Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has offered admission to the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) for its Class of 2028. The offers went to 550 students, including students from each of FCPS’ middle schools. Students from Arlington, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, as well as the City of Falls Church, were also chosen from 2,627 applications. The average GPA for applicants was 3.911.

More than 16% of the successful applicants came from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. About 6% are multilingual learners.

The admissions plan continued to expand access to those applicants from middle schools that have historically been underrepresented. 

Admissions evaluators/reviewers do not know the name, race or gender of applicants.

In the four years since FCPS initially took steps to create equitable access to TJHSST, benchmark data demonstrate that the school is more accessible to students from all backgrounds while maintaining its remarkably high standards for admission. 

Before 2020, when FCPS changed its admission process, TJHSST had not admitted students from every Fairfax County middle school. The Class of 2028 represents the fourth consecutive year that it has met this important milestone.

Established in 1985 and regularly ranked as one of the top public schools in the country, TJHSST is a Governor’s School that emphasizes the sciences, mathematics, and technology. The school’s 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. 

The students making up the Class of 2028 represent a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills. They are all high performers and are well prepared for TJ’s academic rigor. 

TJHSST Admissions Data, Class of 2028

High Caliber Students

The average GPA for students offered admission to the Class of 2028 is 3.96, in line with previous years.

All students offered admission met the accelerated (honors) coursework and minimum GPA requirement for applicants.

Class of 2028 offers extended to the following:

• Asian – 57.27%

• Black – 3.45%

• Hispanic – 7.45%

• Two or More Races – 6.18%

• White – 25.45%

• Multilingual Learners – 6.18%

• Economically Disadvantaged – 16.36%

• Special Education – 3.45%

Broad Representation of Those Offered Admission

All FCPS middle schools are represented in the Class of 2028:

• Carson Middle School - 38
• Cooper Middle School - 24
• Frost Middle School - 31
• Glasgow Middle School - 11
• Katherine Johnson Middle School - 15
• Kilmer Middle School - 35
• Lake Braddock Middle School - 14
• Longfellow Middle School - 40
• Luther Jackson Middle School –  23
• Rocky Run Middle School - 19
• Sandburg Middle School - 11

* All other middle schools had 10 or fewer students.