High Schools in Chicago - Application Process

Ranked #4,369 in Education, #104,348 overall

An overview of the high schools in Chicago and the application process for enrollment

Selecting which Chicago high school would be the best match for your student is a challenge: There are so many options available. Navigating the admissions policy is another hurdle you have to cross when enrolling your Chicago 8th grader at a Chicago high school. All of the schools hold open house events beginning in October and continuing through January in some instances. Middle schools hold high school fairs for their 8th graders to help them learn about the options available to them for high school. The Office of Academic Enhancement has made the process for applying to Selective Enrollment schools, Military Academies and Career and Technical Information (CTE) Colleges and Academies a little easier by putting the application online and having everything in one location. There are a vast number of good students looking for a good high school in Chicago though, and not enough available slots at the city's most coveted schools. Your Chicago high school search shouldn't overlook the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs, Fine Arts Programs, Charter Schools and other choices. This lens will provide a central point for you to start your own high school search from.

What Schools Can You Apply For Online At The Office of Academic Enhancement's Website

CPS Chicago Selective Enrollment High School, Military Academies and Career & Technical Academies

order a term paperThe Chicago Public Schools' CPS Office of Academic Enhancement has somewhat simplified the Chicago CPS High School application process with its online applications. While you can still apply for these schools and programs by mailing a paper application, the process can now also be completed online.

The types of schools that can be applied to online through this online application process is NOT COMPREHENSIVE. The following schools are represented by the OAE's online application process, and, depending on the particular program will require additional testing, interviews, Letters of Interest and teacher recommendation letters. The initial application for these schools can be conducted entirely online however.


  • Selective Enrollment High Schools


    Choose up to 6 (out of 9 total schools including Brooks College Prep, Jones College Prep, King College Prep, Lane Tech, Lindblom Math & Science Academy, Northside College Prep, Payton College Prep, Westinghouse and Young Magnet School) and rate them by preference. The Office of Academic Enhancement will assess your 7th grade core grades, 7th grade ISAT results and socio-economic data for this application. After submitting your choices, you will be assigned a test date. Your test date will be communicated to you through a letter delivered by your school's guidance counselor. The Entrance Exam score you receive will be combined with the earlier mentioned factors when the schools choose whether or not to offer you a spot at with them.

    * To be eligible to test for selective enrollment high schools in Chicago, the student must have received stanine scores of at least 5 in both math and reading for the 7th Grade ISAT tests. If the student has an IEP or 504 plan or is enrolled in an ESL-program, the student must have a combined stanine of 10 when adding both the math and reading stanine scores from 7th Grade ISAT result (ie a reading stanine of 4 with a math stanine of 6 or a reading stanine of 7 with a math stanine of 3).

  • Military Academies


    Choose up to 4 (out of total schools including Air Force Academy, Carver Military Academy, Chicago Military Academy, Marine Military Academy, Phoenix Military Academy, Rickover Naval Academy ) and rate them by preference. The Office of Academic Enhancement will assess 7th grade ISAT results. If your application meets the initial requirements, you will be invited to interview with the school receiving your highest preference.

    * To be eligible to interview for Military Academies in Chicago, the student must have received combined stanine scores of at least 10 in both math and reading for the 7th Grade ISAT tests. This combined stanine score of 10 must be achieved when adding both the math and reading stanine scores from 7th Grade ISAT result (ie a reading stanine of 4 and a math stanine of 6 or a reading stanine of 7 and a math stanine of 3).

  • Career & Technical Academies


    Choose up to 5 Career and Technical Academies (out of possible schools including: Austin Polytech, Crane, Curie, Dunbar, Fenger, Harlan, Harper, Juarez, Julian, Manley, Marshall, Mather, Orr, Schurz, Sullivan and Wells) and rate them by preference.

