The U.S. Department of Education has started an investigation into Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) in Virginia. The investigation focuses on changes made in 2020 to the admissions policy of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ), one of the top public high schools in the country.
This comes after Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares concluded that the new policy may have discriminated against students based on race—especially Asian American students. His office referred the case to the federal government for further action under the Civil Rights Act.
What Happened with TJ’s Admissions?
In 2020, the Fairfax County School Board made changes to TJ’s admission process. Before that, the school selected students based on test scores and academic performance. But the new policy removed the entrance test and replaced it with what they called a “holistic review.” This approach considered many different factors but not strictly academic merit.
According to the Attorney General’s report, these changes were made because the school board was unhappy with the racial makeup of the student body. The report claims the board aimed to reduce the number of Asian American students at the school. As a result, the percentage of Asian American students dropped from 73% to 54% in just one year.
Reactions from Officials
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon stated that students should be judged based on merit—not race. She praised Governor Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Miyares for their efforts and said the Department of Education would investigate further to ensure fairness.
Governor Youngkin strongly supported the investigation, saying that students had their dreams denied because of their race. He accused the school board of creating a policy that deliberately targeted Asian American students.
Attorney General Miyares added that changing the admissions process in this way was not only unfair but illegal. He said that Virginia, and America, should not reduce opportunities for one group to uplift another.
The Law and Background
This case is being investigated under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which says schools that get federal funding cannot discriminate based on race, colour, or national origin.
In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard that schools cannot use race as a factor in their admissions decisions. This ruling has added more legal weight to this current investigation.
The Virginia Attorney General’s investigation, which lasted two years, found that the Fairfax County School Board intentionally changed TJ’s admissions to reduce the number of Asian American students. Based on their findings, they referred the case to both the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Justice for further legal action.
What Happens Next?
The federal government will now conduct a full investigation. If the Department of Education finds that FCPS did violate civil rights laws, they could be required to change their admissions policies again. Legal penalties or further enforcement actions could also follow.
This case could have a major impact on how schools across the U.S. handle admissions, especially at selective or high-ranking institutions.
The investigation into Fairfax County Public Schools highlights a larger national debate over fairness in school admissions. Many people believe that every student, no matter their background, should be judged based on their talents, efforts, and achievements. This case could help set important legal and educational standards for the future.
