Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Privileged whites fear those who threaten their place on the pyramid. Sad.

This is not it. Don’t try to fool yourself. Many don’t want a culture where academics are everything, cheating is accepted, parents revolve their lives around the academic success of their kids, excelling in anything other than school is not celebrated. We expect and appreciate well-rounded kids who are social, have leadership skills, participate in group sports/activities, think there’s more to learning than STEM. Most of us want the typical American high school experience for our children, as our kids will grow up and have to work in a country that doesn’t tolerate cheating, where social skills, connections and leadership abilities lead to more opportunities than the ability to memorize facts.

Not sure if you have a kid at TJ so lemme 'splain. I have one at TJ and one at a top base HS so I know what happens at both.

- You are right about the focus on academic success which should be expected at a STEM magnet school. That's like saying MIT engineering kids focus too much on academics. They better if they want to graduate! If your kid doesn't want to work hard, don't apply. You also seem to think TJ is like a 4-year long quiz bowl where everyone "memorizes facts" and are tested on them. Not so. Think of TJ as a school where they teach stuff that are typically taught in year 1 and maybe 2 of a high end college. Some kids are smart enough to learn them at a younger age. That's the typical TJ kid. Of course, there's no shame if yours doesn't make the cut and learns those things in college.

- Cheating in NOT ACCEPTED. Do kids cheat? Yes. Don't make it out to be like that's a school culture thing (not that it matters what you think really but just trying to educate you here). There are more than enough kids cheating at some of the top high schools in this area as well, probably more than at TJ.

- Parents and the schools DO celebrate non-STEM excellence. Langley, the top base HS around here sends 20-40 kids to a model UN conference. TJ sends 150... and they win..all the time. Same with debate club, Theatre.. What else are you looking for?. Kids at TJ do pretty much what kids at other High schools do in terms of "social skills, connections and leadership abilities", just that more of them do it relative to a base HS. In fact, this is one of the few high schools with a strong alumni network, almost as good as some colleges.

- Sports. A lot of kids play sports. Sure they are not the top school for football or basketball but they do have those teams and many more. They excel in some areas like swimming, golf and tennis. A lot of kids play travel sports as well.. Maybe that's not enough for you but I bet 90% of kids at a base HS don't do much sports either.

- So what is missing at TJ from an "American High School experience"? "Football culture" or a jock culture, desperate girls trying to hook up with those jocks, drugs in the bathrooms, teenage pregnancies... stuff like that. Kids also spend 1-2 hours commuting to school and an extra hour on average of after-school activities for clubs, etc. which would be not be something that most "America High schoolers" would do..

Assuming you are considering sending a kid to this school, you need to assess your kid with the above lens and decide where they should go..

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are different kinds of Asians at TJ. But many are racist and form cheating rings having been together in prep classes for years.

So true! The International Committee on High School Cheating Prevention just certified that all base high schools in the US are cheating free! TJ and other magnet schools did not make the cut.

This is a troll. The International Committee on High School Cheating Prevention isn't a thing. If you Google it nothing comes up.

Of course it isn't a thing! Don't you get Sarcasm?

I feel like most if not all of the kids at TJ want to be the best in their class. Although there is a cheating problem at TJ, find a school where students don't cheat. I would say TJ would be a better environment for my child than a base school because there is a smaller drug and vaping issue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are different kinds of Asians at TJ. But many are racist and form cheating rings having been together in prep classes for years.

So true! The International Committee on High School Cheating Prevention just certified that all base high schools in the US are cheating free! TJ and other magnet schools did not make the cut.

This is a troll. The International Committee on High School Cheating Prevention isn't a thing. If you Google it nothing comes up.

Anonymous wrote:Privileged whites fear those who threaten their place on the pyramid. Sad.

This is not it. Don’t try to fool yourself. Many don’t want a culture where academics are everything, cheating is accepted, parents revolve their lives around the academic success of their kids, excelling in anything other than school is not celebrated. We expect and appreciate well-rounded kids who are social, have leadership skills, participate in group sports/activities, think there’s more to learning than STEM. Most of us want the typical American high school experience for our children, as our kids will grow up and have to work in a country that doesn’t tolerate cheating, where social skills, connections and leadership abilities lead to more opportunities than the ability to memorize facts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ doesn't provide a real world, diverse education.

This is so silly. My TJ kid is coming out with a strong basis is science research, yes. But also an understanding of basic electronics, a certification in welding, the ability to CAD and 3rd print anything, basic computer programming, an incredibly strong grounding in writing and analysis. Shockingly strong history. 4 years of music. A zillion group projects and grades with an assigned lab partner that forced him to learn to collaborate with all different types of kids. What exactly do you think is missing?