    * For your application to be complete to the Selective Academies of Law & Public Safety, Medical & Health Careers, Cisco Networking and Database Programming courses, you MUST complete and mail to the Office of Academic Enhancement a 1-page, typewritten "Statement of Interest" for each program you select. Additionally, these Selective Academies require a recommendation letter and interview to complete your application to them. Preference is given to students with a minimum stanine score of 5 in both reading and math, with a minimum of 30% of the seats going to students who live inside the school's attendance area.

How to Calculate Stanine Scores

A general view

This area was particularly problematic for me to figure out. Stanine scores were often referenced, but no one had a clear answer as to where I could find my son's stanines. Through many google searches I came across the random fact that a percentile ranking of 77% equated to a stanine score of 77. As many schools simply require a minimum stanine score of 5, with other more selective programs requiring a stanine score of 7, I was assured national percentiles rankings in the 80s and higher were acceptable. Exploring the matter further though, I phoned the Illinois State Board of Education's Chicago Office and asked them if I could find a state assigned stanine score for a child's ISAT test results. The gentleman I spoke with said the answer could be found simply by googling "stanine" and using the chart provided on wikipedia to translate the answers. Here is what that information produces


Stanine 1 - Up to the 4th percentile
Stanine 2 - 5th to 11th percentile
Stanine 3 - 12th to 23rd percentile
Stanine 4 - 24th to 40th percentile
Stanine 5 - 41st to 60th percentile
Stanine 6 - 61st to 77th percentile
Stanine 7 - 78th to 89th percentile
Stanine 8 - 90th to 96th percentile
Stanine 9 - 97th percentile and upwards

ISAT Percentiles vs Stanine Scores

Chicago CPS Selective Enrollment High School generally use ISAT Percentiles whereas International Baccalaureate programs may use Stanine Scores.

PIN Number

To apply for these high schools online, first request a PIN number to be mailed to you. Your PIN allows you to complete your online applications, but YOU MUST REQUEST YOUR PIN AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE APPLICATION DEADLINE to use this online application.

Selective Enrollment Schools, Military Academies and Career & Technical Academies

Alibris Online Books and MusicSome schools deadlines (such as Lincoln Park High School's International Baccalaureate program) have earlier deadlines for application submission. Many other schools vary between having application deadlines of December 17 and December 18. Some applications must be sealed by either the student's principal or guidance counselor. Most applications require the guidance counselor to attach the student's 7th grade ISAT results and report card. Some may require an essay from the student and/or recommendation letters from teachers of core subjects, principals or guidance counselors. At any rate, be sure to begin applying for your high schools choices well before the due date. (In 2010, CPS schools and the Office of Academic Enhancement began accepting high school applications on October 1.)

Countdown to Chicago CPS High School Applications Must Be Postmarked

Chicago CPS High School Applications Must Be Postmarked: December 17, 2010

CPS Chicago Public High School and IB Programs - Numbers Applied and Numbers Admitted 2008

Entry to Chicago's top schools is highly selective.

It is sobering to look at the numbers of students who tested for CPS Chicago Public Schools High Schools and International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs compared to how many students are actually admitted to these programs and schools. Here is the information I was able to find out from the schools' official websites and other reporting.

CPS Selective Enrollment High Schools - Tests vs. Acceptances

  • Brooks College Prep - 2,681 tested, 198 accepted

  • Jones College Prep - 5,730 tested, 213 accepted

  • King College Prep - 2,447 tested, 244 accepted

  • Lane Tech - 8,052 tested, 1,106 accepted

  • Lindblom College Prep - 1,891 tested, 176 accepted

  • Northside College Prep - 5,345 tested, 257 accepted

  • Payton College Prep - 7,619 tested, 234 accepted

  • Young Magnet - 9,174 tested, 504 accepted

CPS Office of Academic Enhancement in the News

The admissions policy (especially 'Principals Choice', the Census Tract selection criteria vs racial information, and "the list")

The process for admissions to the Chicago CPS Selective Enrollment high schools often makes the news. Hot topics have been the 'Principals Choice' reserved spaces, the list of people who had asked for preferential selection in the Selective Enrollment applications and the new Census Tract criteria that is replacing the former racial / ethnic criteria. What is in the news today regarding the application process for Chicago's CPS Selective Enrollment High Schools?

