Main | Freshmen | Summer Round | Sophomores & Juniors | Testing | Test Prep | Resources | Contact | About TJ

ELIGIBILITY

Information on this page includes information regarding the following:

(a) residency requirement for all applicants; (b) attendance cap for participating school divisions; (c) proof of residency requirements; (d) prerequisite courses for application; and (e) home schooled students.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR ALL APPLICANTS

All applicants to TJHSST must, at the time of application, live with a parent or legal guardian who resides full time in, and meets the residency requirements of, a school division that participates in TJHSST. (FCPS Regulation 3355.9) The applicant and the parent/legal guardian must actually reside (be present) in the participating school division at the time of application.

The school divisions currently participating in TJHSST are:

Arlington County Fairfax County (includes City of Fairfax) Falls Church City Fauquier County Loudoun County Prince William County

The cities of Alexandria, Manassas, and Manassas Park do not currently participate in TJHSST. Students who live in those school divisions are not eligible to apply to, or attend, TJHSST.

ATTENDANCE CAP FOR ALL APPLICANTS

By contractual agreement between Fairfax County Public Schools and the participating school divisions, there is a cap, or limit, on the number of students who can attend TJHSST from each grade level from each of the divisions outside Fairfax County. This cap is calculated yearly for the incoming freshman class based on the number of eighth graders in each school division relative to the total number of eighth graders in the Northern Virginia region that participates in TJHSST. That cap applies for the four years that each individual class of students attends TJHSST.

The cap is an attendance cap only. It does not guarantee seats at TJ for students from any school division.

The attendance cap also does not determine whether or not a student can be admitted to TJ. Admissions decisions are made without consideration of the school division in which the applicant resides. Rather, the attendance cap determines how many admitted students from each school division can actually attend TJ.

PROOF OF RESIDENCY FOR ALL APPLICANTS

If an applicant is not currently enrolled in a public middle or high school in a school division that participates in TJHSST at the time of application, proof of residency is required. The applicant's parent or legal guardian must submit the following documentation as proof of residency at the time of application:

Copy of one of the following: current lease, current deed, or current mortgage statement, AND Copy of one of the following: current gas, electric, water, or land-line telephone bill, AND Copy of one of the following: Virginia driver's license; Commonwealth of Virginia identification card; current payroll stub; or current bank statement.

You may redact (black out) any confidential information, such as account numbers, balance information, etc.

FCPS Regulation 2202.4 provides that: "The burden of establishing and/or providing proof of the student's residence is the responsibility of the parent or guardian. Bona fide residence is one's actual residence maintained in good faith, and does not include superficial residence established for the purpose of free school attendance." Additional residency documentation, therefore, may be requested at any time.

PREREQUISITE COURSES FOR FRESHMAN APPLICATION

Applicants to the freshman class at TJHSST must be enrolled in Algebra 1 or a higher level math course in grade 8 to apply to TJHSST. Regulation 3355.9, which governs TJ admissions, provides that: "Enrollment in Algebra 1 or a higher level mathematics course in grade 8 is a condition of eligibility. Under special circumstances, students enrolled in Math 8 in grade eight may apply if, prior to the application deadline, the student obtains prior written approval from the admissions director."

The student must be taking a full-year of high school algebra; Algebra 1, Part A does not satisfy the math prerequisite for freshman application.

Students who are enrolled in Math 8 may be allowed to apply only if they can demonstrate both: (a) exceptional academic performance in Math 7; and (b) special circumstances (for example, if the school the student attends in grade 8 does not offer Algebra 1 to its 8th graders). We have found that absent such special circumstances, students who are not enrolled in at least Algebra 1 in grade 8 have not been successful in our admissions process.

To request a waiver of the Algebra 1 requirement, you must send a letter before October 24, 2008. Waiver requests received after October 24, 2008 will not be considered.

Mail your letter requesting a waiver to:

Ms. Judith H. Howard TJHSST Admissions Director TJHSST Admissions Office P.O. Box 3300 Merrifield, VA 22116-3300

The letter should provide the following information: (a) student's name: (b) student's current school, including name, address, and telephone number of school; (c) math course student is taking in grade 8, school where student is taking the math course (if different from school attending), name and contact information of teacher teaching math course; (d) math course student took in grade 7, school where student took the math course (if different from school attending), name and contact information of teacher who taught the math course; (e) detailed explanation of the special circumstances that merit a waiver of the Algebra 1 requirement; and (f) your contact information, including a daytime phone number and an e-mail address. Please attach a copy of the student's final 7th grade report card showing marks earned in Math 7 and any additional documentation supporting your waiver request, including math curriculum descriptions for all math courses taken in middle school.

PREREQUISITE COURSES FOR SOPHOMORE/JUNIOR APPLICATION

Students applying for admission to the 10th or 11th grades at TJHSST have specific course requirements for application and attendance. Those prerequisites are listed in Sophomores & Juniors.

HOME SCHOOLED STUDENTS

Students who are home schooled are eligible to apply to TJHSST provided that they meet the residency and course prerequisite requirements. Home schooled students are considered to be "private school" students for purposes of TJ admissions. Their "Present School Name" on the application is "Home School."

Home schooled students should submit with their application the Notification By Parent or Guardian of Intent to Provide Home Instruction filed with their school division for the 2008-2009 school year, with curriculum descriptions, in addition to required proof of residency.