Cutoff scores—the lowest score accepted for a particular school—vary drastically based on a student’s residential tier. CPS divides the city into four tiers based on socioeconomic data like median income and adult education levels. UChicago Consortium on School Research Rank (Top 30%):
No more "Principal Discretion" or "Bonus Points" – Admissions are purely based on grades + exam.
Test change: The CPS exam remains separate from the NWEA MAP. You must take the CPS Selective Enrollment High School Exam (usually in December of 8th grade).
Tier system remains but CPS adjusted tier boundaries slightly for 2024 using newer census data.
Waitlist movement in 2024 was minimal at top schools (Payton, Northside) due to high application volume.
Step 1: The GPA Score (Max 450)
CPS converts your 7th-grade core course grades (Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies) into a scale. An A in an honors class is worth more than an A in a standard class. cps selective enrollment cutoff scores 20242024 updated