Thomas Jefferson High School

4248 South 288th Street

School District

Federal Way
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
Type

public

School Map for Federal Way School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on October 02, 2024

i love this school, the students and teachers are great but some of the teachers are weird in there own ways but i recommend this school 100%
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2024

I can't say that I'm surprised with the lower test scores. This is in Federal Way School district. The area here is very diverse. Along with ethnic diversity, there are many other diversities to take into consideration. Many of these aren't conducive to academic learning. My daughter just transferred to the school from a very small College Prep School. The options at this school are mind-blowing. They have every class you can imagine. Every Club you can imagine. And every sport. Teachers can't force their students to learn. The best that they can do is Inspire those students to do better. To expect more of themselves. And from everything my daughters told me, they try.I will update this as years go by. But at this point I'm very happy with what I've seen and heard from my daughter. Keep up the great work TJ Administration!
Submitted by student on October 07, 2021

I'm am a student at this school and its big and nice but fights happen everyday and the bullying is out of control i had a anxiety attack on Tuesday and the staff didn't help me worse school ever
Submitted by parent on July 22, 2021

The TJ experience was great. Teachers (especially math) were professional and helpful but required assignment completions. They even offered our son after hours and weekend support with groups of students. Running Start was a great opportunity and well monitored.
Submitted by parent on April 09, 2021

i love this school, the students and teachers are great but some of the teachers are weird in there own ways but i recommend this school 100%
Submitted by student on March 22, 2021

In my opinion, I think TJ is a good school. Most of the staff and teachers here are knowledgeable about their subjects and are helpful whenever you are stuck, Though there are a couple of less helpful teachers, I am sure this is the case for most schools. This school doesn't have a very strict rule about phones but it is up to you whether you want to learn the material or not. Overall, I recommend TJ.
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2020

My kids all are receiving a great education from very dedicated teachers who care about the kids and the material they learn.
Submitted by parent on December 18, 2018

The teachers were unprofessional, and the school itself was a huge downgrade from the terrible school in California we transferred from. I told my son when he gets into high school things will be different. Now I look like a liar. TJ is a joke. The staff are rude, unprofessional and jaded. They don't care and it shows. My son has come home telling me stories about what's going on in class. As the parent of a teenager I know sometimes things can be exaggerated. I was astonished when I attending his curriculum night and conferences. Everything I had been told, was very apparent. You'd think the teachers would turn on the charm while addressing the parents, even though they are the opposite in class. Nope. His English teacher flat out told me these kids "are a product of their environment so there's no point of investing one on one time with these students because they're going to do what they do." Uh, excuse me? My tax dollars are paying your paycheck. And you're going to sit here and flat out tell me to my face, in front of everyone that you don't give a hoot about him? I contacted the school, who referred me to the Vice Principle whom I was told is this teacher's superior. Not only did I inform her of the experience I had at the conference, but with the things she's been doing and saying to the children in class. I demanded they take my son out of this class and put him into another. The Vice Principle said she would speak with the teacher to come up with a solution. I got a call back saying the teacher denied what she said to myself and my son in front of the other students and parents waiting in line to see her. (Yes, wait in line. They give you a paper and have the teachers sitting around. You take the paper to each teacher to sign when they talk to you. Which is ridiculous because everything being discussed is heard by everyone around.) Only for the VP to tell me that they can't because they would have to switch another class because there were no other ELA classes that period. The class they'd have to switch is offered the other period w/ the same teacher. I told my son to video tape her actions with his cellphone when she is doing or saying something that isn't appropriate. I now have four recordings that I will be taking to the superintendent. The ELA teacher can say and deny whatever she wants. The video recording doesn't lie.
Submitted by parent on December 12, 2018

Im glad that my student goes here. She will have great advantages in preparing for college.
Submitted by other on January 23, 2017

SO I HEAR FROM VALID SOURCE THE KIDS ARE ALLOWED TO WATCH TV ON THEIR PHONES ALL DAY INSTEAD OF LEARN, THEY STREAM NETFLIX AND VIMEO IN CLASS> OH BUT THEY GET A GRADES ? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE >? MAYBE TEACHERS JUST THERE TO COLLECT A CHECK INSTEAD OF EDUCATE
Submitted by student on September 13, 2012

I had high hopes for this school but I've attended it for two years and I am somewhat dissapointed in my experience here. The problem isn't really a school problem, but more of a district problem and I believe it is starting to become a state problem. The FW district installed a new grading system that is very confusing and is difficult to understand exactly where you are standing. At least you used to be able to have a good idea of how well you were doing when they had percentages (70% = average, 80% = good and so on) but for some reason the district thought it would be a good idea to use standards instead of percentages that you either pass or fail. It wasn't because a great number of students failed last year and I imagine a good chunk will possibly fail this year as well. Now, this is the last year they are required to do this grading system so perhaps it will get better next year but I wouldn't bet on it. Try avoiding going to this district, and if you can help it try avoiding going to the neighboring districts (kent, auburn, sumner) as well. As for this school, education is good, some teachers are good. If you're competitive about sports, try another school.
Submitted by student on July 13, 2012

I know that TJ has been a great academic school in the past but it has gone down hill. There are average, terrible, and great teachers. All the teachers are treated the same: horribly and disrespected. This past year none of the teachers knew what was going on because of the new grading system. I just want to say, Don't do something you don't know how to do. All the students were taught differently and confused. Different curriculum throughout the three different teachers for the same exact class. Apart from the few amazing teachers I've had, most tell you hat you're doing that day, give it to you, then, expect you to do it on your own while they're on the computer or talking to other staff. Curriculum: I give it a 3.4, teachers, on average: 3, involvement in students: 2.9, and all around: 3.5.
Submitted by student on November 09, 2011

I had high hopes for this school, but now that I attend here as a freshmen I'm pretty dissapointed. The school is overcrowded and the people here are not always friendly, but that's only part of the problem. The big problem is that they put everybody into the MYP program for 9th and 10th graders, and that's not a good thing. Not every student wants to be challenged, and not every student deserves to be in a class where they distract other people who do want to learn. And worst of all, they put everybody into the IB program if they pass the HSPE. This is stupid because not every student who gets pushed into the IB program wants to be there, and not every student in IB deserves to have an IB diploma simply because they were pushed into it. From what I hear, this is also becoming a problem at Decatur for the AP program and at Federal Way High for the Cambridge program. If you can help it, avoid going to any school in this district whatsoever. This district has no idea what they are doing and are creating problems that shouldn't have to be dealt with in the first place.