Fairfax County Schools superintendent says admission to TJ can’t depend on test-taking skills

Members of the public who spoke at the town hall were about evenly divided on the proposed change. Supporters of the plan generally agreed with the need to improve diversity at a school that admits very few Black and Latinx students. A key theme for those opposed was the complaint that the plan would harm the reputation of the elite school. 

Brabrand’s proposal, announced in September, would get rid of the admissions test for TJ, teacher recommendations, and the $100 application fee. It would raise the minimum grade point average in core classes from 3.0 to 3.5. 

Other requirements would be retained, including the problem-solving essay, student information sheet, algebra I in the eighth grade, and minimum GPAs in math and science.

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A new “merit lottery” system would be established to ensure more equitable access. Each FCPS region and participating jurisdiction would have a pathway with a certain number of slots. Students who meet all the qualifications for TJ would be randomly selected for TJ admissions within each pathway. 

Brabrand recently revised the proposal he announced last month. Instead of having all 500 seats filled by the merit lottery, 400 seats would be filed by the merit lottery and 100 seats would go to the most highly rated applicants.  

“This is not a random lottery,” Brabrand said. “This is a merit lottery for kids already in the pool who are qualified to go to TJ.” 

There are regions where, year after year, kids don’t apply to TJ because kids in the past haven’t gotten in, he said, while there are other neighborhoods that have sent hundreds of students to TJ.  

Related story: FCPS considers new admissions plan to increase diversity at TJ

Many students don’t have access to test prep, Brabrand said. There are plenty of qualified minority students and students from low-income households who are in the pool of applicants, but they get knocked by the test, Brabrand said. “It’s time to find a better way to truly spot talent and give all our students an opportunity to participate.” 

Rather than rewarding students for test-taking skills, he said, the new admissions process will focus more on 21st century skills, such as creative thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving. The problems of the world will not be solved by people who were the best test-takers, Brabrand said. 

FCPS has been making changes to the admissions process for 10 years, he said, and “we haven’t made a significant impact” on diversity at the school. The current system doesn’t reflect the school system’s population. “Testing screens out talent.” 

“We’re looking for students with a passion for STEM and can explain why,” he said. That is more important than a list of accomplishments and awards on the information sheet. 

If the new plan is approved by the school board, it would take effect this year. FCPS would delay the application deadline to winter 2021 to give families time to apply under the new rules. 

When asked by an opponent of the proposal why the rush, Braband said, “We have the fierce urgency of now” for students already in the pipeline before they get screened out through the standardized test. 

In response to those who complained about lowering the standards at TJ, Brabrand said, “through this change, we will have the same rigorous curriculum and the same high expectations.” 

When asked whether the new system will let kids into TJ who won’t be able to survive there, he said, “we’ll make sure we’ll have kids set up for success.” All students, including those at TJ, need academic and social/emotional support. 

He also acknowledged the climate at TJ needs to be improved so students of color do not feel isolated and can have a more positive experience. 

Brabrand also talked about the need to enhance the pipeline of potential TJ students, starting in elementary schools. He said the school board will be looking at expanding the Advanced Academic Program in elementary schools, with the goal of giving more kids access to a rigorous curriculum.