On Thursday, December 17, 2020, the Fairfax County School Board voted to change the admissions policy for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology to a holistic review in order to improve diversity at the school. The new process will be used to select the class of 2025 at TJHSST. Established in 1985, TJHSST is one of 19 Virginia Governor’s Schools, offering a comprehensive college preparatory program emphasizing the sciences, mathematics, and technology. Although the school is part of the Fairfax County Public Schools system, students from Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, and the City of Falls Church are eligible for admission.
“The Board sought to develop an admissions policy that recognized historical inequities and addressed racial and socioeconomic barriers to students while maintaining the high standards for which the school is known,” said School Board Chair Ricardy Anderson. “The process which resulted in several bold decisions by the Board — after very careful deliberation — included input from known experts and internal stakeholders and examined the admissions policies of similar magnet schools and a review of the literature.”
A holistic review will be done of students whose applications demonstrate enhanced merit; 550 seats will then be offered to the highest-evaluated students. The top 1.5 percent of the 8th grade class at each public middle school meeting the minimum standards will be eligible for admission. Students will be evaluated on the following factors:
- the student’s grade point average;
- a portrait sheet, where applicants will be asked to demonstrate Portrait of a Graduate attributes and 21st century skills;
- a problem-solving essay;
- experience factors, including students who are economically disadvantaged, English language learners, special education students, or students who are currently attending underrepresented middle schools.
The new admissions policy also includes sending recruitment communications to all eligible students, targeted recruitment of underrepresented students, presentations to students and parents, and a virtual open house, all available in multiple languages.
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Source: Fairfax County School Board