2026-2027 GoCPS Notification Dates for K-9th Grade Announced

GoCPS has announced that families will receive their 2026-2027 Kindergarten through 9th grade school results in February for 9th grade and March for K-8th grade as follows:

  • Feb 13, 2026 @ 5pm – GoCPS 9th grade high school notifications released
  • Mar 6, 2026 @ 5pm – GoCPS 9th grade high school decisions due
  • Mar 13, 2026 @ 5pm- GoCPS K-8th grade elementary school notifications released
  • Apr 3, 2026 @ 5pm – GoCPS K-8th grade elementary school decisions due

It has not been announced yet, but Chicago Early Learning applications for all PK3 & PK4 preschool programs will most likely open in early April 2026. This includes all free PK4 programs at participating CPS schools, and CPS magnet programs such as Drummond (PK3), Suder (PK3) and Inter-American (PK4).

Note: most private school notifications will come BEFORE families receive their results from CPS (free) options, and private schools typically require deposits or signed contracts before the CPS deadline.

It is a good reminder that whether elementary, high school or beyond, school results are NOT a commentary on a student’s (or parent’s!) worth or success. In the same vein, low admission rates do not equal quality, nor does prestige equal success.

2026-2027 GoCPS Application Process

GoCPS has helpful Family Training Sessions to explain the application process for K-8th grade Elementary and 9th grade High School Applicants. Be sure to RSVP to view the Zoom sessions. Recordings will be available on the GoCPS Resources page.

Signup form for GoCPS Elementary Training Sessions in English is HERE. Spanish is HERE.
GoCPS ES Application Training in English Sessions:
Tuesday, September 30th at 10:00 AM
Wednesday, October 8th at Noon
Thursday, October 16th at 5:00 PM
Friday, October 24th at 10:00 AM

Sign up form for GoCPS High School Training Sessions in English is HERE. Spanish HERE.
GoCPS HS Application Training in English Sessions:
October 7th at 10am
October 9th at 12pm
October 23rd at 2pm
October 28th at 5pm

Elementary K-8th grade Family Training Slidedeck 2026-2027
High School 9th grade Family Training Slidedeck 2026-2027

CPS 2026-2027 K-9th Application Dates Announced

While the process to apply for CPS Kindergarten to 9th grade programs is not first come first serve, CPS applications will be open from 10am on September 23, 2025 to 5pm on November 14, 2025 (so far). Families can apply to any school programs outside of their neighborhood school’s general education program.

Each applicant can apply and rank up to 20 CHOICE programs and up to 6 SELECTIVE ENROLLMENT programs. Elementary applicants do NOT have to test into any CHOICE (magnet, magnet cluster, open enrollment & dual language) programs but they DO have to test for any SELECTIVE ENROLLMENT (Classical, Regional Gifted, Academic Center and RG for English Learners) programs. For high school admissions, all CPS 8th graders can take the High School Admissions Test (HSAT) on Oct 8 at their CPS school while non-CPS 8th graders can register to take the HSAT on either Oct 18, 19, 26 or 27.

More info regarding applying to K-8th grade Elementary programs HERE and info regarding 9th grade High School programs HERE.

CPS Rolling Waitlists Will Update into 2025-2026 School Year

If your family is anticipating a waitlist offer from CPS preschools, elementary or 9th grade spots, CPS has shared that they will update waitlists throughout the next few months until the 20th day of school for Selective Enrollment (test-based) programs and until January 2026 for Choice (lottery based) programs. PK3 and PK4 programs will have a color coded indicator of whether programs have immediate availability, limited availability, or if they are almost full. Because all CPS based application programs required families to put their school choices in order from most preferred to least preferred, CPS is now able to provide waitlist numbers (highlighted in yellow on the EnrollWise portal) to families who were not offered a selective enrollment seat or who were not offered their more preferred Choice or preschool seats.

