TJHSST Admission Process 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which Fairfax County Public Schools document must students submit as part of the TJHSST application to verify eligibility?
- SAT score report
- Current enrollment verification form (Correct answer)
- Teacher recommendation letter
- Standardized test waiver
Correct answer: Current enrollment verification form
Applicants must submit a current enrollment verification confirming they attend an eligible FCPS middle school or are otherwise eligible.
Question 2: The TJHSST Problem Solving Essay primarily assesses which skill set?
- Creative writing and narrative ability
- Analytical reasoning and STEM problem-solving thinking (Correct answer)
- Historical knowledge and essay organization
- Foreign language proficiency
Correct answer: Analytical reasoning and STEM problem-solving thinking
The Problem Solving Essay evaluates how applicants approach and reason through complex STEM-related problems.
Question 3: If a student is not selected after the first round of TJHSST offers, what is the next opportunity they may receive?
- Automatic acceptance in the following year
- A waitlist offer if an accepted student declines (Correct answer)
- A guaranteed spot in a partner magnet program
- Invitation to reapply within the same cycle
Correct answer: A waitlist offer if an accepted student declines
TJHSST maintains a waitlist and may extend offers to waitlisted students if accepted students decline their spots.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes how the Student Information Sheet (SIS) factors into TJHSST admissions?
- It replaces the need for teacher recommendations
- It provides holistic context about the applicant's background and experiences (Correct answer)
- It is only reviewed if test scores are below average
- It determines the applicant's math placement upon enrollment
Correct answer: It provides holistic context about the applicant's background and experiences
The Student Information Sheet gives reviewers holistic context about a student's personal background, interests, and experiences beyond test scores.
Question 5: TJHSST draws eligible applicants primarily from which geographic area?
- All Virginia public school students
- Fairfax County and several neighboring jurisdictions (Correct answer)
- Only students from Fairfax City
- Any student in the Washington D.C. metro area
Correct answer: Fairfax County and several neighboring jurisdictions
TJ accepts students from Fairfax County and a small number of partner jurisdictions including Loudoun, Prince William, Arlington, and others.
Question 6: What grade does a student typically enter when they begin attending TJHSST?
- 7th grade
- 8th grade
- 9th grade (Correct answer)
- 10th grade
Correct answer: 9th grade
TJHSST is a 9th–12th grade high school, so accepted students enter as ninth graders.
Question 7: How does the recent admissions reform affect the role of the Algebra 1 / math course requirement?
- Algebra 1 is no longer considered in any form
- Completion of or enrollment in Algebra 1 by application time remains a baseline eligibility indicator (Correct answer)
- Students must complete Algebra 2 before applying
- Math course history is replaced entirely by a standardized test cutoff
Correct answer: Completion of or enrollment in Algebra 1 by application time remains a baseline eligibility indicator
While holistic review has been emphasized, baseline math preparation such as Algebra 1 enrollment remains relevant to eligibility.
TJHSST Admission Process 2
Which Fairfax County Public Schools document must students submit as part of the TJHSST application to verify eligibility?