Anonymous wrote:My kid is graduating from TJ this year. Of course not every teacher has been the best ever, but I really am absolutely happy with the teachers at TJ. Some of them have gone way above and beyond to make it a great experience. It is a great school despite what you will read on the internet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why anyone from Loudoun would schlep to TJ now if they can attend AOS, especially given the declining rigor of TJ. It will take a few years to be documented but it’s not fiercely committed to excellence any longer. It’s just kind of…there.

Some kids may want the full high school.
Many who get into TJ did not get admitted to AOS or AET.
TJ offers more opportunities than AOS/AET in math and science classes. Some students can get calculus sooner by declining AOS where you will not get until 11th grade.
At TJ you can take in 9th grade if you are good enough.

AOS and AET have very set curriculum. There is not much flexibility if the kid changes their mind later. Also there's no math tracking at AOS/AET. The whole cohort follows the same math curriculum. Other than the long commute from Loudoun, TJ is a much better option as compared to AOS/AET.

The other challenge with AOS and AET, for me, is that they're not high schools. They're academies. As such, when you go back to your base school, you're not getting to take humanities classes with TJ students and TJ teachers. Maybe they're honors or AP classes, and that's fine, but there's a huge difference between learning, say, The Grapes of Wrath with TJ students as opposed to the goons on the Briar Woods football team.

This is an incredibly offensive, elitist, and depressing post. The goons on the football team? Shame on you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These new classes are definitely not academically as strong. Greater number of kids struggling already and they haven’t experienced notoriously difficult junior year yet. My kid knows multiple classmates repeating math as sophomores.

If the classes were not as strong as before, kids would not be struggling. Good to know they are maintaining high standards in their teaching.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why anyone from Loudoun would schlep to TJ now if they can attend AOS, especially given the declining rigor of TJ. It will take a few years to be documented but it’s not fiercely committed to excellence any longer. It’s just kind of…there.

Some kids may want the full high school.
Many who get into TJ did not get admitted to AOS or AET.
TJ offers more opportunities than AOS/AET in math and science classes. Some students can get calculus sooner by declining AOS where you will not get until 11th grade.
At TJ you can take in 9th grade if you are good enough.

AOS and AET have very set curriculum. There is not much flexibility if the kid changes their mind later. Also there's no math tracking at AOS/AET. The whole cohort follows the same math curriculum. Other than the long commute from Loudoun, TJ is a much better option as compared to AOS/AET.

The other challenge with AOS and AET, for me, is that they're not high schools. They're academies. As such, when you go back to your base school, you're not getting to take humanities classes with TJ students and TJ teachers. Maybe they're honors or AP classes, and that's fine, but there's a huge difference between learning, say, The Grapes of Wrath with TJ students as opposed to the goons on the Briar Woods football team.

This is an incredibly offensive, elitist, and depressing post. The goons on the football team? Shame on you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why anyone from Loudoun would schlep to TJ now if they can attend AOS, especially given the declining rigor of TJ. It will take a few years to be documented but it’s not fiercely committed to excellence any longer. It’s just kind of…there.

Some kids may want the full high school.
Many who get into TJ did not get admitted to AOS or AET.
TJ offers more opportunities than AOS/AET in math and science classes. Some students can get calculus sooner by declining AOS where you will not get until 11th grade.
At TJ you can take in 9th grade if you are good enough.

AOS and AET have very set curriculum. There is not much flexibility if the kid changes their mind later. Also there's no math tracking at AOS/AET. The whole cohort follows the same math curriculum. Other than the long commute from Loudoun, TJ is a much better option as compared to AOS/AET.

The other challenge with AOS and AET, for me, is that they're not high schools. They're academies. As such, when you go back to your base school, you're not getting to take humanities classes with TJ students and TJ teachers. Maybe they're honors or AP classes, and that's fine, but there's a huge difference between learning, say, The Grapes of Wrath with TJ students as opposed to the goons on the Briar Woods football team.

Anonymous wrote:These new classes are definitely not academically as strong. Greater number of kids struggling already and they haven’t experienced notoriously difficult junior year yet. My kid knows multiple classmates repeating math as sophomores.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is a sophomore admitted under the new system. Thinks the math teachers are just fine. Has really liked a few so far (teacher has changed mid year) Other teachers she has had have been for the most part good to great. There are always some teachers that grade harder than others or assign more work than other teachers (for the same course). Students need to take accountability and work hard if needed and get help from teachers.

Very true but many posters here are trying to get others to decline the invitation by creating this false narrative designed to create waitlist movement in the hope their kid will get in.

Anonymous wrote:My child is a sophomore admitted under the new system. Thinks the math teachers are just fine. Has really liked a few so far (teacher has changed mid year) Other teachers she has had have been for the most part good to great. There are always some teachers that grade harder than others or assign more work than other teachers (for the same course). Students need to take accountability and work hard if needed and get help from teachers.

Anonymous wrote:These new classes are definitely not academically as strong. Greater number of kids struggling already and they haven’t experienced notoriously difficult junior year yet. My kid knows multiple classmates repeating math as sophomores.

Anonymous wrote:TJ parent here. Kid is a sophomore. Was admitted to both academies and TJ. Chose TJ. So far I am very happy with how things are going. Kid is thriving there, made several new friends. Commute is too long but we were prepared for that. Class choice/teachers are excellent. Please do not pay heed to negative views here. Please talk to kids/parents from TJ and make an informed decision.

Anonymous wrote:TJ parent here. Kid is a sophomore. Was admitted to both academies and TJ. Chose TJ. So far I am very happy with how things are going. Kid is thriving there, made several new friends. Commute is too long but we were prepared for that. Class choice/teachers are excellent. Please do not pay heed to negative views here. Please talk to kids/parents from TJ and make an informed decision.