News
Spotlighting Walter Payton College Prep: What Makes the Selective Enrollment School so Coveted
Walter Payton College Prep is widely regarded as the most competitive of Chicago’s selective enrollment high schools, and for good reason. Consistently ranked among the top public high schools in the country, Payton offers a rigorous academic environment, exceptional faculty, and incredible preparation for a student's college application process, and later college experience.
Students benefit from a wide range of AP courses, high college placement rates, and unique global learning programs that include study abroad and language immersion. The school fosters a culture of intellectual curiosity and leadership, supported by modern facilities including science labs, a black box theater, and a competition gym. This means that Walter Payton is an ideal school for students who are high achievers academically, while also harboring a lot of extracurriculars and additional interests.
Payton attracts a diverse group of students, including high-achieving scholars, aspiring scientists and engineers, world-language enthusiasts, artists, musicians, and more. While there is a strong sports program, it’s especially well-suited for students who are academically driven and excited by a high-energy, achievement-focused culture.
Admission is highly competitive and based on seventh-grade core grades and the CPS High School Admissions Test (HSAT).
Test Prep Chicago offers expert guidance and test preparation to help students succeed on the CPS HSAT and gain admission to top schools like Payton. In the coming weeks, we’ll be profiling other selective enrollment high schools to help families understand their options.
Interested in learning more about how we can support your student through their CPS HSAT prep? Our group courses (click here), 1-day workshops (click here) and individual tutoring sessions (click here) include full-length practice tests, targeted homework, and supplemental materials designed to strengthen skills and build confidence over time. Our tutors teach proven test-taking strategies, time-management techniques, and pacing skills to help students stay sharp and focused on test day. By conducting exit interviews with students after they take the real exam, we are able to ensure our practice materials are constantly updated to reflect the latest test trends and content.
Questions? Contact zoe@testprepchicago.com.
CPS Selective Enrollment Process: What You Need To Know
The Selective Enrollment High School (SEHS) admissions process for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) uses students' High School Admissions Test (HSAT) scores and final 7th grade scores in math, English, science, and social studies to determine eligibility. Each applicant is ranked using this criteria to match students with the highest-ranked school on their GoCPS application that still has available seats.
Admission begins by awarding the top 30% of seats to students with the highest overall points, regardless of socioeconomic tier. The remaining 70% of seats are evenly divided among four tier groups, with placement based on point rankings within each tier.
Students can receive only one selective enrollment offer—their highest-ranked match. Once offered a seat, they are removed from consideration for all lower-ranked programs and cannot be waitlisted for any selective enrollment programs, even if ranked higher. If no offer is made, students are waitlisted for all eligible programs to which they have applied. Tiebreakers are applied in this order: HSAT Math score, then HSAT Reading score, and finally, a computerized random lottery.
We offer 8-week group courses to prepare students for the CPS High School Admissions Test (HSAT), Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE), and Parochial School Entrance Exam (HSPT). Our course prepares students for these tests by focusing on math, reading comprehension, and test-taking strategies. To register your student for one of our courses, click here. We also offer 1-day palooza workshops where students can take a practice exam and review the answers with a skilled instructor. To register your student for one of our paloozas, click here. Finally, we offer individual tutoring, which can begin at any time. You can see our tutoring rates by clicking here.
CPS High School Admissions Test Dates Announced
CPS recently announced test dates for the CPS High School Admissions Test (CPS HSAT). 8th graders are required to take this exam to test into Selective Enrollment High Schools. This year, CPS students will take the exam at their school on October 9th while alternative language students will take the exam on October 15th.
Non-CPS students will have the option to take the exam in the following weeks at a CPS testing center. They will choose to test on October 19th, 20th, 26th, or 27th. You can find a list of all testing dates below.
CPS HSAT Test Dates
Wednesday, October 9 (For CPS Students)
Tuesday, October 15 (For Alternative Language Testing)
Saturday, October 19 (For non-CPS Students)
Sunday, October 20 (For non-CPS Students)
Saturday, October 26 (For non-CPS Students)
Sunday, October 27 (For non-CPS Students)
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
312-848-1266
CPS Announces CPS High School Admissions Test Dates (2022-23 School Year)
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has announced the test dates for the High School Admissions Test (HSAT). This year, the HSAT will be taken by CPS students on October 26th. Non-CPS students will have the option to take the HSAT on November 5th, 6th, 12th, or 13th. All test dates have been listed below.