buy essays online
Selective enrollment program to be added at South Shore International College Prep
Chicago Public Schools this fall is expected to add 100 new selective enrollment seats at the new South Shore International College Prep, the district said. Competition for getting into selective enrollment high schools like Northside and Walter Payton ...
South Shore Prep School To Add Coveted Seats
CHICAGO (CBS) ? Getting into selective-enrollment public high schools in Chicago is difficult, but it may get a little easier next year. As WBBM Newsradio's Dave Marsett reports, the Chicago Tribune says the Chicago Public Schools plans this fall to ...
High school hopes to change image two years after beating death
In recent years, Chicago Public Schools has opened a number of new selective, magnet and charter high schools. Those schools pull kids away from their neighborhood schools, like Fenger. Neighborhood schools can become underenrolled and could face ...
Lane Tech LSC Chooses New Principal, Promotes From Within
... student population (4000+ enrollment), standing as a selective enrollment school, new Academic Center for seventh- and eighth- graders, and proud athletic history as the ?School of Champions,? Lane is a unique animal among Chicago's high schools.

7th Grade

is the year (along with the 1st quarter of 8th grade) that you will receive points towards your high school application.

7th Grade Report Card

And the 1st quarter of 8th Grade

A spot in one of Chicago's 9 esteemed Selective Enrollment High Schools is offered partially due to an average of the student's grades in reading, math, science and social sciences during the 7th grade year and also including the 1st quarter of their 8th grade year. Attaining "straight A's" in these subjects for the time period sampled is almost a requirement to secure a spot at one of the city's most coveted selective enrollment high schools.

Using the CPS point system, there is a total of 300 points available for the student's report card averages.

The most important grades (those counting towards your 300 possible points) are:

  • Reading

  • Math

  • Science

  • Social Sciences

Attendance Records

No longer count towards your high school "score". This make your ISAT results, grades, census-tract info and entrance exam results count more though.

Your Address' Census Tract Info

A new criteria for admissions, replacing the old racial & ethnic criteria

The Office for Academic Enhancement also provides an online tool for determining your socio-economic "tier" through your current census tract information.

Steps to find your Tier:
  • Visit the Census Bureau's link to determine your geographic area and enter your address in the blank spaces, leaving all other choices as they are.

  • Your census tract number is located in the 4th line down (a a 4-digit number).your census tract data

  • Note the 4-digit census tract identifier you identified in the previous step. Follow the US Census Bureau's link to discover socio-economic data for your census tract. To display the information for your specific census tract, enter your 4-digit census tract number in the "find" box (keyboard shortcut [ctrl]+f) and hit your keyboard's [Enter] key. The line containing your census tract's socio-economic data will have its identifier highlighted.
    US census socio economic data for census tracts

  • The information for your census tract will span two pages.
    6-factor socio-economic tier



** Note: Your 4-digit census tract number will have 2 zero's attached to the end on the socio-economic data charts, thus changing a census tract of "2002" to a "200200" in the socio-economic data charts.

ISAT Testing

Percentile Ranks and Stanine Scores

Whether or not your child can sit for an entry exam at one of Chicago's CPS Selective Enrollment schools depends partially on their 7th grade Illinois Standards Achievement (ISAT) results. The Illinois State Board of Education has more information about how to interpret your child's ISAT results available online. The scores that are referenced from the student's 7th grade ISAT tests are the following:

  • Overall Score - The student's overall score calculates all of the questions on the test and how many of them the student answered correctly. Test scores fall into one of four categories: exceeds standards, meets standards, below standards and academic warning.

  • National Percentile Rank (NPR) - The student's National Percentage Rank score compares the students results to results of children from the same grade level nationally. For example, an NPR score of 75% indicates the student performed better than 75% of other students nationally. (This score is based only on the first 30 questions in Section 1 of each testing area. These first 30 questions are an abbreviated version of the Stanford 10 (SAT 10).)

