Category: High School

Spring 2019- CPS High School Notification Links

Results finally came out after a jam in the online notification portal, but here are some relevant links to study at your leisure.

Round 1 SEHS Cutoff Scores: https://cps.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/gocps/GoCPS_Cutoff_SEHS_2019.pdf

Round 1 Choice (Non-selective) Cutoff Scores: https://cps.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/gocps/GoCPS_Cutoff_Choice_2019.pdf

SEHS Principal’s Discretion Handbook (this allows an SEHS Principal to select 5% of the freshman class via a holistic admissions method): https://cps.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/gocps/PrincipalDiscretionHandbook.pdf

SEHS Principal’s Discretion FAQs: https://cps.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/gocps/PrincipalDiscretionFAQs.pdf

GoCPS also has some helpful videos to aide in understanding how to interpret the results: https://go.cps.edu/high-school/selection

Good luck to the 8th graders! Wherever you end up, make the most of your time there as high school breezes by so quickly!

First Round CPS 2019-2020 Applications Close 12/14/18!

Don’t miss the 12/14/18 deadline to apply to a wide range of CPS options for Fall 2019.  Paper applications must be RECEIVED by 6pm at CPSOAE (see below) and online applications need to be submitted by 11:59pm via https://cps.schoolmint.net/signup.  Only families who have a CPS Student ID can use the online application.  All others need to use a paper application.

Submit elementary or high school paper applications to the Office of Access and Enrollment, 42 W. Madison St., Garden Level, Chicago, IL 60602. DO NOT SEND YOUR APPLICATION TO THE SCHOOL(S) TO WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING. Applications must be RECEIVED by December 14, 2018 by 6pm. Note that this is a RECEIVED BY date, NOT a postmarked date.
Applications received after December 14, 2018, will not be processed.

Researching schools? Check out the very informative GoCPS Search tool which can quickly show you school locations based on program types (magnet, selective enrollment, IB, military, CTE) or program group (fine & performing arts, STEM, academic centers, etc), sorted by grades or ratings, etc.  Clicking on a school’s name will show a bounty of school data.

Second rounds for any programs that still have space typically begins in April for high school and May for elementary schools.

Good luck on your CPS school search!

CPS 2019-2020 Applications are Now Open!

From now until Dec 14, 2018, you can go to www.go.cps.edu and learn about applying to CPS programs from Preschool to High School.  The applications are open and you can apply to schools and schedule testing or admissions screenings until the December deadline.

Lots of helpful info at the following links:

PreK FAQs

Elementary FAQs

High School FAQs

Remember, you can apply for up to 6 Selective Enrollment (test based) schools but must rank your choices and you will get a single offer.

You can also choose up to 20 non-selective (now called “Choice Programs”) lottery schools but elementary has no ranking and multiple offers while high school you do need to rank and it is single offer.  Good luck!

Note: CPS Tiers also change each year on October 1st, so check your tier by entering your address at https://go.cps.edu/search.  They can go up, down or stay the same each year.

Hidden Gems High School Fair THIS SUNDAY 9/30/18

Live in the city and have middle school aged (6th-8th grade) children? Come to the 7th Annual “Hidden Gems” Chicago High School Fair THIS Sunday, September 30th from 1-4pm to meet representatives from over 35 public and private high schools (and several resource vendors) that have terrific programs and more holistic or realistic admissions standards. 7th and 8th grade can be a stressful year for you and your students – take the pressure off by realizing all of the great options in the Chicagoland area.  See our frequently updated list of participating schools online.
 
Register today for discounted early registration pricing: HS Fair Registration
Details for Hidden Gems High School Fair
The schedule for the program will be as follows:
Doors open at 12:30pm, but Disney II tours are available starting at 12:15pm.
  • 1PM:  Introduction from Chicago School GPS and Amundsen High School (sponsor) in the auditorium
  • 1:05PM-2:00PM:  Brief 1 minute presentation from each school (historically the most enlightening portion of the fair)
  • 2:00PM-4:00PM:  School exhibitor booths open
  • 2:30PM-4:00PM:  Half hour Information sessions for parents:
    • High School Admissions for public & private schools
    • Entrance Exam Testing for SEHS, HSPT & ISEE
    • Scholarship Ins and Outs
  • 2:30PM-4:00PM:  Half hour participation sessions for middle schoolers:
    • Peer to Peer forums – high school ambassadors (one per school) answer questions from middle schoolers
    • Middle Schooler workshop- tips on writing a high school entrance essay
    • Executive Functioning Skills workshop
  • 4:00PM:  Fair ends  
Come learn about wonderful high school options and reduce your family’s stress about their high school search!  Register NOW! (Fee waivers available)

 

Non-CPS Applicants for 2019-2020 CPS High Schools to Register for MAP

CPS will be administering the Reading & Math NWEA MAP tests to rising non-CPS 8th graders this September.  Check out more info HERE: https://cps.edu/sitecollectiondocuments/gocps/GoCPS-NWEA-NonCPSRegistration.pdf and online at GoCPS.

From the pdf:

“Dear Non-CPS School Parent:

As you may know, the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) currently utilizes the Northwestern Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress (NWEA MAP) for the eligibility/selection process for students applying to schools with academic requirements, including, but not limited to, CTE-College and Career Academies, International Baccalaureate High Schools, Magnet High Schools, Military Academies, and Selective Enrollment Elementary and High Schools.

The NWEA MAP will be offered free of charge for students who did not attend a CPS school during the 2017-2018 school year, are not currently enrolled at a CPS school, and will be applying for the 2019-2020 school year to grades 5-9 for schools with academic requirements.

The test is a two-part assessment: math and reading. Typically, the test is administered on two separate days; if you like, you can indicate your preference to have your child take both sections of the test on the same date. The test will be administered on September 15-16, 2018; September 22-23, 2018; and September 29-30, 2018. There will be two sessions offered on each of these days.

In order for students to be scheduled to test, the registration form must be received by the Office of Access and Enrollment no later than September 7, 2018. The test will be offered at four sites: Curie Metropolitan High School, Lane Tech High School, Lindblom Math and Science Academy, and Westinghouse College Preparatory High School. Students will be scheduled for the test location closest to their home address. PLEASE NOTE that your child cannot be considered for any school with minimum eligibility requirements if he/she does not take the NWEA MAP that is administered by the Chicago Public Schools system.

Please complete the attached NWEA MAP registration form and submit it to the Office of Access and Enrollment, indicating your preferred test weekend, as well as whether you want your child to take the test on one day or two. Note that indicating your preferred test weekend does not guarantee that your child will be scheduled for that weekend. Students will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. CPS will put test notification letters in the U.S. mail, to the home address on the registration form, one week prior to the student’s first test date. Reminder notifications will be sent as well, via robocall and email.

Please carefully review the NWEA MAP application and related material. Should you have additional questions after you review this information, please contact the Office of Access and Enrollment at 773-553-2060 or [email protected].”

Helpful FAQs can be found here: https://cps.edu/sitecollectiondocuments/gocps/GoCPS-NWEA-FAQ.pdf

CPS Round 2 High School Application Deadline 5/4/18
 WHAT IS ROUND 2?

Round 2 is a new application period where only the high school programs that still have available seats after Round 1 will be available. Families can select and rank up to 20 Non-Selective Enrollment programs and up to 2 Selective Enrollment schools (if the student took the Selective Enrollment High Schools admissions exam AND received a total point score of 600 or higher). The student could receive a single best offer to one school in each category if they are matched.  For full instructions on this round, please download our Round 2 Application Guide.  Check out the Round 2 Program List.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT MESSAGE

PLEASE NOTE: If you accepted a first-round offer, you should ONLY apply to programs in the second round if you want them MORE than the first-round offer that you accepted. If you receive a second-round offer, you will AUTOMATICALLY forfeit the first-round offer you accepted. Do not apply to programs in the second round unless you are certain that you want each of them MORE than the first-round offer you accepted. If you accept/accepted a waitlist offer, this will not be affected by the second round application.  If you submit a second-round application, be sure to rank your choices in the order of your preference (put the program you want MOST as number 1, the program you want next as number 2, etc.).
WHEN SHOULD I CONSIDER ROUND 2?
Round 2 is ONLY recommended for families that:
  • Moved to Chicago after the Round 1 application deadline. 
  • Did not participate in Round 1 and would like to try to be matched with a high school program of their choosing.
  • Declined their Round 1 offer and found program(s) they would prefer to attend available in Round 2.
  • Accepted a Round 1 offer, but found program(s) they would prefer to attend available in Round 2.
  • Were ruled ineligible to apply to a program in Round 1, but are now eligible to apply to that program in Round 2.
CAN I REAPPLY TO ROUND 1 PROGRAMS THAT I DID NOT GET INTO?
You cannot re-apply in Round 2 to any programs where you are already on a waitlist. Round 1 applicants have been automatically added to the waitlist for all programs that they were (1) eligible for selection in Round 1 and (2) were ranked higher than the one they received an offer from.  If you are on a waitlist and a seat becomes available for you, you will be notified by the school.
You can, however, reapply to any programs ranked lower than the Round 1 offer you received. And in certain cases where a student is now eligible to apply to programs they were not eligible to apply to in Round 1, they can apply in Round 2.