HSAT Test Dates
CPS Students:
Wednesday, October 26
Non-CPS Students:
Saturday, November 5
Sunday, November 6
Saturday, November 12
Sunday, November 13
The HSAT will be offered in-school for CPS students. Non-CPS students will take the HSAT at a designated CPS testing site.
Applicants can apply using the GoCPS online application portal.
The application process for the 2023-2024 school year opens Wednesday, September 14 and ends Friday, December 2nd.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
9th Grade Admissions Screenings
Admission screenings are required for a plethora of high schools in Chicago. As the CPS website states, “these consist of admissions exams, auditions/portfolio reviews, information sessions, and interviews, as well as the submission of essays and teacher recommendations.” Parents generally schedule these screenings online through the RSVP function of their GoCPS account after their student has applied online. For admission into selective enrollment high schools, this means parents will need to schedule their student’s SEHS (Selective Enrollment High School) exam.
Selective Enrollment High School exams are administered at five high schools: King, Lane Tech, Lindblom, Westinghouse, and Whitney Young. You can sign up to test at one of these sites on any of the dates CPS will announce in the fall. Typically, there are about 7-8 dates beginning in November and ending in January. However, spots will fill up, so be sure to submit an application and sign up for a date as soon as you can to ensure the date and location you prefer. On the day of the exam, you may be asked to enter the testing site through a specific door. To see your site’s specific day-of directions, visit https://go.cps.edu/high-school/admissions-screenings, and click on “Selective Enrollment Admissions Exams.”
For all testing sites, CPS has provided a few general rules and guidelines for the day of testing, and they are listed below.
Food and water are not allowed in testing rooms. There are water fountains located in the hallways that students can access. There are no scheduled breaks, but if students need to use the restroom or get water between sections, they are allowed to do so.
Students should not take snacks to the admissions exam unless they have an IEP or 504 Plan which designates that they are to be allowed snacks for medical reasons.
Students who receive extended time (50% or greater) on the exam due to accommodations will receive a short break. If they take a snack, they can consume it at that time.
Arrive at the test site 20 minutes before the time of the test.
The test is approximately three and a half hours long (unless the student has a public school 504 with testing accommodations or a public school IEP that allows for testing accommodations under section 10c).
Students are assigned to test rooms as they arrive; early arrivals may begin testing before the scheduled test time.
Students with public school 504s with testing accommodations, or public school IEPs with testing accommodations under section 10c, have pre-assigned rooms and will not start before the scheduled appointment time.
Parents should be available for student pick-up from the test site three and a half hours after the scheduled test time.
Students who arrive late may not be allowed to take the examination.
Students should take two #2 pencils to the exam. No other items or materials will be allowed on the desk during the testing process (unless the student has a public school IEP [section 10c] or 504 Plan that allows for other materials).
No iPods, MP3 players or other electronic devices are allowed in the testing room.
If the student has a cell phone or watch, it must be secured as directed by the examiner. Cell phones must be turned off. If, during the examination period, the student’s cell phone rings, or the student’s watch emits an alarm, they will be disqualified from testing and they will not be allowed to reschedule the test.
If the student is ill, or the parent is facing other extenuating circumstances, the student’s exam should be rescheduled via their GoCPS account or by contacting the Office of Access and Enrollment at 773-553-2060, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. The Office of Access and Enrollment is not open on Saturdays and Sundays. Students should not be taken to test if they are ill.
CPS has not yet released any information regarding SEHS testing and Covid-19, and if the pandemic will affect these procedures in any way. Test Prep Chicago will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as CPS makes it available. Be sure to subscribe to our website on our homepage to receive email updates about selective enrollment admissions in Chicago.
For additional information on admission screenings for IB programs, AVID programs, or art schools in Chicago, visit https://go.cps.edu/high-school/admissions-screenings.
Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
CPS’s District Testing Action Plan
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced on February 21, 2020 that due to a performance review conducted by the CPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) which cited a few potential testing concerns, CPS will be providing more oversight for CPS staff who are administering the NWEA MAP tests. CPS contends, “While the OIG did not substantiate any systemic misconduct at the school or district level, the review highlights a need for additional guidance and training for staff on NWEA's unique, untimed testing format.”
In addition, CPS noted that these findings don’t challenge the lofty improvements or accomplishments CPS students have achieved in the past, but rather will help to encourage a plan of action to ensure each school is clear on testing protocol. Thus, the District Testing Action Plan (DTAP) was born and will be implemented for this Spring’s NWEA MAP testing window (May 9th- June 12th). CPS’s summarized DTAP is below.
Hiring a Test Security Expert: The district has hired a national test security company that will help provide expertise and guidance as we work to improve NWEA test administration and security procedures.
Strengthened Testing Policies and Guidelines on Duration and Pauses: CPS updated testing guidance for duration and pauses, which will be included in the administrator, test coordinator, and proctor test guidance documents and training for Spring 2020.
Improved Training: CPS updated our mandatory training module for test coordinators and proctors that specifically addresses testing duration, pauses, and other important testing guidelines.
Enhanced Monitoring and Auditing Processes: The district will also conduct targeted school audits during testing, analyze daily reports to identify unusual test times, and provide additional guidance and support to schools as needed.
CPS also maintains that they’ll continue to strive to make the NWEA MAP, and all testing, more efficient and effective in order to ensure “educators and parents have access to actionable academic data to support [their] students.” To find out more about CPS’s new plan, visit their website at cps.edu/testingactionplan.
Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Dates for Non-CPS Students to Take the NWEA MAP Test
On Friday, February 14th, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced the dates below for non-CPS 5th and 7th-grade students to take the NWEA MAP test for admittance into Academic Centers or Selective Enrollment High Schools, respectively. In order to take the test on a date listed below, parents must register their students on the CPS website by Friday, April 3rd.
TEST DATES
Saturday, May 9th
Sunday, May 10th
Saturday, May 30th
Sunday, May 31st
Saturday, June 6th
Sunday, June 7th
In the past, non-CPS students took the NWEA MAP test in the fall of their 6th and 8th-grade years. However, CPS announced that this school year, 2019-2020, as well as moving forward, non-CPS and CPS students will take the test at the same time. While CPS students will be taking the test in their neighborhood schools, non-CPS students will take the test at Curie Metropolitan High School, Lane Tech High School, or Lindblom Math and Science Academy, all free of charge. Students will be assigned a testing location closest to their home address.
As a reminder, the NWEA MAP test is a common-core-aligned, computer-adaptive test designed to quantify a student’s knowledge of math and reading. It is untimed, and students may elect to take the math section and the reading section on the same or different days.
In addition, this test provides 1/3 of the points required to attend an Academic Center or Selective Enrollment High School. Each section of the test is worth 150 points, with a total of 300 points up for grabs based on their NWEA MAP score. An additional 300 points are taken from a student’s 5th or 7th-grade grades, with a final 300 points available from the Academic Center Exam or Selective Enrollment High School Exam (SEHS), respectively.
Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
An Overview of Lindblom Academic Center
Lindblom Academic Center (also known as Lindblom) is one of seven Academic Centers in Chicago. Lindblom is located in the south side of Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. Although it is one of the newer Academic Centers in Chicago, Lindblom remains competitive in its rigor, course offerings, and after school programs. Students who attend Lindblom Academic Center are offered acceptance into Lindblom Math & Science High School (a Selective Enrollment High School) as long as they remain academically on-track.
Lindblom Academic Center prepares its students by offering Honors courses for its core curriculum to begin readying their students for college level classes. The curriculum is dedicated to providing its students a solid foundation before they enter their higher level classes by enrolling students in advanced mathematics courses that integrate Algebra I into either one or two-year courses. Students also become exposed to laboratory-based science and have the ability to choose between studying two unique languages: Mandarin Chinese or Arabic. Students are offered the potential to take other unique classes through Lindblom’s Colloquium courses which is a program that “engages students in project-based learning centered in Community Outreach, Arts, Creation, STEM, and Athletics.” With the variety of classes offered and the commitment to expose their students to higher level learning, Lindblom Academic Center maintains its promise of providing their students a competitive curriculum intended for their segue into Lindblom Math & Science High School.