Waitlist numbers can go up or down depending on scores for selective enrollment or depending on selection priorities (special needs, siblings, etc) for Choice or preschool options. Waitlists will move 2x per week for high school and elementary, and will be in “real time” for preschool. Kindergarten through 9th grade waitlist offers will go out by 10am Tuesdays and Fridays and expire within 2 business days on Thursdays and Mondays at 11:59pm, respectively.

Detailed “post offer” steps and information can be found on the following links:
9th Grade GoCPS Spring 2025 Slidedeck (Rolling Waitlist) (click here for the Zoom recording)
K-8th Grade GoCPS Spring 2025 Slidedeck (Rolling Waitlist) (click here for the Zoom recording)

CPS Notification Dates for 2025-2026 Elementary & High School Results

GoCPS announced that results for the 2025-2026 school year application will be released in the GoCPS portal on:

March 14, 2025 for 9th grade (high school) offers and
April 11, 2025 for Kindergarten through 8th grade (elementary school) offers.

Students can receive one offer each for Choice and Selective Enrollment programs and their neighborhood school is always an option. There will be an opportunity to tour offered programs and then a deadline to accept or decline their offer(s). A Rolling Waitlist will go into effect after that time. Good luck to students!

The deadline for Selective Enrollment Elementary applicants who have not tested yet and need to request a resheduled date is Feb 2, 2025. Last day for Kindergarten SEES testing is Feb 21, 2025 and last day for 1st-8th grade SEES testing is Feb 16, 2025. Email gocpstestingteam@cps.edu or call 773-553-2060 to reschedule.

2025-2026 GoCPS K-9th Application Deadline now 12/15/24

Families have more time to apply to next year’s Kindergarten through 9th grade Chicago Public School (CPS) programs via the online portal at https://www.apply.cps.edu/. The new deadline is Sunday, December 15, 2024 at 5pm.

Helpful resources for understanding the application process can be found at: https://www.cps.edu/gocps/resources/

Elementary (Kindergarten to 8th grade) resources are at https://www.cps.edu/gocps/resources/elementary-school-resources/ and families should check out GoCPS’s webinar on the 2025-2026 Elementary process HERE.

High School (9th grade) resources are at https://www.cps.edu/gocps/resources/high-school-resources/ and families can view the GoCPS webinar on 2025-2026 High School applications HERE. For high school transfers into 10th-12th grade, contact each individual high school for information.

Preschool applications for 3 and 4 year olds are on a separate timeline and do not open until April 2025 for the 2025-2026 school year. Check out the preschool website at https://www.cps.edu/ChicagoEarlyLearning/

CPS Application Dates for K-9th grade 2025-2026 School Year Announced

From https://www.cps.edu/gocps/

The GoCPS application for Chicago Public School (CPS) Kindergarten through 9th grade 2025-2026 programs will open on Sept 24, 2024 at 10am and close on Nov 15, 2024 (changed to Nov 22) at 5pm. Start your application at https://www.apply.cps.edu/  but know you do not have to complete your application right away, just don’t miss the deadline of 11/15/24 11/22/24! 

For parent training sessions to learn what to expect, sign up at the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1C9Noa4qo05uBxwkbS8L0UKHALemzpAoqkmWgf-yy4S4/viewform?edit_requested=true

Learn about CPS Selective Enrollment (Classical & Gifted) Elementary programs at our virtual webinar on 9/21/24 from 10am-12pm. RSVP Here.

Learn about Hidden Gem High Schools (public, private, boarding) along with informative IN PERSON seminars on admissions, testing and more on 9/29/24 from 1-4pm. RSVP Here.

Note, CPS preschool applications for 3 & 4 year olds open in the spring.

