Is America’s Top Public High School Racist?
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, or TJ, a Magnet school in Alexandria, Virginia is America’s top-ranked public high school. Fairfax County Public Schools’ recent changes to TJ’s admissions process specifically aim to reduce the number of Asian-American children—and only Asian-American children—who can attend TJ. The school district’s race-based admissions scheme garnered nationwide interest and strong opposition from the Coalition for TJ, a group of over 5,000 parents, students, alumni, staff, and community members who advocate for school diversity and excellence through race-blind, merit-based admissions. Represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation in federal court, the Coalition is challenging FCPS’ race-based admissions scheme as a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
To discuss this further, Lars spoke with Erin Wilcox, one of the attorney’s from the Pacific Legal Foundation that’s handling the case.
Listen Below: