Student Prospectus 2022 | Thomas Jefferson School

OUR MISSION: Thomas Jefferson School engages its students in the education necessary to live as responsible citizens of the world. Through the strongest possible college-preparatory program and within a nurturing community, students develop a responsibility for their own learning and a desire to lift up the world with beauty and intellect.

Forge Your Path at TJ MESSAGE OF WELCOME FROM DR. T

I’m incredibly proud to be Head of School at Thomas Jefferson School, one of the country’s best boarding and day schools.

We thrive in challenging and supporting high-ability students in a liberal-arts curriculum. TJ instills an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and provides a foundation for success in any field.

TJ is a place where students are seen, are known, and are valued.

Within this incredibly supportive community, students find out who they will become as they move through our program. Our community is deliberately sized so that everyone in our community truly knows each other. Interestingly, students often report having larger friend groups and more opportunities than they would have at their bigger, previous schools.

Our alumni are successful in an incredibly diverse number of fields: engineering, law, coding, journalism, art, medicine, and countless others that I haven’t named here. They are often leaders in their fields, and they all share a common vision – to lift up the world with beauty and intellect.

I encourage you to learn more about the special place that is TJ. Take care,

Dr. T

Matt Troutman, Ph.D. Head of School

#28

BEST BOARDING HIGH SCHOOL IN THE US (OUT OF 408)

Top 2% ALL HS FOR STEM IN THE US

Top 1.7% COLLEGE PREP PRIVATE HS IN THE US

#2

BEST PRIVATE HS IN MO

Significant Moments in TJ History To be a TJ graduate means joining a remarkable group of individuals. From the beginning, TJ has maintained a commitment to diversity, justice, and international friendship.

1946

J is founded with the goal to establish a strong academic T boarding school for boys in the Midwest. TJ began with standards equal to those of the top Eastern boarding schools, but smaller and friendlier. The founders chose St. Louis for its central location and its cultural and educational resources.

1947

J ewish-Hungarian refugee, Bernat Rosner, is admitted to the school right after World War II.

1950 T he school enrolls Jun Sakurai, likely the first Japanese student to enter an American prep school after the war.

1952

wo years before Brown v. Board of Education, TJ becomes the T first St. Louis independent school to admit a Black student.

1953 T J’s gym was designed and built by famous architect, William Bernoudy, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright.

1971 G irls are admitted for the first time.

1976 G rade 8 is added.

1981 G rade 7 is added.

1993 S ayers Hall is built, commissioned by Herbert “Skip” Sayers ‘49.

1996 T he Charles E. Merrill, Jr., Eastern European Scholarship is

established. (As of 2021, 27 students from Poland and Albania have been recipients of this one-year scholarship.)

1997 T he OPUS scholarship opens the door for musically talented

minority students. The first, Ketsia Theodor ‘03, had been raised in Haiti.

2001 K itchen and dining hall wing is added.

2004 T he Founders’ Scholarship for Hispanic students is founded.

Soraya Villavicencio ‘06, the scholarship’s first recipient, hails from Mexico.

2008 A rt Barn, Gymnasium, and Maintenance Building restorations are completed.

2017 T J is the first boarding school in the nation to add a genderinclusive dormitory to its residential offerings.

TJ Graduate Results TJ graduates attend a wide variety of colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and abroad, and excellent preparation for those programs is a hallmark of the TJ experience. Over the school’s history, 100 percent of its graduates have been admitted to selective colleges and universities around the globe.

RECENT COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES New York University

Smith College

University of Notre Dame

Rice University

University of Chicago

Emory University

University of California, Berkeley

Vanderbilt University

Washington University in St. Louis

University of Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University

Bowdoin College

Cornell University

Johns Hopkins University

100% COLLEGE MATRICULATION

1450 MEDIAN SAT

31

MEDIAN ACT

Student Demographics DELIBERATELY SIZED

TJ’s students have traditionally come from 7 countries, and 6 states. With a small student body, you get to know everyone.

And they know you.

Our close-knit advisory groups average 8 students and provide continuity and support throughout your time at TJ.

36% BOARDING / 64% DAY

7

COUNTRIES REPRESENTED

#1

MOST DIVERSE PRIVATE HS IN MO

Top 1% MOST DIVERSE IN US

Varsity Academics TJ is the home for hungry minds. Here, the exchange of ideas becomes a way of life, and ideas are often valued more than answers.

A liberal-arts approach to education is the basis for the TJ curriculum. Students immerse themselves in the fundamental college-prep areas of English, math, language, science, social studies, and art, choosing electives in certain areas as they get older, but sharing a core educational experience with peers across all grades.

Students learn to think deeply and mine for knowledge and ideas, and they learn to demand ἀρετή (excellence) for themselves, their classmates, and their teachers.