GoCPS K-9th grade Notification Dates for 2024-2025

CPS is releasing 9th grade (high school) selection results on Friday, February 23 at 5pm and K-8th grade (elementary) selection results on Friday, March 22 at 5pm for Fall 2024 entry. Families will have approximately 4 weeks to tour schools and decide to accept or decline their offer(s). Then approximately 2 weeks after the deadline to accept/decline an offer, the real-time, rolling waitlist process occurs for any programs with remaining, unfilled seats. Only selective enrollment high schools (SEHS) offer a holistic Principal’s Discretion process to retry for entry based on an essay, recommendations and supporting documentation.

CPS offers virtual “Selections Process Training” for parents to learn what to expect via this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsQz2HW0XIrOs6rcqTxJSSCtEDmlReVhGvjw2ZFkHZpN1CEA/viewform

From https://www.cps.edu/gocps/

High School

  • SEPTEMBER 13th, 2023 – Application Period Opens
  • OCTOBER 24th – 25th – HSAT Re-test for CPS Students
  • OCTOBER 28th – 29th, NOVEMBER 5th– HSAT Exam for Non-CPS Students
  • NOVEMBER 9th, 2023 – Application Period Closes
  • DECEMBER 1st, 2023 – Re-rank Period Closes
  • FEBRUARY 23rd, 2024 – Results Released
  • FEBRUARY 28th, 2024 – SEHS Principal Discretion Process Opens
  • MARCH 15th, 2024 – Accept/Decline Deadline
  • MARCH 15th, 2024 – SEHS Principal Discretion Application Closes
  • APRIL 1st, 2024 – Rolling Waitlist Process Opens
  • APRIL 19th, 2024 – SEHS Principal Discretion Results Released
  • 2 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER OFFER ISSUED – Waitlist Accept/Decline Deadline

Elementary School

  • SEPTEMBER 13th, 2023 – Application Period Opens
  • NOVEMBER 9th, 2023 – Application Period Closes
  • DECEMBER 1st, 2024 – Re-rank Period Closes
  • MARCH 22nd, 2024 – Results Released
  • APRIL 19th, 2024 – Accept/Decline Deadline
  • MAY 1st, 2024 – Rolling Waitlist Process Opens
  • 2 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER OFFER ISSUED – Waitlist Accept/Decline Deadline

For anyone who missed applying to CPS schools during the Fall application cycle, you can do so during the rolling waitlist process which opens on 4/1/24 for high schools and 5/1/24 for elementary schools. Public preschools (for 3 and 4 year olds) have separate applications available on April 9 at https://www.cps.edu/ChicagoEarlyLearning

Changes to CPS School Choice?

The December 14, 2023 announcement by the Chicago Board of Education regarding Mayor Johnson’s plan to prioritize neighborhood schools and reduce reliance on selective enrollment and magnet programs has caused worry among parents wondering what it could mean to their family’s school options.

 We know that there are concerns around school choice, and we want to be clear: this resolution outlines the Board’s parameters and values as we draft the District’s goals and objectives for the next five years. This resolution is not a vote to close selective enrollment, magnet, or charter schools. This resolution is about ensuring high-quality pre-k–12 pathways in neighborhood schools, prioritizing our most under-resourced communities. To read the full resolution, visit the Board website. 

from CPS Update on 12/14/23

WBEZ attempted to tamp down parent speculation by emphasizing that CPS did not make any changes to the current process for families, and is outlining a goal but any change would need to be voted on by the school board, which will be changing in November 2024: WBEZ Article from 12/21/23

Bottom line: SEHS, SEES & Magnet schools aren’t necessarily going away but resources may shift away from them and more to neighborhood schools. Neighborhood schools house most of the IB (international baccalaureate) programs, many fine & performing arts programs, many dual language programs, etc. Increasing support for those specialty programs housed in neighborhood schools will benefit a greater number and broader range of students. Free Universal PK for all 4 year olds has also served to introduce more families to neighborhood schools throughout Chicago. Strengthening offerings at neighborhood schools can serve to release pressure on parents trying for the limited seats at selective enrollment and magnet programs.

