Trump administration launches investigation into elite Virginia school's admissions over alleged bias against Asian students.

Federal Agencies to Review TJ Admissions After State Findings

The U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation into the admissions practices at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), one of the nation's most selective public schools. The move comes after Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares concluded that Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), which operates TJHSST, discriminated against Asian American students through its revised admissions criteria.

“The Fairfax County School Board made clear its intended outcome was to reduce opportunities for Asian American students—and that’s exactly what occurred,” Miyares stated. “These students are not statistics. They are sons and daughters, neighbors, classmates and Virginians who deserve equal protection and opportunity under the law.”

At the center of the controversy is a policy overhaul initiated in 2020, which replaced standardized testing and application fees with a holistic review process emphasizing geographic and socioeconomic diversity. The new model reserved admission slots for students from each middle school across the district, aiming to broaden representation among student demographics.

Critics, however, argue the changes deliberately suppressed Asian American representation. A group of parents filed suit, initially winning a federal district court ruling in their favor. That ruling was later reversed by a federal appeals court, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the case. Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented, warning of broader implications for race-conscious education policies.

State and Federal Authorities Allege Intentional Racial Targeting

According to Miyares, the proportion of Asian American students admitted to TJHSST fell from over 65% to 46% within a year of the new policy’s implementation. He cited internal communications showing that FCPS officials reviewed multiple drafts until they reached the racial diversity goals they were seeking. “In the zero-sum game of school admissions, achieving the Board’s preferred racial balance meant that fewer Asian American students would be accepted,” the Attorney General’s office stated.

Following Miyares' findings, the Department of Justice announced it would partner with the Department of Education to assess whether the policy constitutes a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in federally funded programs. The Trump administration has pledged to increase oversight of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs it deems potentially discriminatory.

Fairfax County Public Schools responded by pointing out that the matter has already been litigated. “A federal appellate court determined there was no merit to arguments that the admissions policy for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology discriminates against any group of students,” FCPS said in a statement. “Nonetheless, we are reviewing the Attorney General’s materials and will provide a detailed response soon.”

While the courts have thus far upheld the policy, the federal investigation signals a new phase of scrutiny. The outcome may influence broader national debates over equity-based admissions in public education and the legal boundaries of race-conscious policies in competitive academic environments.