ARE YOU READY TO APPLY?

If you have read through all the background information on Round 2, have thoroughly evaluated all your options, and feel that participating in Round 2 is the right thing for your family, log into your GoCPS account to start applying today.

Spring 2018 CPS High School Offers

The 2018-2019 CPS High School notifications were released on Friday, March 30. The “First Round” deadline is April 13, and then families can enter into a “Second Round” for any leftover available spaces.

It’s a new process this spring so along with the release are some informative videos and information from GoCPS as well as the following, cut and pasted directly from the websites linked below:

FAQs: High School Application Process

Information regarding the GoCPS high school application process can be found in the High School FAQs. If you have additional questions, contact the Office of Access and Enrollment at 773-553-2060 or [email protected].

Principal Discretion Process: 2018-2019 School Year

Principal Discretion is a process that allows Selective Enrollment High School principals to fill a designated number of ninth grade seats, outside of the regular selection process, based on information provided through application packages submitted by students.

Applicants to ninth grade can apply to a Selective Enrollment school through the Principal Discretion process if they (1) did not receive a Selective Enrollment offer, or (2) they received a Selective Enrollment offer but would like to be considered for a different Selective Enrollment High School. (You do not have decline an offer in order to apply for Principal Discretion).

The Principal Discretion application period for the 2018-2019 school year begins at 9 am on April 9th and ends at 6 pm on April 20th. The application will be posted beginning on April 9th. Click the links below to access the Principal Discretion Handbook and Frequently Asked Questions. The handbook provides step-by-step instructions for submitting a Principal Discretion application package and contains the guidelines and requirements for the process.

If you have questions after you review these documents, contact the Office of Access and Enrollment 773-553-2060 or [email protected].

Cutoff Scores

Click the links below to access the cutoff scores for the 2018-2019 high school selection process:

CPS 2018-2019 School Calendar

Always an exciting time when CPS releases the next school year calendar.  Here are some of the important dates for the 2018-2019 CPS school year:
First Day of School – 9/4/18, Last Day of School – 6/18/19
Academic Quarters – Q1 – 11/1/18, Q2 – 1/31/19, Q3 – 4/4/19, Q4 – 6/18/19
Parent Teacher Conference Days – 11/14/18 (ES), 11/15/18 (HS), 4/10/19 (ES), 4/11/19 (HS)
Winter Vacation – 12/24/18 – 1/4/19, Spring Vacation – 4/15/19 – 4/19/19
School Improvement Days – 11/2/18, 2/1/19, 4/5/19, 6/19/19
Please note: Veterans Day will be observed on Monday, 11/12/18.
 http://cps.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/SY18-19Calendar_English.pdf

Filling the Void and Growing the Community

With the retirement of the indispensable and incomparable CPSObsessed blog that helped Chicago families for almost a decade, a sudden panic seized Chicago parents on where they would turn to soothe their obsession of tracking scores, tiers and offers for CPS admissions or learn about changing application processes or hear about new or up and coming schools, etc.  While CPSObsessed was the place to visit for all things CPS, many parents were also weighing private school options or wondering about special need supports and a myriad of other school related topics.

Out of this gaping void came the genesis for ChicagoSchoolOptions. This new website aims to be a crowdsourced destination for the next crop of anxious Chicago parents looking for answers.  It will only be as useful as those who contribute to the site make it, so please feel free to login and post to the School Forum or email us if you would like to help improve the site, be an editor or contributor (this uses a WordPress platform) or have any advice on increasing the user-friendliness.  Currently it is maintained by someone with more passion for the topics than technical savvy about the platform.

We welcome your help to make ChicagoSchoolOptions the “go-to” site for sharing Chicago area school knowledge. From preschool to high school, public and private, general, gifted and special ed, this site is meant to help fellow parents gain a better understanding of all their school related questions.  Contact us if you have anything to share and help us grow our community!

CPS High School from Fall 2017: Continuing the Discussion from CPSO

GoCPS is adding features to be a great resource for Chicago families.

For those looking to discuss the 2018-2019 application cycle for CPS High school options, feel free to check out the threads at CPSObsessed- High School Application News Fall 2017 and continue your thoughts either in the comments below or on the School Forum pages.