CPS 2024-2025 Application Window from 9/13/23 – 11/9/23

The CPS K-9th grade application process is beginning and ending earlier than ever. Applicants interested in a program outside of their assigned neighborhood school for 2024-2025 can apply to up to 20 Choice programs and up to 6 Selective Enrollment programs starting at 10am on Sept 13, 2023 and (currently) ending by 5pm on Nov 9, 2023. It is not “first come, first serve” so there is no need to rush to be the first applicant but be sure NOT to miss the application window when it closes on 11/9/23. For programs that require ranking choices, the ranking deadline is 11/22/23, but the original programs must have been added by 11/9/23. Read more at https://www.cps.edu/gocps/

Elementary School

  • SEPTEMBER 13th, 2023 – Application Period Opens
  • NOVEMBER 9th, 2023 – Application Period Closes
  • NOVEMBER 22nd – Re-rank Period Closes

High School

  • SEPTEMBER 13th, 2023 – Application Period Opens
  • OCTOBER 11th, 2023 – CPS High School Admissions Exam for CPS Students
  • OCTOBER 14-15, 21 – CPS High School Admissions Exam for Non-CPS Students
  • NOVEMBER 9th, 2023 – Application Period Closes
  • NOVEMBER 22nd, 2023 – Re-rank Period Closes

Sign up for helpful virtual GoCPS Application Family Training sessions during Sept-Nov in English & Spanish HERE.

Waitlists, Rolling Waitlists and What It All Means

Because there are so many schools, programs and options for schooling in Chicago, parents who apply to multiple programs may receive more than one offer. Because a student can only attend one school at a time, there actually can be a lot of movement in program availability throughout the summer and into the new school year. Both public (CPS) and private (parochial and independent) schools fill those changing seats by utilizing waitlists before school starts, and sometimes into the new school year.

For private schools, an unfilled seat is a missed tuition and similarly, each student at a public school comes with a per pupil funding amount (until the 20th day of school). Families can add or remove a student from a waitlist if desired during the Rolling Admission cycle.

Preschool (PK3 or PK4): Chicago Early Learning students can get up to one offer out of 5 ranked choices and will be waitlisted for any higher ranked schools they did not qualify for.

Elementary (K-8th grade): CPS applicants can get multiple offers at various Choice (non test-based, non-selective) programs in addition to up to one SEES (test-based, selective enrollment) offer, in addition to a guaranteed neighborhood K-8th grade seat.

For CPS 9th graders (high school), students can get up to one offer each for SEHS and Choice programs as well as a guaranteed neighborhood 9th-12th grade seat.

Private school applicants can get offers for multiple schools at once, too, but a student can only attend one school at a time. Therefore, public and private waitlist movement happens throughout late Spring into Summer and even Fall.

All CPS preschool, elementary, and 9th grade high school programs are using a rolling waitlist system as of late May 2023.

CPS’s new rolling waitlist is meant to simplify what was once a separate transfer process for K-9th grade as well as a separate late application. All CPS applicants can view their GoCPS portal to see which remaining programs have immediate seats to accept (green), which have an open waitlist to join (yellow), and which are full or have a low likelihood of an offer (red). Your student will only be shown programs they are eligible to receive an offer for based on whether they participated in any required admissions screenings and if they met the threshold.

Original waitlists are those programs that you applied to in the Initial Application Process (was open from 9/21/22-12/8/22) and if an offer was not received, students either were automatically waitlisted for any programs that were listed above their offer (for ranked applications such as preschool, selective enrollment or high school) or they can be on multiple, independent waitlists for K-8th grade Choice programs. More info HERE.

Rolling waitlists (updated nightly) will run through the summer into the 20th day of the new school year for Selective Enrollment (SE) programs, through January 2024 for K-9th grade Choice programs, and until Spring 2024 for Preschool programs. You can only be on a Selective Enrollment waitlist if you have not accepted any SE offer, and you can remain on the waitlists for up to 20 Choice K-9th grade programs. Applicants can choose to remove schools from a waitlist if they are no longer interested or can add themselves to a waitlist if desired. Waitlists will re-sort every evening and those based on a point system can cause a student’s waitlist position to go up or down depending on the scores of new waitlist students. Slidedeck about Offer/Waitlists HERE and more info on rolling waitlists HERE.

