(The Center Square) – Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said Wednesday that Fairfax County Public Schools violated state and federal civil rights laws by discriminating against Asian American students in the admissions process at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology — a claim the district disputes, citing a prior federal appellate court ruling.
The Office of the Attorney General said it found “reasonable cause” to believe that changes made to the TJ admissions policy in 2020 were designed to reduce Asian American enrollment.
The findings cite violations of the Virginia Human Rights Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The matter has been referred to the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice for further enforcement.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin responded on social media, calling the admissions changes a “calculated effort to illegally discriminate” and blaming what he described as the “progressive left.” He said the policy violated core American values and called for consequences.
“I thank General Miyares and his team for referring this matter to federal authorities for further enforcement,” Youngkin wrote on X.
“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 said in a statement.
Asian American representation among admitted students dropped from 73% to 54% in one year following the policy change.
The attorney general’s fact sheet also cites internal board communications referencing an “anti-Asian feel” and includes claims that board members expressed concerns the changes would “kick out Asians” and that “Asians hate us.”
The investigation focused on TJ’s shift from a merit-based system to a “holistic” admissions model, which Miyares said was implemented with minimal public input and procedural transparency.
In 2022, FCPS signed a $455,000 contract with a California-based equity consultant to support the new model. The consultant reportedly advised the district to pursue “equal outcomes for every student, without exception.”
“Schools need to know that race-based decision making is illegal under the Virginia Human Rights Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act,” Miyares said.
Fairfax County Public Schools responded in an email to The Center Square, saying the matter “has already been fully litigated.” A federal appellate court, the district said, found no merit to arguments that the TJ admissions policy discriminates against any group.
“Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) division leadership and counsel are currently reviewing the documents released today by the Attorney General and will issue a more detailed response in the coming days,” the district said. “FCPS remains committed to providing a world-class education for all of our students.”
Although a federal appellate court ruled in 2023 that the TJ admissions policy did not violate the U.S. Constitution, Miyares’ office pursued the matter under civil rights statutes that apply different legal standards.
