Selective Enrollment Admissions Process (for 7th Graders) Print

Research Your Schools

Start early. If you haven't started already, start thinking about your child's high school options at the beginning of 7th grade. If you wait until 8th grade, you will need to gather and digest an overwhelming amount of "school intelligence" in a short period of time.

Avoid crowds. Attend fall Open Houses and if possible conduct some preliminary visits during off-peak times so you can get more personalized attention.

Get the numbers. There are some fairly significant differences in test scores among the schools. Review the CPS and SelectivePrep's Selective Enrollment High School Profiles:

Check out electives. The high school experience is much more than simply getting good grades in the "basics." Some high schools emphasize math; others stress the sciences; and still others, the arts.

Uncover additional options. Since Selective Enrollment admissions are so competitive, you should also research other CPS advanced academic programs. The Selective Enrollment application process is completely separate from the application used for other Chicago public high schools. Therefore, you will need to apply to these other schools separately, and some of these schools have admissions tests. Among the public schools you may want to consider are:

Since there is a certain amount of overlap in test content, the SelectivePrep Program can increase your child's success in other competitive admissions tests.

Seventh Grade Is Key

Strong 7th grade performance is vital to your child's success in the Selective Enrollment High School application process. Admission 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 7th grade.

Seventh Grade Standardized Test Scores (300 points or 33 1/3% of the score). In March of the 7th grade 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, Iowa or Stanford may be given.

Recommended Actions:

Review sample material. Since the 7th Grade Standardized Test is an important component of the admission score, we recommend that your child become comfortable with the test format and procedures. To get additional information about the ISAT and sample questions, try the Illinois State Board of Education.

Prepare for the test. SelectivePrep's Seventh Grade Program starts in January. Superior performance on the 7th Grade Standardized Test is a must. Regardless of the exam your 7th grader must take, the SelectivePrep program will help your child master its math, reading, and language content. To register for a class, click here.

7th Grade Final Grades (300 points or 33 1/3% of the score). Your child's final 7th grade for the following four subjects will be used in the admissions process:

  • Reading
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social Studies

How it works. For each subject:

  • 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. 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.

In other words, getting straight B's reduces your child's highest possible score to 900, well below the average score at such schools as Northside, Walter Payton, and Whitney Young. And getting straight C's reduces your child's highest possible score to 800, well below the average at all the Selective Enrollment High Schools.

If your child does not get great 7th grade grades, it is unlikely that he/she will be admitted to a Selective Enrollment High School.

Recommended Action. Focus your child's attention on getting the best possible grades in these core subjects. If your child is between an A or a B, find out what he/she must do to get an A.

Calculate Your Child's Admissions Score

Once you have all or even most of your child's 7th grade data (e.g., test scores, grades, days absent, etc.) click here to plug them into SelectivePrep's Know the Score! calculator to help understand your Selective Enrollment High School admissions possibilities.