Home › Forums › CPS High Schools › Selective Enrollment High Schools (SEHS) › 2025-2026 SEHS Admissions
- This topic has 77 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 49 minutes ago by Camila.
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LamomGuest
Just heard that scores will be out on November 8. Cutoffs dropped last year, any predictions for this year?
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CPSMOMGuest
Where did you hear that scores will be released 11/8?
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LamomGuest
From our school counselor — we’re in CPS, assume it applies to everyone but not totally sure about that.
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CPSMOMGuest
Thanks! We are in CPS too.
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LamomGuest
Scores are up!
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NonCPSmomGuest
Hmm… I am not seeing scores. Anyone else who can see theirs on a 504? Also, shows that my student’s test as a “scheduled event” in blue versus a “completed event” in green
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LamomGuest
I think non-cps families take the test later so maybe the scores go up later?
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BibideeGuest
Just want to make sure I’m not missing anything. If my kid was in the 99 percentile for reading and math. With all As last year, that should translate to a 900/900. Correct?
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LamomGuest
Correct!
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WBmomGuest
I’m hoping cut off scores stay the same, but have a feeling since my kid is on the cusp, the cutoffs will go up.
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LamomGuest
My situation too. Just have no idea if the drop (especially in tier 3) was some sort of issue with the test that year or a secular trend, both are plausible.
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Mark RobertGuest
Hi my child got a 97 in reading and 92 in math. We are tier 3 and he really wants to go to northside with his brother and sister. Can he get in?
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HSMomGuest
Mark Robert- based on last year’s scores he would get in but the year before he would not. It really depends on if the trend from last year remains.
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Mark RobertGuest
Hi thanks. Do you think the cutoff scores will go down or up?
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MarieGuest
What about Math 99 & Reading 90 , tier 3. Is that good for WY?
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LamomGuest
In the last couple of years, that score would get you into WY. You never know if cut scores will change but I think very likely to get in.
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Sebastian KindlesGuest
Does anyone know if a child has gotten a perfect score. My child goes to a regional gifted center and he says no one he knows got a perfect score. He also said everyone got a low math score. Is this similar to your child?
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MomGuest
Not true.my kid got a 900 as did someone else in this post. Historically, the ranked choice cutoff for Payton and Northside is often a perfect 900. Maybe most of the kids who get perfect scores are in private schools, already at academic cneters, or in neighborhood schools because that’s what their families value?
Anyways, my kid is happy at LTAC and will not be going to a different SE high school. As his parent, I have to be okay with his choice.
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One CPS parentGuest
Sebastian, looks like someone on this forum got a perfect score…
I am wondering what the predictions for this year’s cutoff scores would be for Tier 4, last year were lower but seems like that was an outlier. -
BibideeGuest
One thing that I was not previously aware of was that the CPS “grades” on a curve for this test. My kid got his actual test scores, as well as percentiles. My kid did not score perfect on either. I’m only guessing, a perfect score might be like 350 on either test. He was in the 99th percentile on both. Using the rubric, his “weighted” score should be a 900. I was concerned I misinterpreted the results at first but am more confident today. Looking at cut scores from previous years and the hardest schools to get into, I thought it was suspicious at how many “perfect 900s” there were overall. But the curve made it make more sense.
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IHateThisGuest
99th percentile math, 90th reading, all As in 7th, tier 4
I think that gets my child an 880 and hopefully into Lane. Guess we just have to wait 4 or 5 more months.
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BibideeGuest
Last two years, the bottom cut score for Lane Tech tier 4 was 870. Subject to change but 880 is looking good. If Lane is your kids dream school, Don’t forget about principals discretion. Not a bad idea to get recommendation letters ahead of time. Just in case.
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AKGuest
To calculate the score into 900, use this:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_eEs8Xym5IbwVa2_UmifCMM33k95i2SW/view
The percent score is multiplied to get a number of up to 225 for reading/math. Then you add in the grades, and that is your score out of 900. So, a 99th % on Reading and Math + Straight As should get a 900.
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AKGuest
And here are the cut scores from last year:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1whgNt2dzFeCJ6PURElRVbQAPs-9pzq2U/view
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Sebastian KindlesGuest
Hi my son scored 97 on reading as well as 92 on math. Can he make it through northside. We are tier 3.