Because CPS is funded on a per pupil spending model and their budgeting is set by the 20th day of school, most waitlist movement is seen at the end of the summer, just before school starts. Neighborhood & magnet cluster schools typically refrain from calling waitlist families until close to the start of school (Aug 21) and that can affect all other waitlists as well. Families should be ready to accept or decline a spot within 2 business days from receiving a call.

Families may need to stay patient, but much movement happens toward the end of the summer as public & private waitlists become more active at that time. Good luck to all families and don’t be surprised if your child is offered a spot at the start of the school year.

GoCPS K-9th Grade Notification Dates for 2023-2024

From a recent cps.edu newsletter: Release Dates Announced for GoCPS Offers 

GoCPS is now in the final stages of preparing offers for the 2023–24 school year. High school offers will be released on Friday, March 24, 2023 after 5 p.m., and elementary school offers will be released on Friday, April 21, 2023 after 5 p.m. Families who have completed an application should log into their GoCPS accounts to make sure that all information is correct. For questions, please call (773) 553-2060 or email gocps@cps.edu.

High School dates to note:

  • SEPTEMBER 21st, 2022 – Application Period Opens
  • OCTOBER 26th, 2022 – CPS High School Admissions Exam for CPS Students
  • NOVEMBER 5-6,12-13 – CPS High School Admissions Exam for Non-CPS Students
  • DECEMBER 8th, 2022 – Application Period Closes
  • MARCH 24th, 2023 – Results Released
  • MARCH 29th, 2023 – Principal Discretion Process Opens
  • APRIL 14th, 2023 – Accept/Decline Deadline
  • APRIL 14th, 2023 – Principal Discretion Application Closes
  • APRIL 24th, 2023 – Rolling Waitlist Process Opens
  • 2 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER OFFER ISSUED – Waitlist Accept/Decline Deadline
  • APRIL 28th, 2023 – Principal Discretion Results Released

Elementary School dates to note:

  • SEPTEMBER 21st, 2022 – Application Period Opens
  • DECEMBER 8th, 2022 – Application Period Closes
  • APRIL 21st, 2023 – Results Released
  • MAY 12th, 2023 – Accept/Decline Deadline
  • MAY 22nd, 2023 – Rolling Waitlist Process Opens
  • 2 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER OFFER ISSUED – Waitlist Accept/Decline Deadline

    Attend a virtual family training session to understand how to accept an offer, join a waitlist, and more: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScP4nL-dceMEg04Sa-rWK49DyJGDYYr_CHcpo8KOR2z3QLHxQ/viewform

    GoCPS Deadline for Fall 2023 Extended to 12/8/22 @ 5pm

    The GoCPS Kindergarten through 9th grade application portal for 2023-2024 has been extended to Thursday, December 8th at 5pm. https://www.cps.edu/gocps/

    A Reality Check on School Rankings

    A parent’s school search typically starts by sitting down at the computer and typing in “Best Elementary/High Schools” in your area. The results are populated with hits from sources such as GreatSchools, Niche, Schooldigger or School Sparrow, but what do these results mean, and should parents just add the #1 school to their list while ignoring the other schools closer or more familiar to them? How reliable are the ratings and how should a parent use them?

    The fact of the matter is that school ratings and rankings are a very messy, very inexact method to quantify schools. Because they are summarized in a “number” or “grade” or listed in a “ranking order”, parents tend to put undue emphasis on ratings/rankings yet aren’t aware of what is being measured. While test scores are typically the largest component to rankings, “School Fit” is much more than test performance and is ultimately a very personal matter that can even vary within a family from child to child. What truly qualifies as “best” for one family may not be well suited to another. While it is understandable that parents need some metric to start with, the metrics used can be skewed, out of date, or not reflective of the cohort your family will be entering the school with. 