  • Subject Specific Results - Each of the three subjects tested (Reading, Math and Science) are given expanded coverage for results. Each subheading under the subject lists the number of multiple-choice questions answered correctly out of the total number of questions asked. The student's individual results are compared to averages of those from: the school, the district and the state. Extended-Response questions for the Reading section and Short- Answer questions for the math section are given the same coverage. Finally, the student's Lexile Framework for reading is given, showing which level of books is most appropriate for their reading ability.

The OAE's Point Calculator Tool

Reading / Science / Social Science / Math grades, ISAT results and your Census Tract Data

The Office of Academic Enhancement provides an online tool for calculating your points earned through your 7th grade core subjects, 7th Grade ISAT test and Census Tract Data. The Office of Academic Enhancement suggests you use this tool to gauge the suitability of a school to the student, as well as predict the liklihood that student will get accepted to a school.

Information you will need to use the Office Of Academic Enhancement's Point Calculator Tool:

  • 7th Grade ISAT percentile ranking for Reading

  • 7th Grade ISAT percentile ranking for Math

  • 7th Grade Average Grade for Reading

  • 7th Grade Average Grade for Math

  • 7th Grade Average Grade for Science

  • 7th Grade Average Grade for Social Sciences

  • Socio-Economic Tier (Calculated from your address' census tract data information)

Selective Enrollment Testing 2010

is held on December 11, December 18 and every Saturday in January. Be sure to let the OAE know if you haven't been assigned a test date as soon as possible - don't wait until the end of February!

Test Prep Books Available on eBay

ACT and SAT prep books have been recommended

While no official recommendations have been made as to how you can prepare for the Selective Enrollment High School Exam, I have heard its a good idea to use SAT / ACT prep books. It won't hurt to use guides for these exams in your preparations: you will have to take these tests during your senior year of high school anyways for admission to a college or university.
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Who Applied For Options For Knowledge Schools in 2010

Did you?

Did you apply online or by submitting the paper form for Selective Enrollment high schools, Military Academies or Career & Technical Academies in the 2010-2011 school year, hoping for enrollment in one of these schools for the 2011-2012 school year? Lets see how many of your fellow Chicagoans have also done so.

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Invited to your CPS Chicago Public High Schools for the 2011 - 2012 School Year

Did you get accepted to the schools you applied to?

If you applied to CPS Chicago's selective enrollment, military academy or career & technical academies and tested or interviewed, were you offered a position at your schools of choice?

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CPS Selective Enrollment High Schools

Applications are coordinated through Chicago's Office of Academic Enhancement

Apply for these Selective Enrollment College Prep High Schools online at the Chicago Office of Academic Enhancements online application page. You may also print or request a paper application to submit.

Chicago CPS Selective Enrollment High School Campuses

Whitney M. Young Magnet School by Zol87
NorthsidePrepBank-IMG_0486 by kgander
Jones College Prep by laschofield2001
Westinghouse by laschofield2001
King by laschofield2001
Lindblom Math And Science Academy by laschofield2001
Payton College Prep by laschofield2001
Lane Tech by laschofield2001
curated content from Flickr

Addresses and Phone Number for CPS Selective Enrollment High Schools

With links to the schools' websites and Principals - alphabetically listed

CPS Selective Enrollment High Schools In Chicago

More Detailed Information For You To View The Options

I've put together another lens that deals specifically with the application process for Chicago CPS' 9 Selective Enrollment High Schools with maps, videos, tweets and the latest news and blogs on each of the individual schools. Visit this page too for more detailed information on these 9 Selective Enrollment High Schools.
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Whitney M. Young Alumni

First Lady Michelle Obama is a 1981 graduate of Whitney M. Young High School.

Chicago CPS Public High School Military Academies

Applications are coordinated through Chicago's Office of Academic Enhancement

Apply for these Chicago Military Academies online at the Chicago Office of Academic Enhancements online application page. You may also print or request a paper application to submit.

