1. High Schools and Applications

2. What do we already know?
What do you know about different types of high schools? What is one high school you want to go to? Why?

3. Eligibility Letter
All 8th grade CPS students receive an eligibility letter
These letters contain:
Your personal identification number (PIN)
7th grade final scores
NWEA Scores
Programs you are eligible to apply for (CTE, selective enrollment, IB, etc.)
Use your PIN to login to to apply for schools, sign up for selective enrollment testing, sign up for IB information sessions, schedule magnet auditions, etc.

4. Selective Enrollment

5. Selective Enrollment Designed for academically advanced students
Offer primarily honors and AP courses
Admissions testing required

6. Selective Enrollment Application
One application per student
Admissions testing is required.
Apply to up to six schools.
Apply online at
Schedule a test time first

7. Selective Enrollment Exam
The Selective Enrollment High Schools admissions exam is approximately three hours long The exam covers four subject areas: reading comprehension, vocabulary, language arts (grammar), and math word problems.
Test dates: December 17th, January 21st, January 28th, and February 4th

8. Selective Enrollment Selection
Selection is based on a 900-point scale
NWEA scores: 300 points
7th grade grades: 300 points
Admissions test: 300 points
No sibling preference or consideration of proximity.
Socioeconomic status taken into consideration
No waitlist

9. Military Academies

10. Military Academies
Offer rigorous and relevant college preparatory curriculum.
Each academy focuses on a different branch of the military.
There is no expectation for students to enter the military after graduation.
Focus on leadership and citizenship
Each academy has a small team of retired military personnel who are branch certified instructors.

11. Military Academy Application
One application per student
Attendance at ONE information session is required (even if you apply to more than one Military Academy).
Schedule your appointment at an information session online.
Apply to up to four schools
Apply online at apply.cps.edu

12. Military Academy Selection
Students are selected based on the following things which add up to 500 points:
7th grade final grades (150 points)
7th grade NWEA test scores (150 points)
Two-part questionnaire (50 points for each part), and essay (100 points): completed at required information session

13. Magnet Schools and Programs

14. Magnet Schools and Programs
Offer specialty programs in areas including fine and performing arts, engineering, and agricultural sciences.
Students must pre-qualify to participate in the selection process. Schools and programs vary as to their requirements to apply.

15. Magnet School/Program Application
One application per student
Apply to up to eight schools/programs
Apply online at apply.cps.edu
If you are applying to Curie select the type of fine and performing arts program in which you are interested. If you do not select a program type, you will not be included in the selection process.

16. Magnet Schools/Program Selection
For most Magnet High Schools and Programs, students are selected through a computerized lottery.
Sibling lotteries
Proximity lotteries- for those that don’t have an attendance boundary. Lottery is for applicants who live within a 2.5 mile radius of the school
General lottery
There are two exceptions:
Senn Arts Program: Eligible students are selected through an audition and/or portfolio process. Schedule audition or portfolio review online
Von Steuben Scholars Program: Eligible students are selected based on test scores, GPA, teacher recommendations, and an essay.
After available seats are filled, nonselected students are placed on waitlists.
Waitlists are managed by the school.

17. International Baccalaureate

18. What is IB?
High quality education that encourages international-mindedness and a positive attitude to learning.
Unique academic rigor and emphasis on students’ personal development
Middle Year Program- grades 9 & 10; Diploma Program grades 11 & 12

19. IB Application One application per student
Attendance at an Information Session is required by each IB School. Students must be eligible to attend an Information Session, based on their seventh grade test scores and grades.
Schedule your Information Session appointments when you are apply online.
Apply to up to six schools/programs

20. IB Selection
Each school identifies a minimum cutoff score for selections and applicants meeting or exceeding this score will receive an offer. (NOTE: this cutoff score may be higher than the cutoff score for the Information Session.)
If you live in a school’s attendance area or overlay boundary, you will receive 50 additional points after attending the Information Session.
There are no waitlists.
If you are not selected for an IB High School, it is possible for you to be contacted later in the year for a second-round process.

21. CTE- College and Career Academies

22. CTE Programs Prepare students for college and career success.
Offer hands-on training in various industries.
Ex: Health science, carpentry, business, broadcast technology, web design, etc.
May give students opportunities to earn college credit and participate in job shadows and internships.

23. CTE Application One application per student
Apply to up to five academies
Apply online at apply.cps.edu
The Lottery Academies do not have minimum eligibility requirements.
Hancock and Jones requires minimum NWEA percentile of 24 in both reading comprehension and total math

24. CTE Selection
Lottery Academies: select students through a computerized lottery, preference to students with high scores and grades
Selective Academies: (Health Sciences, Law & Public Safety, Pre-Engineering, IT – Cisco and IT – Database Programming) select students based on points. Points are assigned to 7th grade final GPA and percentile.
Jones: Total possible points 600 based on 7thgrade final grades and 7thgrade NWEA percentile in reading comprehension and total math. Ranked from high to low with preference given to students within the defined preference overlay boundary.
After seats at each school are filled, non-selected students remain in an applicant pool. Students are ranked according to preference group and attendance area status.

25. Charter/Private/Other Neighborhood Schools

26. Other Vary based on the school’s application process.
Charter schools have separate applications, but deadlines are generally later.
Some private schools have entrance tests (ex: St. Laurence, Our Lady of Tepeyac HS, St. Ignatius, etc.). Some do not (ex: Cristo Rey, Christ the King, etc.)

27. Scholarships Start to look at scholarships soon
Daniel Murphy Scholarship: for students who demonstrate financial need, academic ability, and leadership potential.
Deadline is 10/28
Website to apply:
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation:
Applications open Feb.-April

28. Next Steps
Tell parents to come to the information session during the open house at 5:00 & 6:00
Research schools at cpsoae.org and click on School Guides and high school guides
Visit schools! List of open houses available.
Go to high school fairs
GSA’s is Friday Oct. 21st
Talk to Mrs. Hester
Office in back of Community Center
to set up appt:

29. Important Dates
Applications open: October 3rd Applications due: December 9th High school fair: October 21st

30. Keep in mind… There are so many schools to choose from!
Keep an open mind!