Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Academies of Loudoun was made with TJ in mind, I don't see it being a full replacement soon. It seems like it was made as an option to give more kids the opportunity of a magnet school without the massive workload that TJ provides.

Academies of Loudoun (ACL) was created in LCPS as something similar to the FCPS Academies, mainly focused on trade and technical skills through the MATA programs. Over time, ACL expanded to include AOS/AET, which are part-time math and science courses for students from different LCPS high schools. AOS/AET isn’t a full fledged high school by itself and doesn’t offer a separate diploma or even a transcript. Much like FCPS Academy courses, any AOS/AET coursea taken simply show up on the student’s base high school transcript, and majority of that transcript is filled with courses taken at base high school.

It makes no sense to compare a random part-time AOS/AET program to nationally ranked stand alone TJ. This entire comparison started because LCPS started using an admission test to enroll their students into AOS/AET around the same time TJ admissions process occurs. Outside LCPS there is no distinct recognition for AOS/AET courses as such, especially from a college admissions standpoint. When college admissions evaluate an LCPS applicant who took courses at AOS/AET, they simply see them as line items on the applicant's base school transcript. Briar Woods, Rock Ridge, Lightridge are the three top ranked LCPS base schools, and few of their students participate in AOS/AET programs. When they apply for college admissions the transcript goes out from these base schools.

If at all college admissions consider national high school rankings like those from US News, this what they see when comparing some of the top FCPS and LCPS (/w AOS/AET) high schools:

TJHSST (#5)
Langley HS (#146)
Oakton HS (#245)
McLean HS (#261)
Briar Woods HS (#806)
Rock Ridge HS (#874)
Light Ridge HS (#1,196)

Even with access to AOS/AET program courses, the top three LCPS schools are not only miles apart from TJ, but also from the top three FCPS high schools.

That said, for those LCPS applicants who dont make it into TJ or are not interested in TJ, AOS/AET program is something to consider.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I lived in Loudoun I would never send my kid to TJ. The commute is just too far.

That’s what a lot of parents say when their kids don’t get into TJ. Easy to call the grapes sour.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I lived in Loudoun I would never send my kid to TJ. The commute is just too far.

That’s what a lot of parents say when their kids don’t get into TJ. Easy to call the grapes sour.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I lived in Loudoun I would never send my kid to TJ. The commute is just too far.

That’s what a lot of parents say when their kids don’t get into TJ. Easy to call the grapes sour.

Anonymous wrote:If I lived in Loudoun I would never send my kid to TJ. The commute is just too far.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Academies of Loudoun was made with TJ in mind, I don't see it being a full replacement soon. It seems like it was made as an option to give more kids the opportunity of a magnet school without the massive workload that TJ provides.

How about without the massive commute TJ would involve for most Loudoun residents. It simply does not make sense from a logistical, environmental, or even student health perspective to bus kids from most areas of Loudoun all the way to TJ versus the Academies. We are talking about very big distances!!

After first week of getting used to the busride, Loudoun kids rarely see the distance as an issue. Most are either napping, catching up on email messages, or doing homework on that quiet bus ride.