CPS Office of Academic Enhancement

News and Announcements

New Admission Policy Information

The Chicago Board of Education has approved a new admissions plan for magnet schools, Gifted and Enriched Academic Programs, and Selective Enrollment High Schools for the 2010-2011 school year. Pertinent documents regarding the new plan can be found here.

On September 24, 2009, the federal court vacated the Chicago Public Schools desegregation consent decree. As a result of that ruling, the race-based criteria referenced in the Options for Knowledge Guide and the applications and other materials related to the 2010-2011 admissions process will not be used to make admissions decisions.

Two years ago, in anticipation of this ruling, CPS began the development of a new admissions process for its magnet and selective enrollment schools, which involved active planning, researching the policies utilized by other school districts, and engaging the foremost expert in this field, Richard Kahlenberg, Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation. Mr. Kahlenberg also served as an expert witness in the court proceedings that led to the federal court ruling. A copy of his court testimony and his Expert Report can be accessed below. (Note: The attached Expert Report was filed on behalf of the defendant Board of Education of the City of Chicago on December 1, 2008, in the matter of United States v. Board of Education of the City of Chicago, 80 C 5124 (N.D. IL). Please note that it was later discovered by Dr. Kahlenberg that the attached Expert Report contains one, minor incomplete statement in a chart labeled "Figure 2," which appears at page 33 of the Report. Specifically, the Figure 2 chart should be corrected so that the cited reference to the top line on the chart reflects "students not eligible for free or reduced price lunch." The corresponding bottom line reference on the chart, to "students eligible," should remain as it appears.)

The timing of the federal court ruling required an immediate change in policy, which must be implemented for the 2010-2011 school year. A new admissions proposal has been developed for entry-level only admissions in magnet and selective enrollment schools, and was approved by the Chicago Board of Education at its meeting on December 16, 2009. A copy of the approved policy can be accessed below, under "Magnet and Selective Enrollment Admissions Policy." In addition, a Power Point Presentation describing the changes in the admissions process can be found under "CPS New Admissions Plan" (updated 12-15-09).

Additional documents below include a Statement Regarding Published Materials, a Distribution of Socioeconomic Factors by Tier, and a copy of the September 24, 2009, Memorandum Opinion of the Federal Court.

(For instructions on finding your census tract and group number, visit our website under "News" -- click on "Instructions for Determining Your Census Tract and Group Number.)

Comments and suggestions regarding the new admissions procedures are welcomed at 773.553.2060.