Anonymous
04/03/2013 21:35
Subject: Re:TJ: Kids having second thoughts?
I'm for diversity at TJ. If the Ivies and UVA can do it, TJ can do it too. The WORST thing would be just to let all the best test takers get in based on scores at the expense of diversity. The complete background of the candidate should be taken into consideration as well as their gender and ethnicity. LONG LIVE DIVERSITY!!
Anonymous
04/03/2013 18:32
Subject: Re:TJ: Kids having second thoughts?
I just have problems with a public magnet school letting in students who aren't qualified when plenty of others are.
The problem is that this area has many, many kids who are qualified for TJ, more than there are spaces available. Unfortunately, some very qualified kids will not be accepted simply because there is not enough space for every qualified applicant. There is probably not much difference between the last accepted student on the list and the next dozen or so applicants, but a line has to be drawn somewhere. It happens with college admissions also. There are just far more qualified applicants for, say, Harvard, than there spaces in the freshman class.
Fortunately, we live in an area that has many excellent public schools where a bright student can get a rigorous education by choosing courses wisely. I know lots of kids in regular high schools around here that work just as hard as kids at TJ.
Anonymous
04/03/2013 16:30
Subject: TJ: Kids having second thoughts?
Anonymous wrote:"...Then you should probably have this information from a May 30, 2012 Washington Post article:
"In recent years, about 8 percent of the school’s freshmen have landed on a “watch list” of students with grade-point averages below 3.3 on a 4-point scale. This year, that proportion nearly doubled, to 15 percent, and teachers said they were overwhelmed with students needing extra help."
Here's the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/math...12/05/30/gJQAmT2s2U_story.html "
Please give TJ kids a break. I believe the Freshmen at any universities have higher percentage than TJ kids who get below 3.3 GPA.
The facts are the facts. And as for the second part of your post, of course freshman at any university would have a higher percentage of kids on the watch list, for one it's college and secondly, the majority of universities have lower acceptance standards than TJ. So give me a break. I'm not picking on TJ kids. I just have problems with a public magnet school letting in students who aren't qualified when plenty of others are.
Anonymous
04/03/2013 16:28
Subject: TJ: Kids having second thoughts?
Are you TJ's press person or just drinking the kool-aid? 15% of last year's freshman class struggling in math was new, which was why veteran teachers felt compelled to complain to the school board.
It was not new that students were struggling with math. Teachers had been noticing freshmen having problems for a number of years and decided in the summer of 2011 to keep track of the numbers and offer help right away. This year (Fall 2012) the numbers needing help were about the same as last year (Fall 2011), roughly 15%. They don't know the exact number for previous years because they were not previously keeping track on a formal basis. The reason they decided to keep track was that they had observed freshmen struggling with Algebra II in the past.
I'm just a parent who wants to see the correct information going out there.
Then you should probably have this information from a May 30, 2012 Washington Post article:
"In recent years, about 8 percent of the school’s freshmen have landed on a “watch list” of students with grade-point averages below 3.3 on a 4-point scale. This year, that proportion nearly doubled, to 15 percent, and teachers said they were overwhelmed with students needing extra help."
Here's the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/math-and-science-gaps-found-at-elite-fairfax-school/2012/05/30/gJQAmT2s2U_story.html
Please give TJ kids a break. I believe the Freshmen at any universities have higher percentage than TJ kids who get below 3.3 GPA.