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LamomGuest
Last year he would have been in at Northside, the year before not — so definitely a chance but will just depend on the cut scores.
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one_more_timeGuest
Hello,
I am curious to hear what were the raw scores for your kids? Mine got 315/332.
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BeanGuest
hi, do you know what a kids raw score means? I imagine many children will score 99/97 and come from the same tier as my kid. Do you know if these ‘raw” scores help in tiebreakers? Thanks.
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AKGuest
Yes, the raw score is used in tiebreakers; Math first, then Reading. If there is still a tie, then a computerized lottery is used to place the applicants in line:https://drive.google.com/file/d/10uee2BsqlvWmhNZkS5h1mj4h2lEC121_/view
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Mama bearGuest
My child got a 62 and 72 percentile, she’s usually a over achiever and does great in school but she scored so low. She’s very disciplined with her score because how much she studied, she really wanted to go to lane or whitney and now she is very drained and things tha she’s not capable because of her score, is there even a possibility for her getting in, also she did get straight a’s in 7th grade.
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Mama bearGuest
We are also in tier 4 by the way and I know the scores are usually higher,my daughter says she doomed and very dissipointed with her outcome. Also in my first post I mean disappointed not disciplined. Like I was saying how I think this score is really affecting her, she has no appetite and always studying bc she says she just feels so dumb and useless. She has such high expectations for herself that when she got her results she became really disappointed in herself.
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HsmomGuest
I’d find someone for her to talk to. Is your neighborhood school an option?
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Parent123Guest
I just wanted to send you and your daughter some support.
I’ll be honest, those scores likely won’t work for regular cut scores. If she has some serious reason or something to offer a SEHS, principal’s discretion may be worth a try.
Meanwhile I would seriously take a look at other choice programs or what your neighborhood school has to offer. Make it action oriented – what can you do next and how can we look at that in a positive light.
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BeanGuest
Hey everyone,
Tier 3 here. Hoping to get into WY. I am curious about the standard scores, what purpose do they serve?
My child’s score.
Reading Percentile — 97
Reading Standard Score — 315
Math Percentile — 99
Math Standard Score — 322-
HsmomGuest
I’m really not sure what the standard score range is for each percentile but you for sure could get into Whitney with those scores in Tier 3.
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AKGuest
Standard scores are used in tiebreakers:https://drive.google.com/file/d/10uee2BsqlvWmhNZkS5h1mj4h2lEC121_/view
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BeanGuest
thanks
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8th grade studentGuest
Reading – 90 (297)
Math – 99 (338)
Tier 4
Gives me an 880, I think I could get into Jones or Lane but is there any chance for WY? -
8th grade studentGuest
also straight a’s
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MarieGuest
Why are the standards scores different even if students have the same percentiles?
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one_more_timeGuest
because percentiles are related to the ranges of the scores.
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INGuest
With 880 in tier 4, any chance for WP or Jones?
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8th grade studentGuest
Jones cutoff is usually around 870s so probably. Payton the cutoff is usually 900 so probably not.
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INParticipant
Pretty good for an 8th grader to know this stuff!
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Mama bearGuest
Well our neighborhood highschool is not th best and the programs are not exactly interesting for my daughter, update my daughter is still very dissipointed about her scores and I am debating to get her someone so she could talk to because this is really affecting her and ruining her self esteem. I am telling her that von stuben scholars is a good program and when we went to the open house and she liked it but she even bought the lane sweatshirt bc she wanted to manifest her being there.shes still not having an appetite nor wanting to go out of her room.im really concerned for her and based on her scores of a 62 and 72 it is not exactly lane worthy btw she has all as in 7th grade
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LamomGuest
No harm in having her talk to someone. I’m sorry, this is a rough process and I think unfair that our 8th graders have so much pressure and so much riding on a single test. Von Scholars is a wonderful program and might be easier to stand out in a smaller, more personalized program like that than at Lane. There’s also the option of transferring if she really doesn’t feel like the school where she ends up is a fit, all of the SEHS take transfer students and what matters there is grades, essays and recommendations.
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Mama bearGuest
Yes exactly how I feel, when u were talking about transferring to like lane how can u do that exactly????
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Mama bearGuest
Though just to be for sure there is no way for my daughter to get into lane correct, because of her score??
