Overview

• The U.S. Departments of Justice and Education have opened investigations into Fairfax County Public Schools' admissions policy at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
• Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares determined the policy violated civil rights laws by intentionally reducing Asian American enrollment and referred the case to federal authorities.
• The 2020 admissions overhaul replaced standardized testing with a holistic review process aimed at increasing diversity, but Asian American representation dropped from 73% to 54% in one year.
• Internal communications revealed school officials acknowledged the policy's intent to lower Asian American enrollment, with comments about 'whitening' the school and excluding Asians.
• Fairfax County Public Schools denies any discrimination, stating the policy was fully litigated and upheld by a federal appeals court, though critics argue it undermines merit-based admissions.