TJHSST (Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology) is highly considered as best public high school in Virginia, and for a long time within top 3 high schools in the USA. Getting into this high school involved a stressful test in math & science with a cut-off bar so high that only “gifted” students made it to this high school. However in the last two decades, Asians & Indians have come to dominate the admits to this high school, coz well, lets be honest we put way more emphasis on academics than whites or other folks do. Various training institutions propped up in the area that sort of guaranteed admissions to TJHSST by training you exactly on things tests asked. These training institutes again were dominated by Asians and Indians galore, so it came to be that the best way to get into this school was not actually being truly “gifted” at math or science, but just by being above average and attending these institutes. So much so that TJ would essentially admit a big chunk of students from a specific training institute (yeah, I am looking at you Curie).

A few years ago TJHSST decided to address this problem of Asians and Indians dominating the school by changing its process to become more equitable. The new test has now largely done away with the hard core math and science test that made it famous. Instead, the test asks just one math problem, and 5 essays that students write about themselves to demonstrate characteristics of portrait of a graduate. The test now asks students to write essays on topics such as “Tell me about a time you failed at something you wanted badly. What did you learn from it?“, or “How would you approach a group project with a peer who is not doing their part for the project?“, or as my R topics were today “What is your leadership style in a project and how would use that at TJ?” and “Tell us about a time you were not mentally ready to a task assigned to you. How did you approach it“. The test now plays way more emphasis on qualities that make you college ready and not specifically academics, or much less, “gifted”.

In addition, TJHSST also decided that to curb the problem of specific middle schools dominating the admits (i.e again Asian and Indian majorities), it would make the admissions more equitable by assigning a quota 1.5% to each middle school. No matter what, 1.5% of each middle school applicants are given admits to the school. TJHSST rightly assumes that the rigor of the school is tough enough that those who cannot make it will drop out, while also giving a chance to kids from lower income schools especially black/latin dominated middle schools a chance at TJ. They also correctly assume that truly “gifted” kids will be fine whether they attend TJ or not when it comes to college admissions.

Of course, all of this has resulted in TJHSST dropping in national rankings quite dramatically. What once used to be in the top 3 almost always, is now within the top 20! Asian and Indian parents are obviously up in arms and hate this new system because it targets them mostly, and their kids can no longer just train their way into it. Mind you, Asians and Indians are STILL the majority population even after this change, but you know, Asians and Indians will be very happy if TJHSST simply went back to its old days of … cough… “merit”. I for one whole heartedly support this new admission systems at TJHSST – this is the right way to gauge a student and give them equitable chances to be a part of a prestigious high school.

What about us? R didnt prepare. It was never on her priorities to go to this school; the rigor is intense and unless you really want to be in STEM it does not warrant trying so hard, which is true for my kid. The high school she will attend is excellent on its own, offering a rigor she can work with. It also allows her to pursue her other non academic interests in swim or other clubs that she wants to join. We asked her to give this test for the experience, but we are out of the race anyway because our path is already clear. To all the Asians and Indian parents this year though, best of luck to you and your kid! May you get the validation that you so want.