Chicago CPS Military Academy Campuses

Senn High School by laschofield2001
curated content from Flickr

Adresses and phone numbers for CPS Public Military Academy High Schools in Chicago

With links to the schools' websites and Principals - alphabetically listed


  • Air Force Academy High School - (Principal - Capt. Yashika Tippett-Eggleston) - 1301 W 14th St., Chicago, IL 60608 - tel:773.534.7706

  • Carver Military Academy - (Principal - Stephen Flisk) - 13100 S. Doty Rd., Chicago, IL 60827 - tel: 773.535.5250

  • Chicago Military Academy - Bronzeville - (Principal or Academy Superintendent - R.W. Miller) - 3519 S. Giles St., Chicago, IL 60653 - tel: 773.534.9750

  • Marine Military Academy - (Principal or Superintendent - Mr. Paul Stroh) - 145 S. Campbell Ave., Chicago, IL 60612 - tel: 773.534.7818

  • Phoenix Military Academy - (Principal or Academy Superintendent - Ferdinand Wipachit) - 145 S. Campbell Ave., Chicago, IL 60612 - tel: 773.534.7275

  • Rickover Naval Academy - (Principal or Academy Superintendent - Mr. M. Biela) - 5900 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago, IL 60660 - tel: 773.534.2890

CPS Chicago CTE College & Career Academies

Allied Health, Architecture, Automotive Technology, Business & Finance, Broadcast Technology & Digital Media, CISCO Networking IT, Construction & Architecture, Cosmetology, Culinary & Hospitality, Database Programming IT, Design, Early Childhood Education

Apply for these Chicago CPS Career and Technical (CTE) College & Career Academies (CCA) online at the Chicago Office of Academic Enhancements online application page. You may also print or request a paper application to submit.

Chicago CPS Career & Technical Academy High Schools

Schurz High School by laschofield2001
curated content from Flickr

Addresses and phone number for CPS Career & Technical (CTE) Academies

With links to the schools' websites and Principals - alphabetically listed


  • Austin Polytechnical Academy - (Principal - Mr. Fabby Williams) - 231 N. Pine Ave., Chicago, IL 60644 - tel:773.534.6301
    Pre-Engineering

  • Crane High School - (Principal - ) - 2245 W. Jackson St., Chicago, IL 60612 - tel: 773.534.7550
    Allied Health, Automotive Technology, Information Technology, Medical & Health Careers

  • Curie Metro High School - (Principal -) - 4959 S Archer, Chicago, IL 60632 - tel: 773.535.2100
    Business & Finance, Culinary & Hospitality, Database Programming IT, Design, Information Technology, Manufacturing & Auto Technology, Teaching & Early Childhood Education

  • Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School - (Principal -) - 3000 S King Dr., Chicago, IL 60616- tel: 773.534.9000
    Allied Health, Automotive Technology, Construction & Architecture, Cosmetology, Culinary & Hospitality, Medical & Health Careers

  • Christian Fenger Academy High School - (Principal - Elizabeth Dozier) - 11220 S Wallace Ave., Chicago, IL 60628 - tel: 773.535.5430
    Construction & Architecture, Culinary & Hospitality

  • Harlan Community Academy High School - (Principal - Reginald Evans) - 19652 S Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60628 - tel: 773.535.5061
    Information Technology, CISCO Networking IT

  • Harper High School - (Principal - Leonetta C. Sanders) - 6520 S Wood St., Chicago, IL 60636 - tel: 773.535.9150
    Construction & Architecture, Culinary & Hospitality

  • Benito Juarez Community Academy High School - (Principal - Juan Carlos Ocon) - 2150 S Laflin St., Chicago, IL 60608 - tel: 773.534.7030
    Allied Health, Architecture, Culinary & Hospitality, Information Technology, Medical & Health Careers

  • Percy L. Julian High School - (Principal - Careda Taylor) - 10330 S Elizabeth St., Chicago, IL 60643 - tel: 773.535.5170
    Allied Health, Broadcast Technology & Digital Media, Business & Finance, Medical & Health Careers

