Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) Admissions School Board Work Session July 19, 2012

Purpose: To review the TJHSST admissions process, provide an update on outreach initiatives and outcomes, and discuss successes, challenges, and next steps.

Agenda  Current Admissions Process (2010 – Present)  Admissions Process (2004 – 2009)  Changes Since 2004  Status of Outreach Efforts  Admissions Modeling – SY 2010-2011 Data  Issues and Challenges  Dialogue and Next Steps

Current Admissions Process (2010 – Present) Appl ply Complete a one-page application Admi missi ssions ns Test (Timed standardized test and respond to two essay prompts) Semifinalists Non-se semi mifinal nalists (Sliding scale is used to balance test score and GPA)

Current Admissions Process (2010 – Present) cont’d Semi mifinal nalists s submi mit: : 1. Student Information Sheet 2. Two teacher recommendations (math/science and other) Anonymo nymous us readers ders (trai aine ned educato ators s & administ strators) ) read d inde depe pende ndent ntly y & evaluat ate indi divi vidual dual compo pone nents nts of the applicat cation: n: 1. Essays 2. Two Teacher Recommendations 3. Student Information Sheets Final nal Decisi sion (480 Admitted) 1. Essays 25% 2. Student Information Sheet 20% 3. Teacher recommendation 20% 4. Math score from admissions test 20% 5. Math and science GPA 15%

Admissions Process (2004 – 2009) Appl ply Complete a one-page application Admi missi ssions ns Test (Timed standardized test and respond to two essay prompts)) Semi mifinal nalists Non-se semi mifi finali nalist sts (Sliding scale is used to balance test score and GPA))

Admissions Process (2004 – 2009) cont’d Semi mifinal nalists s submi mit: : 1. Student Information Sheet 2. Three teacher recommendations (math/science and other) Two select ction n commi mmittee ees s (2 member bers s per team) m) review ew packet ket and rate: e: 1. Application Two reader der teams ms score e 2. Student Information Sheet essa says ys 3. Three Teacher Recommendations 4. Grades, Test Scores and Essay Scores Final nal Decisi sion (480 admitted based on the strength of their ratings)

September 2004  Added more weight to the GPA July 2008  Revised admissions test July 2009  Modified sliding scale used to determine semifinalists  Changed number of required teacher recommendations from 3 to 2  Revised forms and review process for revised documents  Created more objective rating scores  Admit students based on numeric ratings  Established a wait list

Outreach Success Stories

Status of Outreach Efforts  Develop a more proactive and robust outreach plan to increase diversity (Target 5 th – 7 th graders and parents)  Conducted admissions presentations and activities for elementary school students & PTAs  Held information sessions for elementary school principals, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) contacts

Status of Outreach Efforts  Partnering with Chantilly Pyramid Minority Student Achievement Committee (CPMSAC), Fairfax County PTA Program, Fairfax NAACP, Multicultural Family Education Center, and Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC)  Conducted admissions presentations at all FCPS middle schools and participating school divisions

 Five Models ◦ Model l 1: Base Sc School l (15 per mid iddle le school) l) ◦ Model l 2: Clu luster Se Sele lectio ion n (45 p per clu luster) ◦ Model l 3: Zip ip Co Codes (proporti tiona onal l to censu sus s popula latio ion) n) ◦ Model l 4: Alt lternate e Weig ightin ing ◦ Model l 5: Random Se Sele lectio ion n of Se Semif ifin inali alists sts

 Data presented is: ◦ SY 2010-11 admissions (Class of 2015) ◦ Data is for Fairfax County residents  No major change in underrepresented students based on any of the models

Issues and Challenges Black and Hispanic students’ admissions rates to TJHSST 1. are disproportionately lower than White and Asian students Low number of students with financial need are being 2. admitted to TJHSST Uneven preparation for admissions test – inequitable 3. access to test preparation Preparedness of admitted students to handle the academic 4. rigor of TJHSST

Issues and Challenges cont’d Underrepresentation of FCPS middle schools without 5. Advanced Academic Centers Legal parameters 6. Benefits and enhancements in the outreach and recruiting 7. processes may not be seen immediately Meeting expectations of various stakeholders 8.

Dialogue and Next Steps