Academic Center Admissions Process

Fifth Grade

Fifth grade is key. Admission to an Academic Center is based on a total possible score of 900 points, and 600 of those points (66 2/3%) are based on your child's performance in the 5^th grade. Therefore, strong 5^th grade performance is vital to your child's success in the Academic Center application process.

Fifth Grade Standardized Test Scores (300 points or 33 1/3% of the score) In March of the 5^th grade year, your child will be administered a standardized achievement test. This test is given during regular school hours to every student. It measures competency in all math areas and reading comprehension. Currently, the Chicago Public Schools use the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). If your child is in private school, other standardized achievement tests such as the Terra Nova or Iowa test may be given.

Your child must score in the 70^th percentile or above on the 5^th Grade Standardized Test in both Math and Reading Comprehension to be eligible to apply for an Academic Center in 6^th grade.

Recommended Action. Since the 5^th Grade Standardized Test is an important component of the admission score, we recommend that your child become very comfortable with the test format and procedures. To get additional information about the ISAT and sample questions, try the Illinois State Board of Education. If you want additional help, contact SelectivePrep to discuss an after school program to prepare for the 5th Grade ISAT.

5^th Grade Final Grades (300 points or 33 1/% of the score). Y3our child's final 5^th grade GPA for the following four subjects will be used in the admissions process:

Reading
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies

How it works. For each subject (Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies):

A is worth 75 points
B is worth 50
C is worth 25
D is worth 0

Getting straight A's or a perfect score in these four subjects is worth 300 points, giving your child the full 33 1/3%. Getting straight B's drops the total potential admissions score by a full 100 points and getting straight C's lowers the total potential score by 200 points.

Recommended Action. Getting less than straight A's could keep your child out of Whitney Young's Academic Center. Focus your child's attention on getting the best possible grades in these core subjects. If you want your child to get into one of the top Academic Centers, this is not the year to be stretched too thin with outside activities.

Calculate performance. Since identical criteria are used for Academic Center and Selective Enrollment admissions, once you have all of your child's 5^th grade data (e.g., 5^th Grade Standardized Test scores, grades, days absent, etc.) you can plug them into SelectivePrep's Know the Score! calculator to determine your child's total 5^th grade points. Please disregard the information relating your child's score to Selective Enrollment High School scores.

Interpret performance. At this time CPS does not publish Academic Centers' average acceptance scores. Whitney Young is the most highly regarded and competitive Academic Center. In the 2009-2010 admissions cycle, over 1,200 applications were received for 120 Whitney Young spots. In 2009-2010, a score of around 900 points (out of 1,000 possible points) was the admissions "cut-off", or minimum score for a candidate to be accepted. This means that the average Whitney Young acceptance score is in the 950-960 point range so your child should have approximately 600 points or more from 5^th grade performance to be a viable contender for the Whitney Young Academic Center.

Sixth Grade

Applications

The Academic Center application form can be submitted beginning in early October with a final deadline in on December 17, 2010.

You need to fill out only one application form to apply to any Academic Center. Your school will fill in information on your child's 5th grade performance. Applications can be obtained at any public elementary school.

Preparation and Testing

SelectivePrep's program to prepare for the Academic Center Admissions Test begins in October. Most testing takes place in January or February. However some schools give the test on-site to their students, typically in December. Check with your school's administration to find out if there are plans to have an on-site test administered.

Academic Center Admissions Exam (300 points or 33 1/3% of the score). This test focuses on your child's ability to uncover relationships between figures, numbers and words. It is radically different from other tests that your child has previously encountered. SelectivePrep will help prepare your child for this crucial exam.

Selective Feedback (Parent Testamonials)

I just wanted to give you feedback our son’s score on the Selective Enrollment Exam. He got an 82 which was very good for him. He got an 88 in reading which he has never gotten before. The best news was that he was accepted to all four schools that he applied to. He is going to go to Walter Payton College Prep! Thank you again for all the help that you gave him!