Anonymous
Post 04/17/2024 12:08     Subject: Grades at TJ
Anonymous wrote:If ur kid did well (95%+) in the middle school math placement tests ( I forget what they arw called) - they should do fine at TJ.

The teachers provide a lot of support and practice materials: and this is not new.

My “average” kid under the new admissions system is doing ok. mix of As and Bs - good rigor but not the highest.

Should get into a T50 school. Thats ok for is


It might shock you to learn that not every class at TJ is a math class.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2024 12:06     Subject: Grades at TJ
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:These kids are in the top 25 percent of their middle school. So it's not like they wouldn't be in the top 25 percent likely at their base high school. Others can surpass them but it's not like they somehow just dropped down to the 50th percentile of their base high school very often just because of grades.

When the top middle school student foregoes their chance to be a top student at their base high school and opts for TJ, they do so expecting to also be within the top quarter at TJ. I doubt any student accepts the TJ offer with the anticipation of being in the bottom quarter, unless they are totally uninformed of the rigor and tough grading. Every student likely wishes there existed a way for them to know if they would thrive or struggle with Cs at TJ.

The previous admission test filtered out the bottom students that the current lottery admissions is letting in. The top half of the class made it in before and are in there now.


No, no it really didn't necessarily do that. I know plenty of my classmates who pulled Cs and even Ds.

We're all fine now, by the way.
-person who graduated from TJ under an old system
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2024 12:06     Subject: Grades at TJ
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Madison's SBG verses TJ. Is there much of a difference?


TJ is still part of FCPS, meaning they have the same grading policies as every other FCPS high school.

If same grading policy, why does TJ class have lowest unweighted GPA of 2.75? Aren't these all super smart kids?


What?!?

Where are you getting this info ??


Lowest GPA at TJ class of 2022 (which is meaningless because outliers gonna outly, and also COVID era craziness)
was 3.255 weighted, which is under 2.75 unweighted.

https://tjhsst.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/inline-files/2022-23%20TJHSST%20Profile_0.pdf

That doesn't make TJ a harsher grader. TJ students take harder classes.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2024 12:01     Subject: Re:Grades at TJ
Anonymous wrote:If every other NOVA school is an “easy A,” then the college admissions offices will know that, and will place almost no weight on a GPA they recognize as meaningless. This is especially true for the VA schools, since they track our HS’s closely.

Accordingly, they will also know and appreciate TJ’s rigor / accelerated student body, and take that into account, even if there are a few Bs on a transcript.

If your child plans to attend some school on the west coast who has never heard of TJ and couldn’t even find FFX county on a map, then they might assume GPA’s from all schools should be weighted the exact same way.


If I hold my kid back from TJ, then for college essay they can write about the "experience factor" and "overcoming adversity" of having an insane mother who withholds education.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2024 11:57     Subject: Grades at TJ
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:These kids are in the top 25 percent of their middle school. So it's not like they wouldn't be in the top 25 percent likely at their base high school. Others can surpass them but it's not like they somehow just dropped down to the 50th percentile of their base high school very often just because of grades.

When the top middle school student foregoes their chance to be a top student at their base high school and opts for TJ, they do so expecting to also be within the top quarter at TJ. I doubt any student accepts the TJ offer with the anticipation of being in the bottom quarter, unless they are totally uninformed of the rigor and tough grading. Every student likely wishes there existed a way for them to know if they would thrive or struggle with Cs at TJ.

The previous admission test filtered out the bottom students that the current lottery admissions is letting in. The top half of the class made it in before and are in there now.


Interestingly, this is the Ivy ALDC model: half the class are the academic ones, and graduate in top half, and half the class are just happy to be there for non academic social / networking reasons.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2024 11:56     Subject: Grades at TJ
You should absolutely keep your kid in a low expectations environment so you can avoid the sting of defeat. College too. Don't go to Harvard where they can't handle being the bottom half of their class. And then go work at McDonald's so they don't have to worry about being promoted too slowly at a professional career.
Throw that baby out and drink the bathwater.

smdh at giving up a uniquely amazing educational opportunity for a (low) chance at a opportunity you are going to intentionally underprepare them for. You should decline TJ because TJ shouldn't waste its gifts on you.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2024 11:54     Subject: Grades at TJ
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:These kids are in the top 25 percent of their middle school. So it's not like they wouldn't be in the top 25 percent likely at their base high school. Others can surpass them but it's not like they somehow just dropped down to the 50th percentile of their base high school very often just because of grades.

