Fairfax County Public Schools announced on April 28 that it has offered admission to the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) for the Class of 2030. A total of 550 students received offers, selected from a pool of 2,762 applicants from across Fairfax County and neighboring jurisdictions including Arlington, Loudoun, Prince William counties, and the City of Falls Church.
The announcement is significant as it marks the sixth consecutive year that students from every Fairfax County middle school have been offered admission to TJHSST. This includes schools that were previously underrepresented before changes were made to the admissions process in 2020. The school said its admissions evaluators do not know applicants’ names, schools, race, or gender during evaluation.
Of those admitted this year, about 24% come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and approximately 10% are multilingual learners. The average GPA among successful applicants was reported at 3.96. All admitted students met requirements for accelerated coursework and minimum GPA standards.
The diversity among those offered admission is reflected in demographic data: Asian students comprise about 61%, Black students nearly 6%, Hispanic students about 7%, White students almost 20%, with smaller percentages identifying as two or more races or receiving special education services.
TJHSST was established in 1985 as a Governor’s School focused on science, mathematics, and technology education. The school states its mission is “to provide students with a rigorous learning environment focused on math, science, and technology; to inspire joy at the prospect of discovery; and to foster a culture of innovation based on ethical behavior and the shared interests of humanity.”
