Last Spring, CPS announced that they were making some big changes to the competitive admissions process for selective enrollment high schools, elementary schools and academic centers. Chief among those changes was the decision to no longer use the NWEA MAP test scores as a factor in the applications for those schools. In CPS schools, all students will sit for the…
Tag: GoCPS
Bronzeville Classical Captured the Hearts of This Lincoln Square Family
When we found the right school for our daughter, our world got bigger, more diverse and a whole lot better.
How to GoCPS for Elementary School, Part 2: The Application
Welcome to how to use GoCPS! In case you missed Part One, here’s what to do to get up to speed. Read my earlier blog post and make a list of at least 10 schools you want to apply to for your child. Today’s post (and my Facebook Live webcast) will walk you through the application process itself, so you…
How to GoCPS for Elementary School, Part One
Are you planning to use GoCPS to apply for your child’s elementary school for next year? Well, buckle up, because it’s not easy. The process of choosing schools, applying, and enrolling your child in the Chicago Public Schools is daunting for even the most seasoned of parents. As a Chicago Public Schools graduate, I had dreams of my children attending…
Future Kindergarten Parents, Get Your Child’s CPS ID Now!
Attention next year’s kindergarten parents: if you’re applying to CPS schools beyond your neighborhood, you must request an ID for your child with this form. Forms are due December 2. If you miss the deadline, you’ll need a paper form to complete your GoCPS application. Because the wheels of central office grind slowly, they need two weeks to get you…
Applying for School in Chicago? Your Odds May Have Just Changed.
Originally posted on Chalkbeat by Cassie Walker Burke on October 25, 2018. One of the key factors in Chicago public school admissions, tier numbers assigned by a student’s address serve to more equitably distribute seats in test-in and magnet programs. The numbers, on a 1 to 4 scale, reflect a neighborhood’s socioeconomic status. The school district has issued new tier…
Let CPS Run Pre-K Admissions
Let’s end the horror stories from parents about trying to enroll in CPS PreK. The obvious answer: let CPS handle the enrollment system. Ironically, CPS doesn’t manage its own preK enrollment process. The City of Chicago handles it through the Chicago Early Learning web site. If folks need help live, they don’t go to the places where they hope to…
Hey 7th-Graders, Here’s the App to Help You Find a High School
By launching GoCPS this school year, Chicago Public Schools took a huge step toward making applying to both elementary and high schools easier and more fair. But the process isn’t perfect and many families are still struggling to learn how it works. During Tuesday’s Town Hall meeting at Back of the Yards College Prep, CEO Janice Jackson fielded questions from…