Academic Center Admissions Process Print

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 5th grade. Therefore, strong 5th grade performance is vital to your child's success in the Academic Center application process.

Fifth Grade Standardized Test Scores (300 points or one third of the score) In March of the 5th 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 70th percentile or above on the 5th Grade Standardized Test in both Math and Reading Comprehension to be eligible to apply for an Academic Center in 6th grade.

Recommended Action. Since the 5th 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.

SelectivePrep NOW offers a program to help prepare for the 5th grade standardized test. Registration will begin in October 2011. If you are interested, please contact us for more information.

5th Grade Final Grades (300 points or one third of the score). Y3our child's final 5th 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 5th grade data (e.g., 5th 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 5th grade points. Please disregard the information relating your child's score to Selective Enrollment High School scores.

Interpret performance. Whitney Young is the most highly regarded and competitive Academic Center. Last year, over 1,200 applications were received for 120 Whitney Young spots. Last year, the average Whitney Young acceptance score was 841 points (on a 900 point scale), so your child should have approximately 500 points or more from 5th 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 16, 2011.

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 or can be made on-line through the Office of Academic Enhancement.

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 November or 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 one third 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.

The Academic Center Admissions Test

Strong performance on the Academic Center Admissions Test is REQUIRED to gain entrance to one of the more competitive Academic Centers.

If your child scores a mere 99.0% on the Academic Center Admissions Test, then he or she will get only a 255 -- LOSING 45 POINTS OF A POTENTIAL 300 POINTS. To find out more information about how the Academic Center Test is evaluated, click here.