  • Manley Career Academy High School - (Principal - James M. Walton, Jr.) - 2935 W Polk St., Chicago, IL 60612 - tel: 773.534.6900
    Culinary & Hospitality, Medical Assistant

  • Marshall Metro High School - (Principal - Kenyatta Stansberry) - 3250 W Adams St., Chicago, IL 60624 - tel: 773.534.6455
    Agricultural Education, Allied Health, Culinary

  • Mather High School - (Principal - Chris Jones) - 5835 N Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60659 - tel: 773.534.2350
    Information Technology, Law & Public Safety

  • Orr Academy High School - (Principal - Jammie Poole, Jr.) - 730 N Pulaski Rd., Chicago, IL 60624 - tel: 773.746.5354
    Early Childhood Education, Information Technology

  • Schurz High School - (Principal - Mary Ann Folino) - 3601 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60641 - tel: 773.534.3420
    Automotive Technology, Business & Finance

  • Sullivan High School - (Principal - Dr. Joseph P. Atria) - 6631 N Bosworth Ave., Chicago, IL 60626 - tel: 773.534.2000
    Allied Health, Medical & Health Careers

  • Wells Community Academy High School - (Principal - Ernesto Matias) - 936 N Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60622 - tel: 773.534.7010
    Law & Public Safety, Logistics, Teaching

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programmes

IB Programs Offered In Chicago High Schools

Apply for these Chicago CPS International Baccalaureate Programs with the specific application available for each school. These applications can be downloaded online from the schools' websites or requested from your school counselor's office as well as at the various high school fairs held throughout the year.

One exception to this is if you are applying to the IB program at Ogden International: They accept the standard Options For Knowledge Application, with no ISAT or report cards needing to be attached. While 7th grade ISAT results and report card grades DO count for this International Baccalaureate program, their application is still conducted via an open lottery. If you are selected from the open lottery held from the Options for Knowledge applicants, you will be asked to complete a more detailed application that will require 7th grade academic scores.

CPS Chicago High Schools featuring International Baccalaureate Programs

Senn High School by laschofield2001
curated content from Flickr

Addresses and Phone Numbers for CPS International Baccalaureate Programs

With links to the schools' websites and IB Coordinators, listed alphabetically

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  • Amundsen High School - (MYP Coordinator: Ms. Tanya Baxter, DP Coordinator: Mr. Minh Nguyen) -5110 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60625 - tel:773.534.2320

  • Bogan Technical High School - (MYP Coordinator: Ms. Linda Mayfield, DP Coordinator: Ms. Diane Williams) - 3939 W 79th St., Chicago, IL 60652 - tel: 773.535.2180

  • Clark, M. Academic Prepatory Magnet High School - (MYP Coordinator: Janice Stewart or Steven Waryjas) - 5101 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60644 - tel: 773.534.6292

  • Marie Curie Metro High School - (Coordinator - Sharyl Barnes) - 4959 S. Archer Ave., Chicago, IL 60632 - tel: 773.535.9837

  • Hyde Park High School - (IB Coordinator - Debra Fenwick) - 6220 S. Stony Island Ave., Chicago, IL 60637 - tel: 773.535.0897

  • Kelly High School - 4136 S California Ave., Chicago, IL 60632 - tel: 773.535.4900

  • Lincoln Park High School - 2001 N. Orchard St., Chicago, IL 60614 - tel: 773.534.8149

  • Morgan Park High School - 1744 W. Pryor Ave., Chicago, IL 60643 - tel: 773.534.6400

  • Ogden International School of Chicago/a> - 1250 W. Erie St., Chicago, IL 60642 - tel: 773.534.6400

  • Prosser Career Academy - (IB Coordinators: Jessica Stephenson or Mariana Jennings) - 2148 N Long , Chicago, IL 60639 - tel: 773.534.3310

