Jones College Prep: A Chicago Selective Enrollment High School Standout

Jones College Prep, located in the heart of downtown Chicago, is one of the city's most sought-after selective enrollment high schools. With its blend of academic excellence, vibrant student life, and a central location that provides unique learning opportunities, Jones has become a destination for students aiming for both scholarly achievement and personal growth.

Jones College Prep is known for its rigorous academic curriculum and high-performing student body. The school offers a comprehensive slate of Advanced Placement courses, including over 20 AP options across subjects such as calculus, biology, U.S. history, and computer science. Students at Jones consistently earn top-tier standardized test scores, with an average SAT score around 1320. The school's graduation rate remains high, and students regularly exceed state benchmarks in both math and reading proficiency. This level of performance is a reflection not only of the school’s strong academic culture but also of the dedicated faculty who support and challenge students to reach their full potential.

What makes Jones especially unique is its downtown location, which creates access to museums, cultural institutions, and internship opportunities. This campus is part of what sets Jones apart from other selective enrollment schools, as it integrates the resources of the city into its educational model, offering students real-world exposure and experiential learning opportunities few schools can match. This means that Jones can be a great option for students looking to work or attend college in the city of Chicago after graduation, or students who learn best in hands-on environments.

Beyond academics, Jones College Prep is known for its dynamic extracurricular programs. Whether students are interested in the arts, STEM, athletics, or service, there’s something for everyone. The school has a strong robotics team, a competitive Model UN program, and well-regarded visual and performing arts departments. Music ensembles, theater productions, and academic teams all contribute to a lively student culture. Athletically, Jones fields competitive teams across a variety of sports, including soccer, cross country, and volleyball. Clubs and student organizations also play a huge role in campus life, with students regularly leading initiatives in civic engagement, environmental advocacy, and social justice.

Admission to Jones College Prep remains highly competitive. Like all of Chicago’s selective enrollment high schools, applicants must take the CPS High School Admissions Test (CPS HSAT), which is coming up soon in October. For students aiming to earn a seat at Jones, strong test preparation can make all the difference.

That’s where Test Prep Chicago comes in. Through our group courses (click here), one-day workshops (click here), and one-on-one tutoring sessions (click here), we help students master the content and strategies necessary to excel on the CPS HSAT. 

Stay tuned as we continue spotlighting Chicago’s top selective enrollment high schools!

Selective Enrollment High School Cut Off Scores Rise

High School Entrance Exam scores are on the rise for 8th-grade students applying to Selective Enrollment High Schools. CPS recently released their Selective Enrollment cut-off scores for the 2023-2024 school year which details an increase in average point totals and minimum scores required for eligibility. This increase will affect applicants of all Tiers across the board.

According to the information provided by CPS, Tier 4 students must achieve a perfect 900 points to place into Walter Payton College Prep or Northside College Prep. This cut-off score remains stagnant for Payton while it has increased by 4 points at Northside in the last year. Similarly, Whitney Young has seen an increase across the board from Tier 1 to Tier 4 students. Tier 1 students must score a minimum of 834 points to be eligible which is up dramatically from 816.5 the year prior. Tier 4 students must score a minimum of 893, up 9 points from last year’s cut-off of 884. Other Selective Enrollment high schools such as Jones College Prep and Lane Tech College Prep have also seen surges in cutoff scores, though their Tier 4 eligibility requirement leaves a small margin for error.

Tier 4 cut-off scores have soared the most rapidly at King Jr. College Prep, Lindblom Math and Science Academy, South Shore International College Prep, and Brooks College Prep with some schools seeing as much as a 21% increase. Previously requiring 529 points for eligibility at Lindblom, the school now demands a score of 643, a 114-point difference. King’s requirement was raised from 501.5 to 600, followed by Southshore which now requires 613 points as opposed to last year’s 529. Lastly, Brooks’ Tier 4 cutoff has increased 46 points this testing season with a new standard of 718 points required. Because of the increasing demand for applicants to achieve higher scores, students who score under 600 points on the High School Admissions Test will not be permitted on the waitlist, making it more difficult than ever for students to test into the school of their choice.

Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266