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LamomGuest
So it looks like this school year, Lane isn’t accepting transfers but here’s an example of what the form would look like if it changes (this would be something you do during your freshman or sophomore year): https://www.wpcp.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?type=d&uREC_ID=410149&pREC_ID=1000141
For next year the only option would be principals discretion but you are likely right that her scores would make that difficult.
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Mama bearGuest
Yes it is really disappointing for her, hopefully she does qualify for the von scholars which is still very close to us luckily and seems like a great program!!! Sadly when I told my daughter she said it was good but I could tell by her face she is still in a bad place.
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Penny PamGuest
Hi looks like there aren’t many perfect scores. Seems like the cut off scores will be the same or close to the same. Anyone else agree?
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8th grade studentGuest
Yes, I think for WY, Jones, and Lane it will stay the same or slightly fall. I don’t know about Northside and Payton.
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8th grade studentGuest
I got 97 (reading) and 98 (math) with straight A’s, and I live in a tier 1 area. I’m hearing a lot about how the scores are going to go up and stuff, and I would think I’m safe, but you never know, so I would like someone else’s opinion on the matter. For context, Whitney is my 1st choice.
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IHateThisGuest
8th grade student – I think you’re pretty safely in. Last year an 814 would get you into Whitney from tier 1, and I didn’y computer what your percentiles convert to but probably around 890. Congrats!
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8th grade studentGuest
Thank you for reassuring me 😌
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one_more_timeGuest
it’s 892. with that score, you are getting in. or at least you would have gotten in for any of the last 3 years!
congrats!
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CamilaGuest
Hi Hailey
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Patrick JonesGuest
I think the cutoff scores will be going down for all the schools seeing many students in the top selective prep schools not getting perfect scores. Seems like the test was quite difficult? Anyone else agree?
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Mama bearGuest
My daughter said that there were challenging questions and with only 39 question to finish in 30 minutes was truly stressful for her. And she did say that the last 2 stories in the reading were hard to understand!
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Teacher ApplereGuest
Hi for anyone trying to go to Northside Whitney Young, Lane, Payton, etc. As long as you have above a 860 you have a good chance of getting in. I’ve heard of many kids who got 850 in tier 4 who got in to Payton because of principal letters. So please parents of students stop stressing. You will get into the school you desire!
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NDTGuest
*Disclaimer* I do NOT have any concrete insight.
This is a super stressful process for all who go through it.
One recurring theme seems to be will the cut scores go up this year?
If CPS enrollment has been slowly declining over the last 20 years and the number of available freshman seats has stayed the same. In general, it should be getting slightly easier to test in, OVER TIME, as we should see the minimum cut scores required for the different tiers trend downwards. Looking at ONLY the cut scores over the last few years, my theory seems to hold some weight. Even though there are a some outliers with increases.
Another recurring theme is, how many “perfect 900” scores will I have to compete against?
Using SUPER rough estimates here: If there are 100K total students across all CPS high schools and a quarter of those go on to be CPS freshman, lets just ballpark and say there are a potential of 25K total scores to compete against. There are three different components to the cut score: 7th grade grades, the math test and the reading test. The amount of cut score points students get assigned is based on a seperate curve, for each test. Meaning that regardless of actual test score, the top one percent (the “99th” percentile) will always get the max score of 225 on each respective test. If 25K students took the test, that means that only 250 kids will get the max of 225 on each respective test. In theory, it’s possible for there to be a maximum of 250 total 900 scores, assuming 25K test takers. However, as there are three seperate components that need to come together and we know some kids scored 99 on one test, but not both. We can say for a fact, there are less 900s out there than the maximum possible.
All of that to say, there is no need to fear some huge influx of 900s wrecking test curves and driving up cut scores. Again, if overall enrollment continues to decline, the amount of 900s should also trend down over time.
Looking at cut scores for the last few years, the only school where the amount of 900s has skewed things drastically, is at, is Payton. I believe that their freshman class is about 300 or so. Split 5 ways for top overall score(no tier) and the 4 tiers with seperate cut scores. Looks to be about 60 kids got in with a 900 score, overall. Than basically, all 60 tier 4 spots still needed a score of 900 as well. A few random 900s go elsewhere but it looks like most end up at Payton.