    Common misunderstandings of rankings:

    • Ratings typically put the greatest emphasis on test scores, so better resourced families often have higher test scores and those family resources continue to benefit their children throughout their education
    • Ratings/rankings are not set in stone and can change as demographics in a school changes
    • Ratings typically reflect 3rd to 8th grade, so younger families should be wary of looking at metrics that may include a very different demographic than the one their family will be in school with
    • Ratings often lump in all programs within a school, so those with a higher population of students with learning needs may still be a great or even better option for your student but the “rankings” may not reflect the level of supports
    • Schools can and do change and schools in gentrifying areas may have more resources added to the school by the time your family will be attending

    Using rankings and ratings to be the first or only metric in choosing a school can also serve to negatively suppress positive changes at a school. Instead, we highly recommend that families tour their local school or those near them as well as talk to families with children their age who may have older siblings at the school. Reaching out to a school’s parent group or attending local school council (LSC) meetings is also a great way to get the “real time” scoop on a school. 

    It is somewhat pre-ordaining to use rankings to choose a school because if test scores are a big factor in ratings/rankings, then children who have advantages and resources from birth are certainly going to test better overall and the schools near them will reap the benefits of well resourced students and parents. While new parents may be more swayed by rankings, eventually parents come to realize that academics alone are not a single trait to look for in a school and social emotional factors as well as culture, climate and community are just as impactful yet are hard to capture in objective metrics because they are inherently more subjective. School visits can be invaluable to dispel pre-conceptions or help a family picture themselves in a school, but people gravitate toward or crave the easier route of following rankings.

    Parents who blindly follow blanket rankings/ratings may well pass up a school their student could grow and thrive at in favor of one that a 3rd party metric says is 10 spots “above” the other school yet that family needs to drive across town to attend. In the end there may not be any marked difference in outcome for their particular child attending one or the other, but the lifestyle impact is can be much greater at the farther school. One school’s overall scores may be lower because it serves a broader range of backgrounds or has more special needs students, but that doesn’t mean your child’s success can happen only from one and not the other. What your child can achieve and what they score on an exam does NOT have to be the “average” number. Ultimately, the greatest arbiter of student success is parent involvement in their children’s lives beyond one school over another school, public or private, city or suburbs.

    Article from https://www.npnparents.org/articles/a-reality-check-on-school-rankings-r410/

    CPS Application Dates for Fall 2023 Set For 9/14/22 – 12/2/22

    CPS Announced that GoCPS will be accepting applications for Fall 2023 entry from Wed, Sept 14th to Fri, Dec 2nd. From https://www.cps.edu/GoCPS

    Elementary School (K-8th grade programs including Suder & Drummond 3 & 4 year old programs) https://www.cps.edu/gocps/elementary-school/

    September 14th, 2022 – Application Period Opens
    December 2nd, 2022- – Application Period Closes
    TBD- Results Released
    TBD- Accept/Decline Deadline
    TBD- Waitlist Process Opens
    2 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER OFFER ISSUED- Waitlist Accept/Decline Deadline

    High School (9th grade entry) https://www.cps.edu/gocps/high-school/

    September 14th, 2022- Application Period Opens
    October 26th, 2022- CPS High School Admissions Exam for CPS Students
    11/5-6, 11/12-13 – CPS High School Admissions Exam for Non-CPS Students
    December 2nd, 2022- Application Period Closes
    TBD- Results Released
    TBD- Principal Discretion Process Opens
    TBD- Accept/Decline Deadline
    TBD- Principal Discretion Application Closes
    TBD- Waitlist Process Opens
    2 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER OFFER ISSUED- Waitlist Accept/Decline Deadline
    TBD- Principal Discretion Results Released

    CPS Elementary Round 1 Results 4/29/22

    GoCPS will release Round 1 offers for 2022-2023 Elementary Magnet (including Suder & Drummond), Open Enrollment, Magnet Cluster and Selective Enrollment Gifted, Classical and Academic Center programs on 4/29/22. The deadline to accept or decline offers is 5/13/22. https://go.cps.edu/

    View helpful Selection Videos HERE.