CURRICULUM 11: AP Courses offered 7: Typical graduate completes 7 AP courses. By senior year, all courses are taught at the AP level

ENGLISH 80: The average TJ student will have read 80 works of classic literature by graduation 48: Number of weeks per year that a TJ student completes a daily writing assignment

MATH AND SCIENCE 2%: Top 2% Best HS for STEM in the US

HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES 3: AP courses available, 2 are required for every TJ graduate

FOREIGN LANGUAGE 6: 2 years of Latin, 2 years of Greek, 2 years in Italian or French

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS 7: A yearly requirement, every student chooses electives in theatre, visual or digital art, or art history.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO VISIT OUR ACADEMICS PAGE

Typical Schedule & Academic Support We don’t waste any time. Our academic morning (8:30am-2:00pm) consists of nine, 35-minute class periods. Classes are seminar style: discussion based and highly interactive. Depending on grade level, a student will have one to three break periods during the day in addition to their lunch period. In the afternoon, students participate in athletics, the arts, clubs, private music instruction, AP science and foreign-language labs; they also socialize, do homework, and meet with faculty for help as needed.

7:45 a.m. Breakfast 8:00 a.m. Typical arrival time for a TJ day student

5:00 p.m. Typical pick-up time for a TJ day student 7:00 p.m. Study hall

9:44 a.m. Community time (Assembly, Advisory, and Clubs)

Cookie Break 8:15 p.m.

11:15 a.m. Dining hall opens for lunch 2:00 p.m. Academic day concludes 2:15 p.m. AP science labs, Italian and French labs, arts classes, study hall, private music instruction 3:30 p.m. Athletics, private music instruction, meet with teachers, clubs

FACULTY AND STAFF WITH ADVANCED OR TERMINAL DEGREES

6:1

STUDENT TEACHER RATIO

6:00 p.m. Dinner

8:30 a.m. First period begins

Cookie Break 10:15 a.m.

Over 90%

9:00 p.m. In-room time for middle school boarding students 10:00 p.m. In-room time for freshman and sophomore boarding students 10:15 p.m. In-room time for junior and senior boarding students

12

AVERAGE CLASS SIZE

Daily

PROCTORED STUDY HALLS IN THE AFTERNOONS (AND EVENINGS FOR BOARDING STUDENTS).

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS The ESL program is designed to meet the language needs of new international students who are at a high-basic to advanced level of English. The objective is to acclimate students to the culture and standards of TJ’s English and Social Studies programs, as well as to the expectations of all of their future academic coursework at TJ and beyond.

Well-Rounded CLUBS Preparing for life after TJ means getting involved while you are at TJ. With over 20 club offerings, most students find a number to join and lead. If we don’t have what you’re looking for—start it!

Every year new clubs are established while many others are long-standing traditions like Mock Trial, Robotics, Pandora Arts Magazine, School Newspaper, and International Thespian Society.

SERVICE LEARNING TJ wants to give its students an awareness of the larger community beyond their school and individual social circles. Students complete a required amount of service by the beginning of senior year. TJ hosts an annual all-school Service Learning Day where everyone from faculty, staff, and students participate in a day of service for various St. Louis organizations.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO LEARN ABOUT STUDENT LIFE AT TJ.

Arts Fine Arts classes at TJ give students an opportunity to work with a variety of media and materials while also learning the history of the art they are studying. The fine arts faculty are practicing artists, each specializing in the visual, performing, or digital arts.

ARTS AT TJ Two dramatic productions annually Two all-school art showcases annually Annual all-school Cabaret Night Private music instruction available on campus Clubs include: music club, choir, Pandora, and International Thespian Society (ITS).

Over 20 CLUB & PROGRAM OFFERINGS

75

HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE REQUIRED TO GRADUATE

30

PEER-CURATED CULTURAL OUTINGS EACH YEAR

Athletics Every student at TJ is required to engage in daily physical activity. Whether that be a team sport like basketball, soccer, or volleyball, or a non-competitive activity like tennis, yoga, or fitness, there’s something that appeals to everyone!

The Rise of the Titans In the late 1990s, TJ’s athletic program went through a renaissance. Girls’ soccer was added to spring sports, schedules expanded, and the parents’ association led a push to repaint and refurbish the gym. On the heels of that activity, we realized that we needed to order new uniforms to replace the garments frayed from years of wear and tear.

Our color scheme was easy to determine: blue and white. But the name on it was a problem. At that point, TJ didn’t have a name for its teams. Debate ensued at every corner: Eagles? Too many of our opponents flew that brand. Spartans or Trojans? Way too conventional. Achaeans? Too hard for our Greek students to pronounce.

