America's best public high school tanks in rankings after implementing DEI admissions policy

A prestigious nationalist precocious schoolhouse often classed America's champion has slumped successful rankings aft implementing a DEI-focused admissions policy. 

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology fell to number 14 connected nan latest US News and World Report Rankings. 

It held nan apical spot for years, but dipped to 3rd spot successful 2023 and saw its ranking freefall successful 2024, prompting nan main Dr. Ann Bonitatibus to guidelines down earlier this month. 

Worried parents person said that nan alarming driblet is nan consequence of an 'equity'-focused admissions policy, which prioritizes equality of result alternatively than opportunity.

The argumentation intends to summation nan number of achromatic and Latino children astatine nan schoolhouse by axing modular tests successful favour of a reappraisal process. Critics person said it has lowered world standards and led to a simplification successful Asian-American students. 

Srilekha Palle, whose kid attends nan school, told Fox News: 'What is simply a large woody if it falls down to 100, 1,000? 

'If you person that benignant of attitude, past what are we school our kids? I deliberation it is purely a reflection connected activity changes and activity failure.'

Glenn Miller, whose boy graduated from TJ 2 years ago, said with Fairfax Times and criticized nan committee for nan alteration successful policy. 

He said: 'It hurts nan county. It hurts nan estimation of nan county. It hurts nan region arsenic a spot that attracts group to move here.'

Miller said he was concerned that by prioritizing group equity, they mightiness detract from basal acquisition improvements. 

Asra Nomani, a erstwhile Thomas Jefferson parent, had antecedently said nan departure Bonitatibus was a triumph for nan school. 

The journalist and writer has been a vocal professional of nan schoolhouse leadership, nan diminution successful nan school's rankings and nan simplification successful nan number of National Merti semifinalists.

Nomani, a first procreation American-Indian Muslim, said: 'Across nan county, parents, teachers, and students are celebrating. Since Ann Bonitatibus came to nan school, nan rankings of nan schoolhouse person gone from No. 1 to No. 14. 

'The number of National Merit semifinalists has gone from astir 150 to 80, and dozens of teachers and unit person near nan school. 

'Her resignation is simply a cleanable illustration of failing up – wherever she is now heading to nan territory level, ironically for talent acquisition when, successful fact, she’s driven talent from nan school.'

She continued: 'We request a leader that is really willing successful acquisition excellence, successful fostering nan brightest and champion minds truthful they tin beryllium nan leaders we request tomorrow.'

Dr. Andrew Hayes, president of nan TJ Alumni Action Group, who advocated for a much equitable admissions process told Fox nan rankings were an 'artificial measurement'. 

Hayes said: '14 is amazing. I deliberation group who are complaining astir that are spoiled aliases person beautiful unrealistic expectations.'

Fairfax County Public Schools person besides denied location being immoderate nexus betwixt nan driblet successful rankings and nan admissions policy. 

They pointed retired that nan schoolhouse is still number 1 successful nan authorities of Virginia and nan greater DC area. 

Thomas Jefferson's admissions argumentation is taxable to an ongoing tribunal battle. A national judge initially ruled nan equitable admissions argumentation discriminatory.

An appeals tribunal reversed that ruling, pinch nan Supreme Court subsequently declining to perceive nan case.  

Supporters of 'equitable' admissions processes opportunity they springiness children much apt to beryllium disadvantaged a fairer chance of getting a awesome education.

They item really galore students who get into Thomas Jefferson person parents who tin spend tutors aliases person nan clip to hothouse them.

Critics opportunity nan caller argumentation lowers standards crossed nan committee to springiness an artificial belief of 'equity.'

They opportunity equity-focused admissions are besides unfair to children of each ethnicities from poorer backgrounds who person worked difficult to meet TJ's formerly-rigorous standards.