The Fairfax County Association for the Gifted usually releases the sophomore/junior numbers as part of an TJ admissions FIOA request. Its usually too small to report, but it is possible to get the numbers if it's more than 10 or so.

One reason that in support of that they are not expanding the current classes is that FCPS kept the transfer process fairly quiet. If TJ was planning on adding 200 seats in the sophomore/junior classes, they really would have done lots of outreach especially to the Black/Hispanic students that they are hoping to get more of in this year's freshman class. There was not a town hall and the information about how to apply was not even provided in Spanish. Fcps probably does not want to change too much about the school all at once.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The one and only class froshmores have to makeup is the technology class in IBET. While it would be easier to do just what they have always done, it’s not that hard to create three more sections of the technology class.

But I agree with the PPs that the TJ administration likely is not willing to do the work to truly fill the sophomore and junior classes. It’s a shame, but if noone complains, they will do whatever is easiest for them. Chantilly HS doesn’t get to pick and choose if they have to hire a few additional teachers if more kids sign up for academy classes, but TJ seems to get to avoid this minor administrative headache.

1) TJ Admissions and TJ Administration have nothing to do with each other. At all. They're not even overseen by the same department within FCPS.

2) It's REALLY hard to fold into the unique TJ Math cycle without your freshman year.

How many kids are trying out for TJ this year for sophomore?

That information is never released publicly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The one and only class froshmores have to makeup is the technology class in IBET. While it would be easier to do just what they have always done, it’s not that hard to create three more sections of the technology class.

But I agree with the PPs that the TJ administration likely is not willing to do the work to truly fill the sophomore and junior classes. It’s a shame, but if noone complains, they will do whatever is easiest for them. Chantilly HS doesn’t get to pick and choose if they have to hire a few additional teachers if more kids sign up for academy classes, but TJ seems to get to avoid this minor administrative headache.

1) TJ Admissions and TJ Administration have nothing to do with each other. At all. They're not even overseen by the same department within FCPS.

2) It's REALLY hard to fold into the unique TJ Math cycle without your freshman year.

How many kids are trying out for TJ this year for sophomore?

Anonymous wrote:The one and only class froshmores have to makeup is the technology class in IBET. While it would be easier to do just what they have always done, it’s not that hard to create three more sections of the technology class.

But I agree with the PPs that the TJ administration likely is not willing to do the work to truly fill the sophomore and junior classes. It’s a shame, but if noone complains, they will do whatever is easiest for them. Chantilly HS doesn’t get to pick and choose if they have to hire a few additional teachers if more kids sign up for academy classes, but TJ seems to get to avoid this minor administrative headache.

1) TJ Admissions and TJ Administration have nothing to do with each other. At all. They're not even overseen by the same department within FCPS.

2) It's REALLY hard to fold into the unique TJ Math cycle without your freshman year.

Sorry , PP and just interested.

How does the froshmore make up of tech class work if they are not in the other IBET sections? My memory is my DS had overlapping projects with Biology, English and Tech? And they don't have to make up R&S math?

The one and only class froshmores have to makeup is the technology class in IBET. While it would be easier to do just what they have always done, it’s not that hard to create three more sections of the technology class.

But I agree with the PPs that the TJ administration likely is not willing to do the work to truly fill the sophomore and junior classes. It’s a shame, but if noone complains, they will do whatever is easiest for them. Chantilly HS doesn’t get to pick and choose if they have to hire a few additional teachers if more kids sign up for academy classes, but TJ seems to get to avoid this minor administrative headache.

Anonymous wrote:TJ parent here - I thought that one of the reasons they limited admissions after freshman year was in large part because of the course requirements, pre-requisites, and course sequencing at TJ - including mandatory R&S semester of math and IBET freshman year, senior lab pre-reqs, ,etc.

While I fully support the admissions reform, and believe there were hundreds if not thousands of kids who could have thrived at TJ but did not get in - it would be hard for the school to get 100 sophomores on track, let alone 100 juniors.

+1

TJ parent here - I thought that one of the reasons they limited admissions after freshman year was in large part because of the course requirements, pre-requisites, and course sequencing at TJ - including mandatory R&S semester of math and IBET freshman year, senior lab pre-reqs, ,etc.