It’s not diverse racially, socio-economically, socially and I’d argue intellectually.

+1000. There are a handful of AA and Latinx students in each class, and those kids get talked about behind their backs on a daily basis (and occasionally to their faces) that they are obviously products of a secret affirmative action program. And the over-emphasis on STEM in the admissions process results in entirely too many kids walking around the school with the same ambitions, same goals, and same interests - making the cutthroat environment of competition inevitable. And the worst part is, most of these kids and families came from middle schools with the same problems because of the competition within the schools to get into TJ - so they don't recognize the poisonous nature of the culture until they get to college.

Newsflash! Pretty much every non-asian kid (and non-jewish/russian I'd assume) at TJ gets in because they are really smart and really want to. Everyone else knows that and gives them that respect. Source: Two of my kids at TJ.

Anonymous wrote:There are different kinds of Asians at TJ. But many are racist and form cheating rings having been together in prep classes for years.

So true! The International Committee on High School Cheating Prevention just certified that all base high schools in the US are cheating free! TJ and other magnet schools did not make the cut.

Anonymous wrote:Would love to see the break down of FARMs and most especially AA and Latinx.

And, I live in one of the almighty AAP >TJHSST feeder school neighborhoods; heard all about striving for AAP as a springboard to TJ from parents of k -1.

I know all about the study groups, the test prepping, the hand-selected specialists, all of the intel gathering and gaming that begins just to get the kindergarten student into AAP.

And your point being ???

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. If you don't have the ability to join 'em STFU and move on. Regardless of how one gets into TJ, the 4 years at TJ are brutal from a family commitment perspetive. I know a lot of families that decline or don't take the test for that reason..

Anonymous wrote:Omg I thought u were talking about Trader Joe’s and got super confused by your post title.

Rodney Dangerfield, back from the dead!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ doesn't provide a real world, diverse education.

This is so silly. My TJ kid is coming out with a strong basis is science research, yes. But also an understanding of basic electronics, a certification in welding, the ability to CAD and 3rd print anything, basic computer programming, an incredibly strong grounding in writing and analysis. Shockingly strong history. 4 years of music. A zillion group projects and grades with an assigned lab partner that forced him to learn to collaborate with all different types of kids. What exactly do you think is missing?

m

DP. Just a guess, but as the poster said, probably a real world diverse education.

Privileged whites fear those who threaten their place on the pyramid. Sad.

Anonymous wrote:"Asian" is just a bad proxy for a certain type of culture which apparently is prevalent/looming at TJ (I don't have personal experience).
I am Russian and have to live with a bit of vodka/mafia/ballet/KGB stereotyping. When the majority of a group is engaged in certain behaviors, the minority suffers.

If the behavior produces good outcomes for the person/group practicing and is not illegal, others need to emulate. If not they need to STFU and move on chanting "I am not worthy". Will at least help calm them down.

"Asian" is just a bad proxy for a certain type of culture which apparently is prevalent/looming at TJ (I don't have personal experience).
I am Russian and have to live with a bit of vodka/mafia/ballet/KGB stereotyping. When the majority of a group is engaged in certain behaviors, the minority suffers.

Anonymous wrote:Are you kidding???

I would like to get my kid to TJ precisely because of Asian-American students. It seems that they were only one not drinking Trump's and China's deceitful Koolaid, and took necessary precautions since Jan.

They are the only sensible group that was probably self-isolating from the beginning because they have heard/seen/lived through these times before; have an academic plan in place to study during the pandemic because of Singapore Math exposure in ES; know how to use spices and rice to eat good food; live frugally so that they can weather terrible times; and wearing masks and gloves everywhere without being self-conscious about it.

TJ Community right now is the most well prepared. No one is gonna be sick while doing online group projects. I expect that rigorous studies are going on in earnest among the student population. Some of them may be even catching up on their sleep. No boredom for them.

Preach on

Anonymous wrote:Would love to see the break down of FARMs and most especially AA and Latinx.

And, I live in one of the almighty AAP >TJHSST feeder school neighborhoods; heard all about striving for AAP as a springboard to TJ from parents of k -1.

I know all about the study groups, the test prepping, the hand-selected specialists, all of the intel gathering and gaming that begins just to get the kindergarten student into AAP.

The admissions numbers are usually readily available each year with a light google search.

FARMS is generally below 2%, Latinx is about 3% and AA is about 1-2% in each class. 10 Black kids in a class of nearly 500 is considered a pretty good year.