TJHSST Sophomore Application Process

TJHSST Admissions accepts a very limited number of students for its sophomore class (10th grade) each year. Students who wish to apply for the 2025-2026 sophomore class must submit their 9th grade high school transcript between April 1 and April 23 by 4:00 pm. While PSAT or SAT scores are optional, they are encouraged. (Scores should be in the 90th percentile or above.) Once approval is given to move forward with the application, the applicant has until May 16, 2025, at 4:00 pm to complete and submit the application. All students offered admission into TJHSST begin the first day of the new school year. There is no other window available for a student to apply or enter the school.

Students that applied for the Freshman Application Round and were not offered admission may be eligible to apply during the Sophomore Round.

• The number of students who can be accepted to the sophomore class is based in part on student attrition at TJHSST. In recent years, the number of admitted sophomores has ranged between 15 to 20 students. 
• The sophomore admissions process is completed in its entirety in June each year.  The TJHSST Admissions Office administers all aspects of the admissions process. Selection is completed by a committee of faculty from TJ.
• Students may only apply to the Sophomore Round Class of 2028 if they meet the curricular requirements and rigor to begin the application process.

Students that do not live in Fairfax County need to contact the Admissions Office at 571-423-3770 or by email at [email protected] before you apply to make sure that applications will be allowed from your school division.

Application

Deadline for submission of transcripts and test scores is Wednesday, April 23, 2025, by 4:00 pm. 

Please send your high school transcripts as well as your test scores (PSAT or SAT that are optional this year) to the [email protected]. You will be notified when they are approved and you may move forward with the application.

Steps to Complete the Sophomore Application

1. The applicant must access the Log-In Screen prior to the parent and complete the initial log-in process to create the applicant username (Page 1 of the application). Once this is completed, submit the high school transcript through first semester as well as qualifying PSAT or SAT scores as attachments to [email protected]. The scores are optional but recommended. Once the transcript and test scores have been reviewed, an auto-generated email will be sent through the application advising the applicant whether they are eligible to move forward in the application process.
2. Parent receives an auto-generated email containing the "link" for them to log-in and create the parent account. This link does expire so parents are encouraged to log in as soon as possible.
3. Applicant enters teacher recommendation information and completes the Student Portrait Sheet (SPS). The SPS must be completed before the application is submitted.
4. Applicant and parent must both electronically sign.
5. Submit the application. 
6. An auto-generated email will be sent to the applicant and parent advising them that the application has been submitted.

Requirements

Residency Requirements

Read the eligibility requirements to determine if you are eligible to apply.

Coursework Requirements:

• All sophomore round applicants must submit (no sooner than April 1, 2025, and no later than April 23, 2025) a copy of your high school transcript, containing all courses taken prior to 9th grade for high school credit, along with your official PSAT/SAT scores (optional but recommended and must be in the 90th percentile or above) before you are approved to begin an application. Biology and geometry (minimum math) must be included in your transcript. If you have any questions, please email the Admissions Office at [email protected].

Applicants to the sophomore class must have completed the following graduation credits by the end of the 2024-2025 academic year:

• English – 1 credit
• Algebra 1 – 1 credit
• Biology – 1 credit
• Geometry – 1 credit
• Health/PE – 1 credit
• World Languages – 1 credit
• Elective – 1 credit

If your school does not offer the exact courses listed above, you must submit with your application documentation from your prior school (such as copies of the curriculum, course syllabus, etc.) that describes in detail each course and the material covered.

Biology is required as a course for 9th grade students and Geometry is the minimum required math class.

If you have taken Algebra 2, but not Algebra 2/Trigonometry, you may apply to TJHSST. If admitted, you will be placed in the appropriate math course to address the Trigonometry component.

Test Requirements (Optional) 

All applicants to the sophomore class of TJHSST are not required to take either the PSAT or the SAT for admissions. [This is optional (but recommended) and we will accept any PSAT or SAT scores you have already received.]

• Copies of your official PSAT or SAT score reports may be submitted along with your high school transcript directly to the TJHSST Admissions Office between April 1 - 23, 2025, before you can begin an application. Make sure that the test scores clearly show your name. 

We do not accept or consider ACT, ASPIRE, or any other standardized tests at this time as a substitution for the PSAT or SAT.

The College Board administers the SAT. Go to College Board to obtain information about the SAT and to register for that test. Your current school’s student services/guidance office can assist you with this process.

The TJHSST Admissions Office will not receive scores sent to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology through SAT Registration.

Class of 2028 Application Information

All applicants to the Sophomore Round (10th grade) of admissions at TJHSST must complete the following, once their transcript has been approved:

• Part I of the Sophomore Application requests general demographic information about the applicant.
• Part II of the Sophomore Application is a Student Portrait Sheet that includes a series of questions and short answer prompts as well as a personal essay. All applicants will use the TJ Admissions Online System to complete both sections.
• Transcripts
  • All sophomore admissions applicants need to submit a copy of their high school transcript. The transcript must include minimally 9th grade first semester marks for all high school courses taken or being taken at the time of application, as well as courses taken prior to 9th grade for high school credit. All applicants must be enrolled in Biology and Geometry (minimum math requirement) at the time of application.
  • Please see "Important Dates for 2024-2025" for deadlines below.
• Three Teacher Recommendations
• Eligibility Documents
  • Proof of residency
  • PSAT/SAT scores (optional but recommended)

Important Dates for Sophomore Round, Class of 2028

• April 1, 2025 – Sophomore Applications available once transcript and optional test scores are approved
• April 23, 2025 – PSAT/SAT (optional but recommended) and transcript deadline by 4:00 PM (Do not submit prior to April 1, 2025)
• April 25, 2025 - Review and Notification Deadline to Applicants by 4:00 PM
• May 2, 2025 - Applicant deadline to enter Teacher Recommendation Information
• May 16, 2025 – Application deadline for Full Application Submission by 4:00 PM*
• June 30, 2025 – Final Admissions Decisions Posted No Later Than (See Sophomore Round Decisions)*

For information on final admissions decisions, please see the sophomore section of Decision Process.

*The application deadline for sophomore round applicants (TJHSST Class of 2028) is May 16, 2025, by 4:00 PM. No late applications will be accepted for any reason.

Sophomore Round Decisions

Sophomore applications are reviewed by a committee of TJHSST faculty and staff. Through an independent selection process each committee member evaluates every application packet to determine who will be offered admission to the tenth grade at TJHSST.

The selection committee undertakes a holistic review to select applicants that demonstrate the following:

• High aptitude for successful study of science, mathematics, computer science, and related technological fields;
• Record of prior academic excellence through coursework and strong PSAT and/or SAT scores;
• Clear interest and motivation in the fields of science, mathematics, computer science, and related technologies;
• Readiness for research, experimentation, or independent study in one of the school’s technology laboratories. This may be demonstrated by successful science fair projects and other in-school and out-of-school experiences in science, engineering, computer science, and other technological areas.

The following materials are used as evidence of the above characteristics in each sophomore applicant review.

• Part II of the sophomore/junior application (Student Information Sheet)
• Three teacher recommendations
• Scores from the PSAT and/or SAT (currently optional but highly recommended)
• Academic transcript(s)

No other materials are considered for any applicant.

Once all review processes are completed, the strongest applicants are offered admission. Please note that the numbers of spaces for accepted students in the sophomore round are available through student attrition at the end of ninth grade.

For more information see Regulation 3355.