Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), a Governor's School within Fairfax County Public Schools that is regularly ranked as one of the top public schools in the country, has opened its application process for admissions for the Class of 2026.

This will be the second year that applications for the school’s 550 freshmen seats will be reviewed using the new admissions process which eliminated the standardized admissions test and the $100 application fee, while continuing to maintain the school’s high academic standards. Students offered admission to the Class of 2025--the first to apply using the new admissions process--averaged a 3.95 Grade Point Average (GPA), which is in line with previous years.

The application process for the Class of 2026 continues to be merit based, race neutral, and  designed to ensure broader access to the school for all students. Admissions evaluators do not know the race, ethnicity, or gender of any applicant and students are identified using a number during the process. 

The application process for the Class of 2026 includes a holistic review. Applicants are required to have a minimum 3.5 GPA. They will also be asked to submit a  STEM problem-solving essay and an essay that details their life-experience factors.

FCPS students who are interested in applying to TJHSST must be currently enrolled in honors classes or identified as a Young Scholar, while students applying from other participating school divisions, private schools, or who are homeschooled, and do not have access to honors classes, must be able to show they are taking the highest level of courses available to them.

Details can be found on the TJHSST Admissions webpage. Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 17, with a deadline to complete the final application by Friday, November 19, at 4 p.m. For more information, please visit the TJHSST Admissions webpage.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology was established in 1985. The school’s mission is to provide students with a challenging 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.