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Hello,
My almost 5 year old will be testing for Kindergarten placement for 2026-2027 year. I was wondering if there is anything we can do to prepare her for both RGC and classical programs? I think my kid if bright and would like to at least try taking the test but if we can do some things at home to better prepare her, I will appreciate the pointers
Also, how come some people have already tested their kids for next year’s placement? I am not sure how to register for this test either.
Thank you!!
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You can test early and apply for early K entrance which I do not recommend. We just had friends pulling their K student out from SN to a private school. He was the youngest in class (not even 5) and he was struggling both emotionally and academically. CPS teachers are great there, but they are not trained to be counselors for little kids.
The key thing for K testing is to ensure they do not want to leave earlier to go back to their parents. Otherwise if your child knows ABC, reads basic words (mat, bat, etc) and understands addition and subtraction up to 10, he will be just fine 🙂 As to RGC testing, I do not think you can prep much. We have heard that Lego is the biggest prep tool for this one (per RGC parents we know).
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My son isn’t even 5 yet, and he’s already in a top SEES k. It hasn’t been easy the first few weeks, but he absolutely loves it now. I’ve also met other parents whose children tested early, and their kids are doing just fine as well, so I guess it depends on a child. That said, it’s better not to test early—this way you don’t face a tough decision if your child gets into your first-choice school.
As for preparing for the test: focus on reading every day (simple words like cat, mat, hat) and practicing basic math skills for K.
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Just FYI: “New for 2026-27: Under the updated Accelerated Placement policy adopted by the Board of Education on July 24, 2025, students who are accepted into Early Entrance to Kindergarten cannot also enroll in selective enrollment kindergarten programs.”
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wR1HPaQOIvlpikejKv-bvgciwWnbjZpPPcr_R0Wj8ZY/edit?usp=sharing
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Thank you, Petra. I know they were discussing it, but I didn’t know they passed it.
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Honestly, I have to eyeroll when parents brag, “My kid is thriving in a top SEES even though they are a year younger.” Congratulations, you’ve successfully shaved a year off childhood. The Accelerated Placement Act (lobbied less than a decade ago by a gifted parent turned educator, hardly a long-tested policy) was intended for children whose needs truly cannot be met in an age-appropriate classroom. CPS SEES isn’t that. It’s 1-2 grade levels ahead, with 25-30+ kids crammed into a class taught by teachers stretched thin and underpaid. Not a specialized gifted program. Just a slightly faster treadmill.
From what I’ve seen as an older parent over the years, from K-4th these kids are often smaller, less verbally mature, and trailing academically behind their older, high-performing peers. Has anyone actually met a child who both skipped a grade and remained a top all-rounder? Sure they are “doing fine now” because kids are adaptable. They can survive on airplane peanuts, too. That doesn’t make it ideal nourishment. Fast-forward a few years, and “fine” can calcify into anxiety, burnout or brittle self-esteem. Especially for boys, whose egos rarely benefit from being youngest and smallest in the room.
So yes, I’m relieved the Board of Education finally adopted some common sense and closed that loophole to rein in overly pushy parents. It did little to meet students’ needs and turned into nothing more than bragging rights for parents whose kid had skipped a grade.
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@WPparent, thank you for your comment. First, I want to say I agree — gifted/classic programs are hard for younger kids, and I’m glad the adjustment has been made to CPS Early Entrance policy. Second, I wasn’t trying to brag. I only meant to share that my child is enjoying school and doing fine academically, which is what matters most to us. I don’t expect my kiddo to be at the very top in k, we’re perfectly happy with our child learning alongside older kids for a few years. Your comment, though, did make my mom guilt flare up, and I think many of us already carry plenty of that on our own.
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Good points. Thanks for sharing
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Yes it is just a slightly faster treadmill but in some neighborhoods there isn’t really a good alternative. Our assigned neighborhood school is severely under enrolled, physically decrepit and understaffed. In our experience it’s been impossible to lottery into any of the better schools in nearby neighborhoods, so prepping for and testing for the SEES treadmill seems like our best option.
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