The number of black and Hispanic students accepted into the Washington region's premier high school has dropped by more than half in the past five years, according to numbers from Fairfax County Public Schools.
Only six Hispanic students and eight black students earned acceptance to the class of 2013 at Fairfax County's Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, down from 12 black students and 19 Hispanic students for the class of 2009. About 480 students were accepted this year overall.
U.S. News and World Report ranks Thomas Jefferson, commonly called TJ, as the best high school in the nation. Its admissions process involves an academic test and an extensive review of the students' backgrounds, but does not incorporate race or ethnicity.These numbers have nothing to do with racism. They have everything to do with performance. When you are simply and objectively looking for the best potential, percentages of this self-identified group or that one will show themselves without any "institutional bias" based on race or ethnicity, and most likely they will not represent the percentages of the general population - just like the NBA and winners of spelling bees don't.
...Fairfax County's Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Race; % admitted for the class of 2009; % admitted for the class of 2013Asian; 32%; 54%White; 53%; 36%
Black; 2% (12 students); 2% (8 students)
Hispanic; 4%; 1%
Multiracial; 6%; 6%Montgomery Blair High School - Math, Science, Computer Science Magnet ProgramRace; % admitted for the class of 2009; % admitted for the class of 2013Asian; 61%; 57%
White; 31%; 31%
Black; 5%; 8%
Hispanic; 2%; 4%
Look at those numbers again. So much for white skin privilege ... and I don't care. The Sailors I know would be more than happy to have a 60% Asian officer corps as long as they knew their job, evaluated them on performance fairly, and brought them, their Shipmates and their ship home in one piece.
What do we want in the Navy - the best qualified - or the right color chart? When it comes to leading men and women in a situation where their lives and the future of their nation is at risk - why do we have to ask the question? Priorities, I guess.
No, the problem is much deeper and is beyond the Navy to address. Again, this has everything to do with public schools, culture, and families. A much more difficult - and uncomfortable subject.