When the top middle school student foregoes their chance to be a top student at their base high school and opts for TJ, they do so expecting to also be within the top quarter at TJ. I doubt any student accepts the TJ offer with the anticipation of being in the bottom quarter, unless they are totally uninformed of the rigor and tough grading. Every student likely wishes there existed a way for them to know if they would thrive or struggle with Cs at TJ.

The previous admission test filtered out the bottom students that the current lottery admissions is letting in. The top half of the class made it in before and are in there now.


+1. If your kid is too now, they will likely remain at the top. TJ is now letting in more unqualified students— these will be the bottom half. It is now easier to remain in the top half.


The things you tell yourself to feel better...
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2024 11:50     Subject: Grades at TJ
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:These kids are in the top 25 percent of their middle school. So it's not like they wouldn't be in the top 25 percent likely at their base high school. Others can surpass them but it's not like they somehow just dropped down to the 50th percentile of their base high school very often just because of grades.

When the top middle school student foregoes their chance to be a top student at their base high school and opts for TJ, they do so expecting to also be within the top quarter at TJ. I doubt any student accepts the TJ offer with the anticipation of being in the bottom quarter, unless they are totally uninformed of the rigor and tough grading. Every student likely wishes there existed a way for them to know if they would thrive or struggle with Cs at TJ.

The previous admission test filtered out the bottom students that the current lottery admissions is letting in. The top half of the class made it in before and are in there now.


+1. If your kid is too now, they will likely remain at the top. TJ is now letting in more unqualified students— these will be the bottom half. It is now easier to remain in the top half.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2024 11:45     Subject: Grades at TJ
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If ur kid is not going to be in the too half at TJ - do not send to TJ. And no - grades till middle school are not a predictor.



You realize this is ridiculous, right? Are you that bad at math? 225 kids are going to be in the bottom half. SMH


It's not ridiculous. If your kid is likely to be in the bottom half at TJ, they might be better off being in the top 10% at their base school.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2024 06:51     Subject: Grades at TJ
* us
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2024 06:51     Subject: Grades at TJ
If ur kid did well (95%+) in the middle school math placement tests ( I forget what they arw called) - they should do fine at TJ.

The teachers provide a lot of support and practice materials: and this is not new.

My “average” kid under the new admissions system is doing ok. mix of As and Bs - good rigor but not the highest.

Should get into a T50 school. Thats ok for is
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2024 00:17     Subject: Grades at TJ
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:These kids are in the top 25 percent of their middle school. So it's not like they wouldn't be in the top 25 percent likely at their base high school. Others can surpass them but it's not like they somehow just dropped down to the 50th percentile of their base high school very often just because of grades.

When the top middle school student foregoes their chance to be a top student at their base high school and opts for TJ, they do so expecting to also be within the top quarter at TJ. I doubt any student accepts the TJ offer with the anticipation of being in the bottom quarter, unless they are totally uninformed of the rigor and tough grading. Every student likely wishes there existed a way for them to know if they would thrive or struggle with Cs at TJ.

The previous admission test filtered out the bottom students that the current lottery admissions is letting in. The top half of the class made it in before and are in there now.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2024 18:11     Subject: Grades at TJ
Anonymous wrote:These kids are in the top 25 percent of their middle school. So it's not like they wouldn't be in the top 25 percent likely at their base high school. Others can surpass them but it's not like they somehow just dropped down to the 50th percentile of their base high school very often just because of grades.

When the top middle school student foregoes their chance to be a top student at their base high school and opts for TJ, they do so expecting to also be within the top quarter at TJ. I doubt any student accepts the TJ offer with the anticipation of being in the bottom quarter, unless they are totally uninformed of the rigor and tough grading. Every student likely wishes there existed a way for them to know if they would thrive or struggle with Cs at TJ.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2024 17:43     Subject: Grades at TJ
These kids are in the top 25 percent of their middle school. So it's not like they wouldn't be in the top 25 percent likely at their base high school. Others can surpass them but it's not like they somehow just dropped down to the 50th percentile of their base high school very often just because of grades.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2024 17:40     Subject: Grades at TJ
Anonymous wrote:There are thousands of colleges out there. Even with a few Cs one should be able to find a college that meets their requirements.


I don't think most TJ kids want any mediocre college. Why would they go to a magnet only to end up at ODU unless that was by choice? Any kid that attends there and chooses ODU should be able to choose it, not just attend because they can't get in somewhere else.