CPS High Schools Resources

Chicago Public School (CPS) Application Process: 

  • There is ONE application for all CPS schools, and a single entrance exam for all selective enrollment high schools. 

  • CPS provides specific directions for non-CPS students.

  • You may rank up to 20 CPS choices, including 6 Selective Enrollment High Schools. 

  • There is ONE test all students will take (who are interested in ANY CPS school)

  • The results of the selection process are sent in late spring. Applicants who have been selected for admission also receive an information packet from the schools that selected the them. 

  • Applicants have approximately two weeks to accept an offer of admission. Failure to respond to the selective enrollment high school by the deadline date results in a loss of admission to that school. 

  • CPS administers its own version of a standardized test/entrance exam and does not release the type/name of the test. The entrance exam is approximately 3 hours long. It includes reading comprehension, vocabulary, language arts (grammar) and math word problems. Calculators are not allowed (unless it is an accommodation on the student’s IEP). 

Changing Your Program Rankings

  • You will be asked to select and rank up to 20 non-selective enrollment programs, including 6 selective enrollment schools

  • Even after you submit your application, you can make changes to your rankings up until February

 Selective Enrollment

  • Designed for academically advanced students (honors, AP courses)

  • Selective enrollment CPS schools: Lane Tech, Walter Payton, Jones College Prep, Northside College Prep, Whitney Young

Criteria for Admissions

  • Selection based on a 900 point scale:

    • CPS entrance exam (450 points)

    • 7th grade cumulative grades (language arts, math, science, social science) 450 points

  • First 30% of seats filled by rank score

  • Remaining seats divided equally among top students in four tiers.

  • No sibling preference

  • No consideration for proximity to school

  • Principal discretion allows principals of selective enrollment high schools to fill seats outside selection process.

Magnet Program Selection Process  

  • Magnet Programs: Fine/performing arts, engineering and agricultural sciences

  • Senn High School: evaluated by fine/performing arts through audition and portfolio review

  • Von Steuben Scholars Program: evaluated by NWEA scores, teacher recommendation, essay

  • Disney II: arts and technology, evaluated by current enrollment, sibling enrollment, proximity to Lawndale facility, tier distribution

  • This is a computerized lottery system and siblings are accepted first.

  • You can apply to up to 8 schools.

  • Those who haven’t already applied online can apply by paper application by Dec. 14. Contact the Office of Access and Enrollment: 773.553.2060; gocps@cps.edu.

International Baccalaureate Program Selection Process

The International Baccalaureate (IB), founded in Geneva, Switzerland, is a nonprofit educational foundation that works with over 3,700 schools in 147 countries to develop and offer four challenging programs to more than 1.1 million students.

CPS IB schools: Lincoln Park High School; Senn High School, Amundsen High School; Schurz High School

  • No additional exams are required

  • It is REQUIRED to attend an Information Session in order to be considered for an IB program

  • Those who haven’t already applied online can apply by paper application by Dec. 14. Contact the Office of Access and Enrollment: 773.553.2060; gocps@cps.edu.

  • Selection based on overall applicant score:

    • CPS entrance exam (450 points)

    • 7th grade cumulative grades (reading, math, science, social science) (450 points)

  • Each IB high school selects its own minimum cutoff score for selecting students

8th Grade Graduate, High School ReadindessCarolina Blazkow