Education A National Roundup

Elite Virginia Magnet School Revises Admissions Policy

By Catherine Gewertz — September 22, 2004 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

In an effort to diversify its student population, a Virginia magnet school has revised the way it will admit incoming freshmen. (“Affirmative Reaction,” Feb. 6, 2002.)

Beginning next spring, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, in Alexandria, will expand the pool of applicants who make the first cut in the review for admission, the Fairfax County school board decided on Sept. 9.

Applications will be reviewed on a “sliding scale” basis, meaning that the school will balance applicants’ grade point averages with their scores on the school’s admission test. That allows students who don’t test well to compensate with better grades, and those with lower grades to compensate with strong test scores, said district spokesman Paul Regnier.

In the past, the highly selective school gave applicants’ admission test scores 80 percent of the weight, and their grade point averages 20 percent. The top 800 students in that review made the first cut.

The change could expand the first-cut pool of 800 to 1,200 or more, Mr. Regnier said. Applicants in the first-cut group submit writing samples, teacher recommendations, and extracurricular activities for further review. Admission is offered to about 400 students.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Making Science Stick: The Engaging Power of Hands-On Learning
How can you make science class the highlight of your students’ day while
achieving learning outcomes? Find out in this session.
Content provided by LEGO Education
Teaching Profession Key Insights to Elevate and Inspire Today’s Teachers
Join this free half day virtual event to energize your teaching and cultivate a positive learning experience for students.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Quiz News Quiz: Feb. 6, 2025: Reading Scores | Curriculum | Trump 'Indoctrination' Order | and More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Image of books on a shelf.
Illustration by Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva
Education Briefly Stated: February 5, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz News Quiz: Jan. 30, 2025: Interim Ed. Dept. Leader | Navigating Immigration Policies | Teacher Evaluations | And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP
Education Briefly Stated: January 29, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read