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LamomGuest
The Tier 3 cut scores dropped really precipitously last year, I’m expecting somewhat of a rebound. Though it is possible that the population decline and the shrinking middle class means there will be a long term divergence between Tier 4 and the other three tiers.
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CamilaGuest
Hi Fr on my high schools admission test I got a score of 732 and I’m tier 2. I want to get into the selective enrollment Jones. I’m far from the cut off score but I’m closer to the score of Jones pre-law. I don’t live in the required boundaries of Jones pre-law would I still be able to get in with a recommendation letter from a principal? Or I aim for the normal Jones with a recommendation letter from a principal?
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ChicagoMomGuest
Seeking advice: Living in an area that just moved from Tier 3 to 4. Our top choice is Northside Prep and my child scored a 95/93 and is a below the cut off but has lots going for them! They are IEP/505 Plan. Thoughts? We are going to apply and leverage the Principal’s Discretionary process. This is beyone stressful. Good luck parents!
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IHateThisGuest
ChicagoMom – Our elementary school held a meeting about the whole admissions process and I think I recall them saying that the SEHS need to admit a class where 13% of them have IEPs. So, if Lane has 1,000 slots, 130 of them are reserved for students with IEPs. No idea of the details on that – there would be different cutoff scores for students with IEPs, I guess? Maybe your school’s social work or counselor would have info on that.
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INParticipant
Thx
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KKGuest
How does student rank affect things?
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CPS MomGuest
Hi my child scores a 97 and 92 which is a 879. We live in tier 3. Our top choice is northside and we have two siblings there. Are they going to be accepted considering the cutoff scores will remain mostly the same seeing mostly the same results from last year?
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LawMom444Guest
To MamaBear Guest, unfortunately the odds are stacked against students as this process IS very cut throat.
My daughter too, scored in the same range despite consistently being a straigh A student and scoring high on those tests that supposedly told her she was at an 11th geade level in math, so seeing her percentile in the 70s was quite discouraging for the both of us…
my best advice is to remind your daughter that this test does NOT define her…so many students do use private tutoring and that is quite expensive plus she is also competing against students who come from private schools.
I was told by another parent that works for CPS that MANY students from private schools also apply and get offers so it is not just CPS students..
In any event, if this helps, my friend’s daughter was accepted to YALE! She also received offers from MIT and Duke University..and guess what, she didnt receive not one offer from a SEHS…she ended up at Noble Academy but now 4 yrs later shes going to friggin YALE
her life is NOT doomed bc she was not accepted…and she needs to give herself some grace…that is what I tell my daughter….you are only doomed if you believe this to be true…..
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one_more_timeGuest
Thank you for saying this!
Many parents need to hear it and pass this wisdom to their children.
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Jennifer BGuest
We are in a Tier 3 and my daughter scored 99/90 which is 880. Trying to decide b/w NCP and Lane to rank as first choice in the application. Should we put NCP first and hope she lucks out in Principal Discretion or put Lane first and play safe? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
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LamomGuest
There’s no risk in ranking the schools in your actual order of preference, so definitely put NCP first if that’s your first choice.
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Raj AGuest
Any guidance on Hancock School ? How is it ? It seems to be located close to Midway Airport – How do students commute from the loop ?
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Dave PGuest
Really appreciate everyone who’s answering questions here. I believe I’m understanding everything correctly, but just to get a second opinion, our daughter, with a 900 score, would likely get an offer from her first choice, regardless of Tier? In this case, Young.
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ParentOfThreeGuest
@Dave P – Yes, with a 900 score you will very likely get an offer from the first choice regardless of Tier. There is only 1 year in which this did not happen, and it only didn’t happen for specifically Payton. 886 Tier 4 is the highest score that has ever not been offered from Young as first choice.
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Dave PGuest
@ParentOfThree Thanks! Appreciate the confirmation.
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CPS MomGuest
Hi is an 879 good enough for northside in tier 3.
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CamilaGuest
Hi guys on my high schools admission test I got a score of 732 and I’m tier 2. I want to get into the selective enrollment Jones. I’m far from the cut off score but I’m closer to the score of Jones pre-law. I don’t live in the required boundaries of Jones pre-law would I still be able to get in with a recommendation letter from a principal? Or I aim for the normal Jones with a recommendation letter from a principal?
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