Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology

TJHSST is often compared with other notable public magnet schools such as New York City's Stuyvesant High School and the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. It was founded in 1985, and occupies the building of a previous non-magnet Thomas Jefferson High School in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County, Virginia. Strangely enough, residents of the neighboring City of Alexandria are not eligible for admission due to the policy of its school board. It is one of the 16 Virginia Governor's Schools. TJHSST is a member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology.

The school enrolls approximately 450 students in each of ninth through twelfth grades, competitively selected on the basis of middle school academic records, a standardized admission examination (including an essay portion), and teacher recommendations. Approximately 430 students choose to attend each year. Only about one in five applicants is selected for each incoming class. For the upcoming freshmen (class of 2009 and beyond), the enrollment has been increased to about 500 students to mirror the growing population of its base community in Fairfax County and its surrounding counties.

Curriculum

TJHSST offers a uniquely extensive mathematics and science curriculum, offering courses such as Neurobiology, Marine Biology, DNA Science, Quantum Mechanics, and several advanced mathematics courses. All courses at TJHSST (or TJ for short) are taught at the Honors/GT, Advanced Placement, or post-Advanced placement level. All students are required to complete an introductory Java computer science course. Starting with the class of 2008, the computer science course must be completed before junior year. A unique program offered is the Senior Technology Laboratory Research program. Seniors are required to complete a year-long research project or an off campus mentorship through one of the school's several research labs, devoted to fields including microelectronics, computer science, chemistry, prototyping, optics, video technology, computer aided design, astronomy, oceanography, and biotechnology.

The school also offers a strong humanities and foreign language curriculum. Japanese and Russian are taught in addition to the more traditional German, French, Spanish, and Latin. Beginning in the 2005-06 school year, TJHSST will also offer introductory Chinese.

Another distinctive aspect of the curriculum is the ninth grade IBET (Integrated Biology, English, and Technology) program. Students spend nine class periods a week with the same group of peers, and the IBET teachers work together to produce an integrated curriculum. The technology aspect of the program (formally known as Principles of Engineering and Technology) stresses drafting, CAD, and basic electronics skills. Integrated Humanities courses are offered in 10th and 11th grade, with the several integrated programs available for seniors.

The Computer Systems Lab at TJHSST is one of a very few high school computing facilities with a supercomputer. In the late 1980s a team from the school won an ETA-10P supercomputer in the SuperQuest competition, a national science competition for high school students. Unfortunately, the ETA-10P was damaged by a roof leak in the 1990's. Cray Inc donated a new SV1 supercomputer to the school in December 2002, which is still functioning today (although the supercomputer has reportedly suffered instability, including several crashes during the 2004/2005 school year). The Computer Systems Lab is also unique in that student administrators are responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the lab's 50 GNU/Linux computers and the school's web and email servers.

Students at TJ are not given a class rank due to the selective admissions process.

The 8th Period Student Activities Program is a required part of the school day. Students sign up for clubs and activities through the school Intranet. While a plethora of traditional activities are offered, some are unique to the research laboratories. Students may study, participate clubs and teams, attend assemblies, tutor outside the school, and have social gatherings.

The TJ Diploma, in addition to the Advanced Studies Diploma which is also required by the Virginia All-Year Governor's Schools, consists of a 27-credit requirement. All students must complete a 5-credit mathematics sequence that begins with an Algebra 1 credit earned prior to 9th grade. The required 4 credit science sequence includes Biology, Chemistry, Physics (or AP Physics), and Geosystems. The 4 technology credits are the Principles of Engineering and Technology (part of IBET), computer science, senior research laboratory, and one extra elective in science, mathematics, or technology. The diploma also calls for 4 social studies credits in World History I (Ancient History to the Renaissance), World History II (1500 to the present), American History, and U.S. Government. 3 credits of the same language must be earned, unlike the Advanced Studies Diploma that also allows 2 credits of two languages. The 2 credits of Health/Physical Education are mandatory classes in 9th and 10th grade. For the Class of 2007 and beyond, 1 credit of Fine Arts/Practical Arts/Cultural Studies is required. Previous to the Class of 2007, humanities courses such Comparative Religion or AP Psychology could fulfill this requirement also. Fine Arts includes courses such as Chorus, Band, Orchestra, Art, Photography, Computer Graphics, Film Study, Theatre Art, Journalism, Photojournalism, and Digital Imagery. Practical Arts includes Electronics, Robotics, Prototyping, Nature of Materials, Computer Assisted Design, Video Technology, C/C++ Language, and Computer Assembly Language. Taking a 4th or 5th year of a language is also acceptable. Students who graduate with a B average or higher and complete at least one Advanced Placement or college level course receive a Governor's Seal on their diplomas.

Awards and Distinctions

TJHSST has fielded more National Merit Semifinalists than any other high school in America for most of the 1990s and 2000s. From 2000 to 2005, it fielded more USAMO qualifiers than any other high school in America.

TJHSST was recently ranked as the top public high school in the nation by PrepReview. TJHSST also has the highest average SAT score among American high schools. Each year, over a quarter of its graduating class accepts admission to the University of Virginia. Other popular destinations among graduates include the College of William and Mary, Virginia Tech, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Harvard University, and Yale University.

For schools with more than 1,000 students, TJHSST was cited as having the highest-performing AP Biology, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP English Language & Comprehension, AP French Language, AP Government & Politics: U.S., AP Psychology, and AP U.S. History courses among all schools nationwide in its size range. No other school had a greater proportion of its student body succeed in these subjects.

Recent developments

In March 2004, TJHSST announced a partnership with nearby George Mason University. There have been rumors regarding a possible relocation to the campus of the university following articles in the local press. The idea of relocation has sparked debate within the TJHSST community about the future of the school, but remains speculative.

In response to increasing student enrollment and admission, school administrators have announced the addition of several "learning cottages" to the direct front of the school's campus in Alexandria. The idea of locating the trailers in front of the school has given rise to rumors that this action is intended to call attention to the school's funding and overcrowding issues. The new admissions process is a topic of constant debate.

TJHSST celebrated the tenth-year anniversary of its sister school relationship with Chiben Gakuen High School in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan in 2003.

Contact Information

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

6560 Braddock Road

Alexandria, VA 22312

Phone: (703) 750-8300

External links