Elite Virginia public high school under discrimination probe by Trump admin

One of the nation’s most highly ranked high schools, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), is once again facing scrutiny over its admissions policies. The U.S. Department of Education has announced that it will be launching an investigation into the matter, following a multi-year investigation led by Virginia’s Republican Attorney General, Jason Miyares.

Miyares has stated that there is reasonable cause to believe that TJHSST, which is overseen by the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) system, operates an admissions process that discriminates against applicants of Asian heritage. He alleges that the Fairfax County School Board intentionally sought to reduce opportunities for Asian American students, leading to a significant drop in Asian American admissions at the school.

The controversy began in 2020 when TJHSST implemented changes to its admissions policies in an effort to promote diversity. These changes included eliminating standardized testing and application fees, implementing a holistic review process, and setting aside spots for students from each middle school in the county. However, parents filed a lawsuit against the district, claiming that the new admissions policy discriminated against Asian students.

Despite a federal district court ruling in favor of the parents, the decision was later overturned by a federal appeals court. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case, upholding the appeals court’s ruling. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito warned of the potential implications the ruling could have for admissions policies at other schools across the country.

Miyares has been investigating TJHSST’s admissions policies since 2023 and has now referred the matter to the Department of Justice for a potential Title VI violation. The Department of Justice will be working with the Department of Education to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations of discrimination.

In response to the investigation, FCPS has stated that the matter has already been litigated in court and that the courts have determined there is no merit to the allegations of discrimination. However, the district is reviewing the materials provided by the Attorney General and will issue a more detailed response in the near future.

Despite the ongoing controversy, FCPS remains committed to providing a world-class education for all students and ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants. The outcome of the investigation will likely have far-reaching implications for admissions policies at high schools across the country.