    Sign up for a Family Training webinar (4/19 @ 10am or 4/27 at 2pm) to understand offers via this LINK.

    GoCPS Fall 2022 Application Closes 12/15/21 @ 5pm

    Families interested in Chicago Public School programs for 3 year olds through 9th grade for the 2022-2023 school year must submit applications by 5pm on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021 at https://cps.schoolmint.com/login.

    • If your child will be 3 by Sept 1, 2022, then they can submit a CHOICE (lottery based) application for Drummond & Suder.
    • If your child will be 4 by Sept 1, 2022, then they can submit a CHOICE (lottery based) application for Inter-American.
    • If your child will be 5 by Sept 1, 2022 or applying to grades K-8, then they can submit up to 20 CHOICE (lottery) elementary applications for magnet, magnet cluster, and open enrollment elementary schools AND they can submit up to 6 SELECTIVE ENROLLMENT (test based) elementary applications for Classical and Regional Gifted Programs, as well as up to 6 Academic Centers (7th & 8th grade). Selective enrollment options will need to be ranked in order of preference and a test date must be scheduled. Elementary Choice programs do not have to be ranked and no test is required.
    • If your child is applying to 9th grade, then they can choose up to 20 CHOICE high school programs (some high schools have multiple programs within them such as International Baccalaureate, CTE, fine arts, magnet, etc) and up to 6 SELECTIVE ENROLLMENT programs. Both CHOICE and SELECTIVE ENROLLMENT high schools options must be ranked in order of preference, as as a single offer is given for each type. In many cases, a CPS HS Admissions Test must also be taken, and in some cases, additional screenings are required.

    This is also the deadline to add or subtract schools and re-rank any Selective Enrollment or high school choices. Any CPS testing dates must be requested by this deadline as well.

    Notifications should arrive in the spring, with high school notifications coming a month before elementary notifications. More information and FAQs for preschool, elementary and high school at https://go.cps.edu/

    One’s neighborhood school is always guaranteed and does not require an application.

    CPS 2022-2023 Applications are Now Open

    Chicago Public Schools are now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year until Dec. 15, 2021. Families can explore https://go.cps.edu/ to learn about the school options and request an account at https://cps.schoolmint.com/login. One account per family and each student can be added as they become eligible to apply to CPS programs. A CPS Student ID can be requested through the portal for any student not already in the CPS system.

    Always apply one year before a program begins, and CPS has a Sept 1st cutoff date to be eligible for preschool through 1st grade programs. An “age exception” is provided only for families with a fall birthday child who wants to start K or 1st grade early.

    You do NOT have to apply to your assigned neighborhood school and there is never a deadline to register at your neighborhood school. For all other programs, including a neighborhood school that is not your own, CPS allows for “Open Enrollment” and you can apply to programs for which your student is age-eligible or meets a pre-requisite via a GoCPS CHOICE (up to 20 lottery or minimal criteria based admission programs) and/or SEES (up to 6 ranked test based admission programs) application. Read more about CPS school types here: Elementary and High School.

    Scoring rubrics have been updated for this application cycle to reflect the discontinuation of NWEA MAP testing for 5th through 9th grade programs. There are no scoring rubrics and no cutoffs will be posted for K-8th grade Classical or Regional Gifted Center Selective Enrollment programs.