Lindblom Academic Center enjoys being able to offer its students a variety of conveniences. Students are accommodated with a busing service that has designated pick-up and drop-off locations in order to make commuting to Lindblom easier on their students and parents. Lindblom also prides itself on allowing extensive accessibility to its teachers for the benefit of their students. Additionally, students are offered participation in select clubs and sports programs to supplement their academics.
While Lindblom Academic Center does not have its own website, visit Lindblom Math & Science High School’s website to find more information for the Academic Center underneath the Academic Center tab: https://lindblomeagles.org/index.jsp
Ramisha Ejaz, Tutoring Coordinator
ramisha@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
An Overview of Whitney Young Academic Center
Whitney M. Young (also known as Whitney Young) Academic Center is one of seven Academic Centers in Chicago. Maintaining roots on Chicago’s west side, Whitney Young’s Academic Center has provided its students the same level of preparedness as their high school counterparts for over three decades. Their Academic Center begins in the 7th grade and continues into 8th with a guaranteed spot into Whitney M. Young Magnet High School (one of Chicago’s eleven selective enrollment high schools) upon completion.
Whitney Young’s Academic Center prides itself on engaging students in their maximum academic potential while also providing them with a skill set that encourages lifelong learning. It begins this process by arming its students in the 7th grade with an accelerated curriculum that correlates with the Academic Center’s Six Year Plan. All students in the 7th grade are enrolled into core courses such as Language Arts, Honors Environmental Science, Social Science, Math, and Physical Education with the ability to choose up to two Honors-level electives. 8th graders continue this core curriculum with Honors English I, Honors Biology, Honors World History, and Math as well as two Honors-level electives. By the end of the two years at Whitney Young’s Academic Center, students have the potential to accumulate as many as twelve high school credits before beginning their 9th-grade year.
Whitney Young Academic Center’s elective schedule offers its students the opportunity to flex their academic independence with its diversity in courses.These classes can include computer science, robotics, dance, orchestra, guitar, piano, chorus, drama, graphic design, and mixed media to name a few. Language courses offered at the Academic Center include Mandarin Chinese, French, Latin, Japanese, and Spanish. Additionally, if students are interested in sports or extracurriculars, Whitney Young offers many programs including but not limited to basketball, cross country, track, and math team.
While Whitney M. Young Academic Center does not have its own website, visit Whitney Young’s website to find more information for the Academic Center under the Admissions tab at: wyoung.org.
Ramisha Ejaz, Tutoring Coordinator
ramisha@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
An Overview of Lane Tech Academic Center
Founded in 1908, Lane Technical College Prep High School (also known as Lane Tech) and Academic Center is situated in Roscoe Village, a neighborhood on the north side of Chicago. Though founded many years ago, Lane Tech’s academic center opened in 2011. Lane is one of eleven selective enrollment high schools in Chicago and its academic center is one of seven. Since it’s both a selective enrollment high school and academic center, students enrolled in Lane’s academic center are automatically enrolled in Lane Tech’s high school program without needing to reapply.
Much like at other academic centers, students enrolled are considered gifted and can gain high school credit for classes as well as work on material that is 1-2 years advanced. Moreover, Lane Tech’s website describes their academic center as providing “an advanced curriculum for students beginning in the 7th grade and culminates with a capstone advanced placement college preparatory experience.”
Furthermore, as early as their 7th-grade year, students at Lane Tech Academic Center begin receiving high school credit for classes like algebra, biology, global issues, and electives such as world language, art, music, or computer science. As students progress to high school, all academic center students at Lane are expected to take either Honor or Advanced Placement courses, though, still must meet all regular prerequisites in place by course instructors and departments. This puts students on track to already be taking AP courses (that may count for college credit) during their freshman year of high school.
In addition to academics, Lane Tech Academic Center also offers extracurriculars students would find at any other elementary school. Sports offered include cross country, track, basketball, soccer, and cheerleading to name a few. There are also clubs which include but are not limited to student council, math team, yearbook, chess, and the National Junior Honor Society.
To find out more about Lane Tech Academic Center’s courses or extracurriculars, visit their website: https://lanetech.org/ltac/.
Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266