Summer School Policy

To maintain the specialized standards of the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) curriculum, all students are required to meet the rigorous expectations of the TJ Diploma. As a Governor’s School, TJHSST’s diploma requirements often exceed standard FCPS Advanced Studies Diploma benchmarks.

Mandatory Prior Approval

Students currently enrolled in FCPS are expected to earn standard units of credit through FCPS programs. Any student seeking to earn credit through an outside provider or a non-FCPS summer program must receive prior written approval from the TJHSST Principal and the Director of Student Services.

  • Non-FCPS Programs:Any student seeking to earn credit through an outside provider or a non-FCPS summer program  must receive prior written approvalfrom the TJHSST Principal and the Director of Student Services via  Form IS-158 .
    • Enrollment Constraint:Students may not enroll in or pay for a non-FCPS program until the request has been formally approved.
    • Term Requirements:Summer coursework may not overlap with the academic year. All coursework must begin after the current school year concludes and must be completed before the next school year begins.
  • Compliance:Approval for any outside credit is granted strictly in accordance with the standards and requirements set forth in FCPS Regulation.
  • FCPS Summer Programs:Form IS-158 is  notrequired for courses taken through FCPS Summer Learning. However, students must consult with their school counselor first to ensure the course aligns with their academic plan, then register through FCPS Adult and Community Education (ACE) .

Rigor and Credit Transfer 

Per FCPS Regulation, credit for advanced academic courses (Honors or AP) may only be transferred if an equivalent advanced academic course is offered through FCPS summer programs.

  • Core Subject Requirements:At TJHSST, all Math, Science, English, Computer Science, and Social Studies courses must be completed at the Honors or AP level to satisfy the TJ Diploma requirements.
  • Standard Credit Limitation:Because most FCPS summer courses are offered at the "Standard" level, they do not meet the rigor required for the TJ Diploma and  will not be acceptedfor core credit or for acceleration into higher-level TJHSST coursework.
  • Availability of Honors Courses:Before requesting an outside credit transfer, families should verify that an equivalent Honors/AP course is offered by FCPS. If FCPS does not offer the core course at an Honors level during the summer, credit for that course cannot be transferred to TJHSST. You may view current offerings on the FCPS Summer Learning Website .

Unique TJ Requirements and Curricular Flexibility

The TJHSST curriculum includes three unique requirements not found in the standard Advanced Studies Diploma:  Design & Tech(required for all matriculating students, including sophomore admittees),  Computer Science, and  Senior Research or Research Practicum.

Because of these specialized requirements, students have the following flexibility regarding Social Studies and Computer Science:

  • Flexible Scheduling for Computer Science and Social Studies:If another elective course is desired, students are not required to complete the Computer Science or the 4th Social Studies requirements during the 9th grade year. Instead, these requirements may be satisfied through a variety of approved course options at any time during a student’s four years at TJHSST. Approved course offerings can be found on the  TJ Computer Science website and  TJ Social Studies website .
  • Uniform Application of Standards:Previous practices allowing standard-level summer credits (such as World History 1) to satisfy this requirement are no longer permitted.
  • Elective Space: While we understand students wish to create space in their schedules for electives, this cannot be done at the expense of the required academic rigor of the core curriculum.

Math and Science Requirements

Per  Regulation 3355.17, the TJ Diploma requires continuous enrollment in core STEM disciplines. Acceleration via summer coursework does not exempt a student from these requirements:

  • 4 Years of Math:Students must take at least one mathematics course during each of the four school years they are enrolled at TJHSST.
  • 4 Years of Science:Students must take at least one science course during each of the four school years they are enrolled at TJHSST.

Action Steps for Parents and Students

  1. Consult Your Counselor:Before making any summer plans, speak with your school counselor to ensure your intended path aligns with graduation requirements.
  2. Submit Paperwork Early:If a course meets the rigor requirements, submit  Form IS-158 well in advance of the summer registration deadlines.