    Find helpful CPS FAQ’s on the application process HERE: https://go.cps.edu/about-gocps/faq/elementary (be sure to click on the proper tab: HS, Elem or Preschool)Each student can apply up to 20 CHOICE programs (multiple offers for elementary programs listed in no particular order, and single offer for ranked high school programs) AND up to 6 ranked Selective Enrollment programs (single offer for elementary or high school). If testing is required, you will be asked to choose a test date AFTER you choose the school programs that require testing.Good luck to families applying for Fall 2022 CPS programs! More info at https://go.cps.edu/about-gocps

    Spring 2021 CPS Elementary Notifications- Round 1

    Round 1 CPS Elementary Notifications were posted in the GoCPS portal for Choice (lottery) and/or Selective Enrollment (test based) selections. Students could be offered multiple Choice program offers but only ONE selective enrollment offer. A family’s neighborhood school is always guaranteed.

    Choice elementary offers are based on a lottery selection process and include magnet, magnet cluster (neighborhood w/focus area) and open enrollment (other neighborhood) schools. Drummond, Suder and Inter-American preschool programs are included in Choice schools. CPS Tiers and proximity are only considered for the entry year of a magnet program. All other programs conduct a general lottery (in some cases, a sibling lottery).

    Selective enrollment elementary offers are based on entrance testing and include Classical & Regional Gifted Centers (K or 1st through 8th), as well as Academic Centers (7th/8th). CPS Tiers are only considered for the entry year of these programs and offers are “single offer” only, based on a student’s score.

    Details, dates and Academic Center (7th grade) cutoff scores are posted on GoCPS. Helpful GoCPS videos are posted HERE (note: videos are slightly outdated since there are no longer International Gifted programs).

    • Round 1 accept/decline deadline is June 11
    • Round 1 waitlists open on June 16 (48 hour waitlist decision window)
    • Round 2 elementary applications (for programs with unfilled seats) open June 21-25
    • Round 2 results released & waitlists open July 16 (48 hour waitlist window)
    • Round 2  accept/decline deadline is July 23

    New applicants can request a CPS ID to apply to Round 2 (existing applicants do not need new CPS ID). Round 2 applications will open on June 21 for any schools with remaining open seats. Any unfilled seats may also be filled on an as available basis at the end of the summer by contacting a school you are interested in.

    Applicant families are encouraged to “tour” schools before decisions are returned.

    CPS 2020-2021 Applications are Open

    Apply now to high school, elementary school, and 3 magnet preschools via www.go.cps.edu now through Dec. 13, 2019. https://go.cps.edu/about-gocps

    Non-CPS Students: Register for 5-9th Grade CPS NWEA Testing

    Non-CPS students who are interested in applying for 5th-9th grade CPS programs for Fall 2020 should be sure to take the CPS administered NWEA Map tests.  CPS requires this qualifying test of reading and math to be taken by all non-CPS students applying to selective programs in those upper grades. Students can register by August 30 to take the tests on Sept. 21, 22, 28, 29 or Oct. 5 or 6.  All students who test by those dates will be able to use the online GoCPS application system.  All current CPS students will have their spring NWEA Map scores used for qualifications and rubric calculations. GoCPS applications are open 9/30/19-12/6/19.

    Spring 2019- CPS Elementary Notifications & Links

    First round CPS elementary school notifications were released at 5pm on Monday, April 22.

    Academic Centers (accelerated 7th/8th grade programs in high schools) have cutoff scores published here: GoCPS AC Cutoff Scores 2019-2020

    All other elementary Gifted or Classical School programs do not publish cutoff scores. These offers are “single choice” and you can only receive one offer of SEES (selective enrollment elementary schools).

    Magnet, magnet cluster & open enrollment schools are strictly lottery based and will have waitlist numbers published. These are multiple offer programs so you can be offered multiple schools and accept one yet be offered another option later and can change your acceptance then.

    GoCPS 2019-2020 Elementary Selection & Notification FAQs

    CPS Elem from Fall 2017: Continuing the Discussion from CPSO

    CPS Closed their applications for the 2018-2019 Year on Dec. 22, 2017.

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