While I fully support the admissions reform, and believe there were hundreds if not thousands of kids who could have thrived at TJ but did not get in - it would be hard for the school to get 100 sophomores on track, let alone 100 juniors.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school board increased the size of TJ classes to 550 seats as part of the reform. It’s entirely logical to conclude that there really are 100 seats in the rising junior and sophomore classes.

Pretty much anyone that is qualified to do the work applying this year will be admitted. Or at least they should be admitted since there is space. It’s a great school and as many kids as possible should have access to being a part of it.

I think you are wrong.

Yes, the are wrong. They are NOT adding 100 seats to the other classes.

Why not?

For a couple of reasons:

1) It's a huge shock to a school's ecosystem to have it go from 1800 to 2200 kids overnight. By gradually increasing the numbers over the next several years, they'll be better able to handle the logistical challenges that come up.

2) It's REALLY HARD to fold into the TJ environment if you're not coming in at the start, and the "froshmores" who are selected from the sophomore applicant pool really are the cream of the crop.

Plenty of schools have wide swings every year. Why should TJ be exempt from this kind of administrative challenge? A TJ education is almost priceless and the administration should be trying to expand access, not restrict it. This should be an opportunity that they use to help students, not gatekeep.

The vast majority of TJ students haven’t stepped foot in the building since March of 2020. If there ever was a year that would be easy to enter into a new peer group, it will be the 2021-22 schools year. Most of the freshman have never even met each other.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school board increased the size of TJ classes to 550 seats as part of the reform. It’s entirely logical to conclude that there really are 100 seats in the rising junior and sophomore classes.

Pretty much anyone that is qualified to do the work applying this year will be admitted. Or at least they should be admitted since there is space. It’s a great school and as many kids as possible should have access to being a part of it.

I think you are wrong.

Yes, the are wrong. They are NOT adding 100 seats to the other classes.

Why not?

For a couple of reasons:

1) It's a huge shock to a school's ecosystem to have it go from 1800 to 2200 kids overnight. By gradually increasing the numbers over the next several years, they'll be better able to handle the logistical challenges that come up.

2) It's REALLY HARD to fold into the TJ environment if you're not coming in at the start, and the "froshmores" who are selected from the sophomore applicant pool really are the cream of the crop.

The TJ admissions regulations 3355

“ placement of Tenth and Eleventh-Grade Students
Eligible ninth and tenth-grade students may be considered for admission as tenth or eleventh grade students respectively at TJHSST, if space is available. Spaces available will be determined by the admissions office and the principal, taking into account attrition rates. “

It’s entirely up to the whims of the admissions office and TJ administration. They can do whatever they like. I’m guessing that TJ would prefer to NOT add in 100 additional sophomores and juniors since it would mean more work for them and hiring more teachers.

If your child has applied as a sophomore/junior, I would reach out and advocate for them to fully fill the classes. A TJ education should be open to as many qualified students as possible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school board increased the size of TJ classes to 550 seats as part of the reform. It’s entirely logical to conclude that there really are 100 seats in the rising junior and sophomore classes.

Pretty much anyone that is qualified to do the work applying this year will be admitted. Or at least they should be admitted since there is space. It’s a great school and as many kids as possible should have access to being a part of it.

I think you are wrong.

Yes, the are wrong. They are NOT adding 100 seats to the other classes.

Why not?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school board increased the size of TJ classes to 550 seats as part of the reform. It’s entirely logical to conclude that there really are 100 seats in the rising junior and sophomore classes.

Pretty much anyone that is qualified to do the work applying this year will be admitted. Or at least they should be admitted since there is space. It’s a great school and as many kids as possible should have access to being a part of it.

I think you are wrong.

Yes, the are wrong. They are NOT adding 100 seats to the other classes.

Anonymous wrote:The school board increased the size of TJ classes to 550 seats as part of the reform. It’s entirely logical to conclude that there really are 100 seats in the rising junior and sophomore classes.

Pretty much anyone that is qualified to do the work applying this year will be admitted. Or at least they should be admitted since there is space. It’s a great school and as many kids as possible should have access to being a part of it.

I think you are wrong.

The school board increased the size of TJ classes to 550 seats as part of the reform. It’s entirely logical to conclude that there really are 100 seats in the rising junior and sophomore classes.

Pretty much anyone that is qualified to do the work applying this year will be admitted. Or at least they should be admitted since there is space. It’s a great school and as many kids as possible should have access to being a part of it.