Application Tips
- Do not apply to just one or two schools! Apply to as many schools as you would be happy to have your child attend.
- Consider ALL types of schools – not just magnet schools, and not just the schools that you already know about. Magnet cluster schools and open enrollment schools offer many excellent options for parents and students.
- Do your homework to find out more about the schools BEFORE you submit your applications. There are several ways to do this:
- Review a school's test scores.
- Attend a school's Open House (call the school to find out if they are having one).
- Set up an appointment to tour the school and talk with the principal or counselor about the school.
- Talk to parents who have children enrolled in the school.
- Take a tour of the neighborhood.
- Contact the Office of Academic Enhancement for additional information.
- Try not to wait until the last day to mail your applications -- you never know what might happen to delay the mail.
- There are two types of applications for elementary schools -- a Standard application and a Selective Enrollment Elementary Schools (SEES) application. The SEES application is ONLY for elementary schools that require testing. The Standard application is for all other elementary schools.
- If you are using a Standard application to apply for any grade level, or if you are required to send your SEES application directly to the Office of Academic Enhancement, enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard with your application. The postcard will be mailed back to you as notification that your application has been received. Your postcard should be returned within two weeks. This is the only way to confirm that a mailed application has been received. If you do not receive your postcard within two weeks, contact the school (for Standard applications) or the Office of Academic Enhancement (for SEES applications) at (773) 553-2060.
- If you are required to submit your child's SEES or Selective Enrollment High School application to your child's school counselor/principal, it is recommended that you ask your child’s current school to provide them with a receipt that indicates the time, date, and to whom the application was submitted at the current school.
- Testing for SEES schools takes place between November and February. If your child applied to a SEES school, and you have not received a test date by January 25, 2011, contact the Office of Academic Enhancement at (773) 553-2060.
- Standard applications may be photocopied and sent to the schools to which you are applying; send one application, per student, per school.
- Do NOT submit a Standard application for SEES schools, Selective Enrollment High Schools, Military Academies, College and Career Academies, or high schools that have their own application.
- Do NOT photocopy the SEES application. Use one SEES application per child. You may apply to multiple schools on that one application. If you are applying for more than one child, you may print additional copies from this website, under "Apply" and "Application Materials," or have additional copies mailed to you by calling the Office of Academic Enhancement at (773) 553-2060.
- Do NOT send SEES applications or Selective Enrollment High School/Military Academy applications to the school(s) listed on the application.
- If you haven't received a letter of acceptance or non-acceptance regarding your child's application(s) by the first week of April, call the Office of Academic Enhancement at (773) 553-2060.
- If you have any questions about the application, selection and notification process, call the Office of Academic Enhancement at (773) 553-2060.