1. Preparing 8 th Grade Students for the Next Step Mrs. Laura Arrington-Rose Professional School Counselor September 10, 2014

2. Preparing 8 th Grade Students for the Next Step The Role of the Counselor Information for the 8 th grade school year Career Exploration What’s Next Illinois New for 2015-16 Application process High School Choices High School Fair Required Examinations Application Process

3. Role of the Counselor Academic Career Personal/Social High School Articulation Activities

4. Information for School Year 2014-15 8 th Grade Parent/Student Meetings 8 th grade contract Graduation Activities Activity Fees Trip Fees Fee Due Dates O’Keeffe on Track Requirements

5. Career Exploration High School Choices should relate to: Educational Career Personal and Occupational Goals

6. What’s Next Illinois Web based online career and college preparation program. Use to search for high schools Complete Guideways as they provide a timeline for activities relevant to high school and college Set goals and create a high school study plan www.whatsnextillinois.org

7. Assessments NWEA What's new for the 2015-2016 application process? NWEA MAP used for all applicants to schools with minimum eligibility requirements In order for students to apply to schools with academic criteria in previous years (i.e., Selective Enrollment Elementary and High Schools, IB High Schools, Magnet High Schools, Military Academies, and CTE-College and Career Academies), the Chicago Public Schools used students’ ISAT scores or other standardized tests that were compatible with the ISAT. Beginning with this year’s application process, eligibility for applicants to these schools will be based on your scores on the Northwest Education Association Measures of Academic Progress (NWEA MAP). The NWEA MAP is administered to all CPS district, charter, and contract school students. CPS also administers the NWEA MAP, free of charge, to non-CPS students who are applying for ninth grade. (Only scores from the NWEA MAP administered by CPS will be accepted for the application process.) If you are a non-CPS student in grades 5-8, you plan to apply to schools with academic criteria, and you have not yet registered for the NWEA MAP, contact the Office of Access and Enrollment at (773) 553-2060 or oae@cps.edu to register no later than December 12, 2014.

8. New for Fall 2015-16 New this year: Each eighth grade student receives an Eligibility Letter, which is created by the Office of Access and Enrollment and contains the following: the student's NWEA MAP scores; the student's final (cumulative) grades from seventh grade in reading, math, science, and social studies; a list of schools with centrally managed application processes to which the student is eligible to apply (i.e., CTE-College and Career Academies, International Baccalaureate High Schools, Magnet High Schools, Military Academies, and Selective Enrollment High Schools); and the student's Personal Identification Number (PIN) for the online application site

9. Application Process Online self-service scheduling You will be able to use the online application site, www.apply.cps.edu, to schedule and reschedule your own appointments. Apply for Pin beginning September 29th. Applications are accepted starting October 1st. If you plan to apply online, you must schedule your appointments BEFORE you submit your applications. If you do not want to schedule/apply online, submit a paper application and your appointments will be scheduled by the Office of Access and Enrollment (or, in the case of SennFine and Performing Arts Program, by the school). You will receive letters notifying you of the dates, times, and locations of your appointments

10. Schedule Testing Early Early Testing = Early Results Last year: All students, regardless of when they took the Selective Enrollment High Schools (SEHS) admissions exam, received their results in February with their notification letters. New this year: Testing will begin in October. If you take the test in October or November, you will receive their SEHS exam results within three weeks of the testing date. This will help inform your decisions regarding the schools where you want to apply. (If you take the test after the November test date, your test results will be in the notification letter you receive in February.) October 26 is the first test date for SEHS: Other dates: (Nov 23, Dec 14, Jan 11, Jan 25)

11. High School Choices Selective Enrollment Magnet High Schools Neighborhood Schools with Magnet Programs Education to Careers academies and programs JROTC Academies and Programs Military Academies Small High Schools Charter High Schools Private High Schools

12. Finding the Right High School Help identify talents, interests and needs Attend Open Houses Research your top choices Apply to at least 5 schools outside of the online application process. September 19 – Open your online account: www.apply.cps.edu - Click –Step One www.apply.cps.edu Know the deadlines – High School Scheduling period opens September 23rd December 13 – for Options for Knowledge Applications deadline

13. Cps.oae.org

14. Career & Technical Education (CTE) Career & Technical Education (CTE) College & Career Academies (CCA) offer an exciting pathway to college and careers, giving students a head start on preparing for their futures. While in high school, in addition to taking all CPS college prep core courses like math, science and English, students participating in CCAs will experience hands-on training in their chosen industry. CCA students may also have the opportunity to: Receive college scholarships Attain industry-recognized certifications Earn college credit Participate in job shadows & internships Attend college fairs & tours Compete in city, state and national competitions

15. Magnet High Schools and Programs Magnet high schools offer one or more specialty programs, such as fine and performing arts, agricultural sciences, or International Baccalaureate. With the exception of Curie, magnet high schools do not have an attendance boundary. Students are selected through a computerized lottery; students must pre-qualify for inclusion in the lottery based on scores from the NWEA MAP.

16. Magnet High Schools Chicago Academy for the Agricultural Sciences Curie Metropolitan High School Von Steuben Metropolitan High School Clark Academy Prep Magnet High School Disney II

17. Selective Enrollment High Schools Selective Enrollment High Schools provide academically advanced students with a challenging and enriched college preparatory experience. Each of the Selective Enrollment High Schools offers a rigorous curriculum with mainly honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Teachers expect students to be self-driven and highly engaged with their studies. The schools strive to develop students’ critical and analytical thinking skills, and promote diverse academic inquiry by bringing together students from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Applicants should learn everything they can about what the competition is like at each of the Selective Enrollment High Schools so that realistic and sound decisions are made as to where to apply.