  • Senn High School - (MYP Coordinator: David Gregg, DP Coordinator: Ms. Claire Saura) - 5900 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago, IL 60660 - tel: 773.534.2365

  • Steinmetz High School - (MYP Coordinator: Ms. Carol Mittleman, DP Coordinator: Ms. Nancyanne Ferrarini) - 3030 N Mobile Ave., Chicago, IL 60634 - tel: 773.534.2911

  • Taft High School - (Coordinator: Irene Kondos) - 6530 W Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, IL 60631 - tel: 773.534.1027

CPS Fine & Performing Arts Schools in Chicago

Blogging About Chicago's CPS Office of Academic Enhancement

Selective Enrollment High Schools, Military Academies and Career & Technical Academies

Chicago parents as well as students put a lot of time and effort into the application process for the CPS Chicago High Schools. Without a question of doubt, some will be blogging about the Office of Academic Enhancement and its policies. What is the latest word on Chicago CPS High Schools in the blogs?
Selective enrollment program to be added at South Shore International College Prep
Chicago Public Schools this fall is expected to add 100 new selective enrollment seats at the new South Shore International College Prep, the district said. Competition for getting into selective enrollment high schools like Northside and Walter Payton ...
North Shore college targets CPS students
In turn, the college ? an idyllic campus of green grass and brick buildings ? would gain a more diverse student body as it sought to increase enrollment. It worked. On Saturday, the first class of 15 scholars are set to graduate, many of them the ...
Building better city schools
We have expanded magnet, selective enrollment, and Academy for Urban School Leadership turnaround schools. We have expanded the International Baccalaureate program to five new schools. I recently met Diego Frias, an IB program graduate from Curie High ...
Lane Tech LSC Chooses New Principal, Promotes From Within
With its large and diverse student population (4000+ enrollment), standing as a selective enrollment school, new Academic Center for seventh- and eighth- graders, and proud athletic history as the ?School of Champions,? Lane is a unique animal among ...

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Bookmark this reference page for the Chicago Public High Schools

Don't lose this page. Bookmark it so you can refer to it throughout the lengthy application process for the CPS Chicago Public High Schools. Keep on top of the latest news, quickly find directions to your schools of choice, check out the Open House Dates, catch the latest tweets, etc...

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Your thoughts on CPS' Enrollment Process

Do you find the applications confusing, unfair or time consuming?

Helping your middle-school child apply to a good high school in the City of Chicago is a daunting task. There are a multitude of choices, separate applications to fill out, a confusing admissions policy, a large city with lots of traffic to estimate how your child will commute to school through and some feel an overall unfair selection process. Have you been through the high school application process in Chicago? What are you thoughts?

  • GayleMcLaughlin Jan 25, 2012 @ 1:25 pm | delete
    I have been in education for over 30 years and had no idea some cities had application processes for high school. I learn something new all the time!
  • LauraSchofield Jan 25, 2012 @ 1:30 pm | delete
    Its a real involved process. The applications are so competitive. You can still go to high school in Chicago at your local school if you aren't accepted to an alternate program. The quality of schooling offered at the purely 'local' schools is vastly inferior to the schools requiring an application however.
  • jimmyworldstar Dec 13, 2011 @ 3:24 pm | delete
    Great knowledge to have but I don't live in Chicago. I didn't know military academies had such stringent requirements to enter though.
  • LauraSchofield Jan 25, 2012 @ 1:32 pm | delete
    The Chicago Military Academies are fine schools! My son had a tough time deciding between the Selective Enrollment school he was offered a spot at (Westinghouse) and the Military Academy at Senn. In the end he chose Westinghouse, but I think it was a very hard decision for him.

Other Lenses That Might Be Of Interest To Those Applying To Chicago High Schools

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Sources Cited

In addition to the schools official websites

Here are the sources I referenced while compiling this information on the CPS Chicago Public High Schools application processes.

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LauraSchofield

In 2010, Laura Schofield helped her son apply to a wide variety of Chicago public high schools. This quest toook much background research and Schofield... more »

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