anything along those lines for a variety of reasons.

FCPS does offer every student a path to Algebra 1 in 7th grade and I think that any of those kids should have the ability to do well at a school like TJ. I like setting seats aside for every MS so that the kids who come from backgrounds that cannot access the enrichment opportunities or parents who can help them with Khan Academy or maybe even steady enough internet to get to Khan Academy have a chance to attend TJ. They might not end up in the Multivariate classes but they will be exposed to kids with strong academic interests, very capable teachers, and opportunities that they would not have at their base school.

I do think that the requirement should be completing Geometry by 8th grade because I do think that identifies kids who are more able t handle the more rigorous math at TJ. I would hope that a higher standard would encourage the MS with fewer kids in Algebra 1 to find a way to work more closely with those kids in Advanced Math or LIV programs to strengthen their math foundations so that the kids are more capable of succeeding in Algebra and Geometry and then at TJ.

TJ is a public school that should serve all the kids of FCPS and the other countries that pay into it. There is nothing wrong with looking at how we admit students to make TJ more accessible to those students. But they need to find that balance and try to find away to address the legitimate concerns that kids are being excluded because of a lack of access to out of school enrichment.


Is it correct to say seats are set aside for every MS?l or just idea that more kids have chance because of lottery v test scores only? Or is it actually a controlled lottery where pick 2 or whatever number of kids but equally— so 2 from Cooper, 2 from Poe, 2 from Glasgow, etc.


Every MS is guaranteed seats for the top 1.5% of kids who meet the admission criteria. Not all schools have kids with a 3.5 GPA, Honors Science, Honors LA/Social Studies, and Algebra 1 H by 8th grade but the kids who do meet those requirements and apply will be admitted to TJ. The number of seats is determined by the size of the school or 8th grade class, I am not sure which, but is somewhere between 6-9 seats.


for a middle school that have plenty of applicants that meet admission criteria, how is the top 1.5% calculated?


It's irrelevant because there are far more than 1.5% are well qualified and seats aren't limited.

it's pretty much a race quota based lottery?

To be politically correct, better to avoid the word "race". So, it's pretty much a student's ethnic origin quota based lottery.