From there a consensus emerged for “Titans,” a moniker we’ve regaled the past twenty-plus years. The most famous Titan was chained to a rock while an eagle ate his liver each day (it regrew overnight to be ready for the bird’s succeeding happy meal). The next celebrated one is remembered for carrying all of the cosmos on his shoulders. Of course, this name brings one thorny problem. Many schools dress up a student in the costume of a mascot, and over the years we’ve seen our share of eagles, warriors, and the like patrolling the sidelines and revving up the crowd. But what to do with a Titan?

The conundrum still persists.

How do YOU think we should represent a TJ Titan?

FUN FACT: TJ’s gym was designed and built by the famous architect, William Bernoudy, in 1953. It is his only remaining barrel roof design.

Health and Wellness Programs ADVISORY

TJ has a highly individualized and personal advisory system. Each teacher has on average 8 advisees per year, representing a mix of grade levels and day and boarding students.

Students typically stay with the same advisor throughout their TJ career.

Advisors meet with their advisees weekly to monitor academic progress and general well being.

All of our faculty and staff are trained in CPR and first aid. We have a full-time, registered nurse on staff who oversees all matters related to student health. We have an established relationship with a local pediatrician, urgent care, and medical facilities. TJ’s location in St. Louis gives us ready access to a number of high-quality urgent care and hospital facilities.

8

AVERAGE STUDENTS PER ADVISORY GROUP

Boarding Life At TJ you are more than a boarding student, you are a part of our family.

Learning to live alongside your peers is an essential and invaluable life skill, especially in preparing for college. We provide boarding students with all of the creature comforts of home.

Our expert faculty and our boarding-life staff consists of Resident Assistants (RAs)—many of whom either have or are pursuing degrees in social work or counseling—a school nurse, a school counselor, and members of our student-led Boarding Council.

TJ is committed to creating a safe and inclusive boarding community that is welcoming to all students. We are proud to be a community where students are able to openly express their identities and be recognized. We offer a variety of housing options to ensure that each dorm is supportive of students of all gender identities. Most living spaces are designated as male or female spaces. We also offer, with parent permission, a gender-inclusive housing option, which is designed for students of all gender expressions. Students in all dorms usually have one full-time roommate.

EXAMPLE WEEKEND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: Board game marathons Museum visits Family-style meals (prepared by students) Video game tournaments Hiking Trips to St. Louis area attractions

HOW DO DAY STUDENTS FIT IN? All day students have assigned desk space in each dorm to use throughout the school day. This allows time for boarding and day students to study and work together.

All students can enjoy weekend activities, meals, and access to teachers in the evenings. Through classes, student-led outings, clubs, and athletics, day and boarding students quickly make friends with one another.

36% BOARDING STUDENTS

350

SQ FT DORM WITH PRIVATE BATHROOM

6

RESIDENT ADVISORS & 1 RESIDENTIAL DIRECTOR

Summer Scholars Each summer, TJ offers a variety of camps for rising 4th-11th grade students—from the TJ School of Magical Inquiry to SAT and ACT prep classes.

RECENT CAMPS: TJ School of Magical Inquiry Rising 4th - 8th grades Magic-themed coursework, athletics, and outdoor activities.

SSAT Test Prep and Games Rising 5th - 8th grades Featuring personalized instruction in test strategy, plus fun camp games.

SAT© and ACT© Prep Rising 9th - 11th grades TJ students consistently score in the top 2% nationwide in standardized examinations. Learn test-taking tips from our expert faculty.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO VISIT OUR SUMMER SCHOLARS PAGE TO LEARN MORE AND SEE OUR CURRENT OFFERINGS

St. Louis & Sunset Hills St. Louis is the largest metropolitan area in the state of Missouri and the 20th largest in the United States. Home to world-renowned parks, landmarks, museums, universities, professional sports teams, and cuisine, St. Louis has all of the amenities of a large US city and the closeknit community feel and friendliness of a small town. Many of the area’s nationally recognized attractions are free!

TJ’S BEAUTIFUL 20-ACRE CAMPUS is located just a few miles outside of St. Louis in the residential neighborhood of Sunset Hills. The area is home to multiple parks, including Laumeier Sculpture Park, a 105-acre open-air museum home to over 70+ large-scale outdoor sculptures.

To enhance your trip, we recommend visiting Explore St. Louis

Visit Us The best way to get to know TJ is by spending time on campus, meeting our students and experiencing the engagement within our classrooms. See our community for yourself at one of our open houses and shadow days.

Or let us create the perfect visit just for you. Fill out the inquiry form on our website at tjs.org/admissions.

Begin your journey to TJ. We look forward to seeing you on campus!

THOMAS JEFFERSON SCHOOL 4100 S. Lindbergh Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63127 Phone: (314) 843-4151 Fax: (314) 843-3527 admissions@tjs.org

BDFV

www.tjs.org