18. Selective Enrollment High Schools Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep Jones Commercial College Prep King College Prep Lane Tech College Prep Lindbloom Math and Science Academy Northside College Prep Walton Payton College Prep Westinghouse High School Whitney Young College Prep

19. Military Academies The Military Academies offer a unique high school option for highly motivated students, providing an academically rigorous curriculum with a focus on leadership and citizenship. Students study in a safe and supportive school environment that allows them to reach their full potential. The Academies' primary goal is to prepare students to attend the four-year college or university of their choice. By allowing them to develop as leaders, the Military Model prepares students for successful careers and a life of active citizenship. Each academy focuses on a specific branch of the military. The experienced teaching staff at each Military Academy is joined by a small team of retired military personnel who are branch- certified instructors, and who help to foster student success. The Military Academies also offer unique extracurricular trips, activities, and academic opportunities for students.

20. Special Academies Technology Academies Military Academies JROTC Academies Medical Career Academies Academies of Finance International Language and Career Academies Law and Public Safety Academies Career Academies

21. Magnet Programs International Baccalaureate diploma program Math, Science and Tech Academies Fine and Performing Arts Magnet Academies World Language and International Studies Paideia Program Allied Health Metropolitan Studies

22. International Baccalureate (IB) The International Baccalaureate® (IB) offers a continuum of high- quality education that encourages international-mindedness and a positive attitude to learning. These programs are accessible to students in 138 countries. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a comprehensive and challenging pre-university program for academically advanced and highly motivated students in grades 11 and 12. The program is widely recognized throughout the globe for its high academic standards. The Chicago Public Schools offers the IB Diploma Programme at 15 high schools. Seven additional high schools are candidates to offer it. The IB curriculum is vital as it prepares youth for higher education. IB Diploma Programme graduates are better prepared for college courses, and attend and successfully complete college/university study at a higher rate than their peers. Furthermore, they enter the world being culturally and internationally aware, open- minded, and confident in a language other than English.

23. Small High Schools The number of students is limited to 400.

24. Charter High Schools Independently operated public schools each with their own educational philosophy and district learning environment.

25. Eligibility Requirements ProgramEligibility CTE-College and Career AcademiesNo requirements except: Jones CTE minimum Map 24 International Baccalaureate (IB High Schools) Minimum 24 MAP in both reading and math and minimum GPE of 2.5 Magnet High SchoolsMinimum 24 MAP in both reading and math; Scholars Program at Von Steuben requires a minimum percentile of 60 in reading and math Military AcademiesMinimum MAP reading and math percentiles that equal at least 48 Selective Enrollment High SchoolsMinimum NWEA MAP percentile of 24 in both reading and math

26. Scholarship Opportunities Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund Applications Due October 10

27. First Steps Look at your eligibility report and determine what schools you are eligible to apply to based on your 7 th grade academic profile. Begin scheduling test appointments for those eligible schools Between now and November we will cover the application process and admission and selection criteria. Refer to the options for knowledge guide and the High School directory. Confer with elementary school counselor

28. Understanding your chances for admission to SEHS Last year more than 15,000 students applied to 9 school choices Some schools had more than 7,000 applications Most freshman classes have 200 to 250 seats Lane Tech and Whitney Young have more seats available. Wait for test results before applying and look at cut off scores and tiers

29. Where do I stand? Less than 1 in 6 is accepted All A’s for final grades in core subjects Stanine of 7, 8 or 9 on achievement tests

30. Last year

31. How can I achieve my goal? Apply to all schools that meet your needs Requirement to apply to at least 5 schools outside of On-line applications. Applying to selective enrollment schools is only one choice Maximize your options by applying to all schools that interest you.

32. Begin Preparation Now! Freshman year is the greatest indicator of high school success Keep track of grades and attendance

33. Eligibility Letter Each eighth grade student receives an Eligibility Letter, which is created by the Office of Access and Enrollment and contains the following: the student's NWEA MAP scores; the student's final (cumulative) grades from seventh grade in reading, math, science, and social studies; a list of schools with centrally managed application processes to which the student is eligible to apply (i.e., CTE-College and Career Academies, International Baccalaureate High Schools, Magnet High Schools, Military Academies, and Selective Enrollment High Schools); and the student's Personal Identification Number (PIN) for the online application site.

34. Eligibility Letter

35. Eligibility requirements for students with a 504 Plan Students who have an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) have minimum eligibility requirements that differ from those of general education students. In previous years, students with a 504 Plan also had different minimum eligibility requirements. This is no longer the case. Students with a 504 Plan now have the same minimum eligibility requirements as general education students. However, any testing accommodations identified in students’ 504 Plans will be provided for the purposes of Selective Enrollment Elementary and High School exams. Self-scheduling for students applying to Selective Enrollment Elementary Schools Parents of students applying to the Selective Enrollment Elementary Schools (grades K-8) can now use the online application site to schedule their children's tests for the date(s) and time(s) that are most convenient for them. To use the online process, go to www.apply.cps.edu and click 'Step 1' to open an account and request a Personal Identification Number (PIN). You can request your PIN starting September 29, 2014. Beginning on October 1, 2014, you can go to the online site to schedule your child's test(s) and submit his/her application. Remember, this is a two-step process: (1) Schedule, then (2) Apply.

36. Online Scheduling Selective Enrollment International Baccalaureate MilitaryMagnetCTE-College & Career Academies One entrance exam for all schools Information sessions required at each school One information session required for all schools One audition for Senn Fine Arts No scheduling required

37. High School Fair High School Fair at O’Keeffe in October

38. Questions