FCPS PROPOSES MERIT LOT TERY FOR TJ ADMISSION
Current system reveals deep-rooted education inequity
MARINA QU EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | ALEENA GUL NEWS EDITOR o increase diversity in the top-rated performers from a certain area through a hopeful that a process that bolsters STEM public high school in the country, FCPS selective admission process. experiences in earlier grades, removes introduced a merit lottery application system The intention of the proposed plans financial hurdles for families and takes for TJ’s 2021 admission cycle. Located in is to make the admission process more a more holistic view of students would Alexandria, Thomas Jefferson High School inclusive—bringing in students from all encourage more students of all backgrounds for Science and Technology (TJ) admits segments of the FCPS community. to apply and be accepted to TJ.” around 500 top students in the Northern “The current TJ admissions process has The lottery would select students based Virginia area each year. historically resulted in disproportionate on the student population in regions of FCPS The Fairfax County School Board demographics that do not represent to benefit students from underrepresented approved the elimination of standardized middle schools. Currently, Rachel Carson, testing and the $100 application fee in the Longfellow and Rocky Run Middle Schools admissions process.FCPS The county is currently top three “feeder” middle Student Population WE (FallWANT 2019) TO HELP TJ Admitted serve Class as of the 2024 deciding between a full merit lottery system, schools for TJ. Students from those three THE PIPELINE REACH a hybrid merit lottery and a holistic review. schools make up nearly half of the TJ class. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL “I believe our country—in the middle The plan sparked controversy with the of the pandemic and after the murder of Asian 19.5% AND MIDDLE SCHOOLWhite 17.7% TJ PTSA and other groups, who began George Floyd—has reached a moment where protesting against the proposed changes. TJ 37.8%MORE KIDS SOMultiracial THEY FEEL we have to with a fresh perspective to relook parent and activist Asra Nomani published White 37.8% EMPOWERED TO APPLY at equity in everything we do. We’ve had an an op-ed in The Washington Post, citing this as Black 9.8% TO TJ.” Hispanic 3.3% Asian 73.0% movement. over 25-year conversation about [improving] an “anti-Asian” Black <1% TJ admissions,” FCPS Superintendent Scott “What Fairfax County Public Schools - DIDI ELSYAD Brabrand said in a town hall about TJ’s have decided in this approach is that Asian Hispanic 26.8% admissions process on Oct. 7. “I do believe students are not a valued minority,” Nomani TJ SENIOR & CO-LEADER OF it’s time to do something other than the said in an interview with The Highlander. “So THE TJ ALUMNI ACTION GROUP Multiracial 5.7% status quo.” what you have is a whitewashing of students As a response to the Black Lives Matter their Data obtainedin from FCPSdiversity. website As a parent, that is what Movement and increasing awareness of really angered me when I started hearing that social equity issues, the Virginia Department the economic, racial and special needs kind of rhetoric.” of Education required a plan from all 18 percentages found in FCPS and throughout TJ consists of over 70% Asian students, governor’s schools, including TJ, to raise the Northern Virginia jurisdictions TJ compared to the 20% county average. diversity. Governor’s schools are magnet serves,” TJ Principal Ann Bonitatibus said According to Nomani many parents of high schools that take in top academic in an interview with The Highlander. “I am TJ students, much like herself, are first or
T
Two Proposed TJ Admissions Options -Both eliminate admission test and application fee -Both include a holistic review of each student
Information obtained from FCPS website
8 | NEWS | OCTOBER
Holistic Review
Merit Lottery -Core class 3.5 GPA -Enrolled in Algebra 1 -Holistic Review -Selection by lottery based on FCPS regions proportional to enrollment
-Student Portrait of a Graduate sheet -Math/science problemsolving essay -Experience factors
Hybrid Merit Lottery -Highest evaluated students in holistic review fill 20% of seats (100 students) -Remaining 400 seats filled by merit lottery
Infographics & page design by Marina Qu
