1. What is the difference between a magnet school and a magnet cluster school?

A magnet school does not have a neighborhood attendance boundary, in most cases. There are

some exceptions – there are 11 magnet schools that do have an attendance boundary; students

who live within the boundary do not have to apply (Davis, M., Gallistel, Goodlow, Kanoon,

Kershaw, Mayer, Pershing East, Pershing West, Randolph, Smyth, and Wildwood). For all other

magnet schools, no student can attend without submitting an application, no matter where they

live. Magnet schools offer transportation to students who live more than 1.5 miles but less than

6 miles from the school, and magnet schools have specific racial/ethnic goals.

 

A magnet cluster school is a neighborhood school – it has a neighborhood attendance boundary

and accepts students who live within that boundary. Students who live outside of the

neighborhood attendance boundary must submit an application in order to be considered for

acceptance. You may apply to any school in any cluster. Transportation is not provided to

incoming students.

 

Both magnet schools and magnet cluster schools place an emphasis on one particular subject

area, such as math/science, world language, or fine and performing arts. Most magnet schools

and magnet cluster schools do not require testing for admission.

 

2. How do I apply?

For most schools in this guide, complete the STANDARD application and send it directly to the

school(s) in which you are interested. You may photocopy the application as needed; there is no

limit to the number of schools to which you can apply. You must submit one standard

application per child, per school.

 

For Regional Gifted Centers, Classical Schools, Academic Centers, and IB Prep schools, you

must complete a Gifted and Enriched Academic Programs (GEAP) application and follow the

directions on the application. Do not use the standard application for these schools. DO NOT

PHOTOCOPY THIS APPLICATION. Only one GEAP application is needed per child. If you

are applying for more than one child, you may download additional applications from one of our

websites, www.cpsmagnet.org or www.cpsgifted.org, under Application Materials, or you may

call the Office of Academic Enhancement at (773) 553-2060.

 

For Selective Enrollment High Schools and Military Academies, you must complete the

application designed especially for these schools. You may obtain this application from the

Selective Enrollment School or Military Academy, from any public elementary school, or by

calling the Office of Academic Enhancement at (773) 553-2060. (Note: To apply to Marine

Military Academy, complete the STANDARD application and submit it directly to the school.)

Other high schools may require separate applications that may only be obtained from the high

school. These are indicated in the high school listing of this guide.

 

Because of the limited number of spaces available, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT

YOUR CHILD WILL BE ACCEPTED TO ANY SCHOOL. Most openings are at the entrylevel

grades (kindergarten or first grade, and ninth grade). You are encouraged to apply to all of

the schools in which you are interested. If a school receives more applications than there is space

available, a computerized lottery will be conducted.

 

All applications must be postmarked no later than December 21, 2007.

 

3. Does my child have to take a test to get into these schools?

Most schools select students through a computerized lottery – no testing is required. However,

we do have schools designed for academically advanced students – Regional Gifted Centers,

Classical Schools, Academic Centers, International Baccalaureate Preparatory Programs, and

Selective Enrollment High Schools. For these schools, admission testing is required. Schools that

require testing do not conduct a computerized lottery.

 

Students with disabilities are encouraged to apply to these schools, and testing accommodations

will be provided in accordance with the student’s IEP.

 

4. What is the difference between Regional Gifted Centers and Classical Schools?

Both Regional Gifted Centers and Classical Schools serve academically advanced students at the

elementary school level. Both types of schools accelerate learning so that there is time for

projects, term papers and group work that takes the learner deeper into the subject matter, and the

curriculum for both types of schools includes a world language component.

 

Regional Gifted Centers place an emphasis on thinking, reasoning, problem solving and

creativity. The test for Regional Gifted Centers assesses the student’s critical thinking skills and

reasoning abilities.

 

Classical Schools place an emphasis on scholarship with a liberal arts focus. The test for

Classical Schools assesses the student’s reading, language arts, and mathematics abilities.

 

5. What is a computerized lottery?

Computerized lotteries are conducted to ensure that all children have an equal chance to be

accepted at a school. The names of all applicants are entered into the computer, and the computer

randomly selects students to fill the spaces in each grade. There are three types of lotteries:

• Sibling lottery: conducted only for students who have brothers or sisters in the same

household who already attend the school to which they are applying. As many as 45% of all

entering students may be accepted through the sibling lottery.

• Proximity lottery: conducted at magnet schools only. This lottery is for students who live

within a 1.5 mile radius of elementary magnet schools, and a 2.5 mile radius of magnet high

schools. A magnet school may accept up to 30 percent of its population from students who live

within these limits. Proximity lotteries will only be conducted at magnet schools that have not

achieved the 30 percent requirement.

• General lottery: conducted for all students who are not included in the sibling or proximity

lotteries. A percentage of students not selected through the lottery are placed on waiting lists,

which will be maintained until June 2008.

 

6. How will I know if a school has received my child’s application?

If you are using a standard application to apply for any grade level, or if you are using a GEAP

application to apply to grades K-4, 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.

 

For students applying to Gifted and Enriched Academic Program schools for grades 5-8, or

Selective Enrollment High Schools, it is recommended that parents request a receipt that

indicates the time, date, and to whom the application was submitted at the home school.

 

7. How old does my child have to be to start kindergarten next year?

According to Illinois state law, your child must be five years old by September 1, 2008, in order

to begin kindergarten in the 2008-2009 school year.

 

8. Do I have to select a racial/ethnic category for my child on the application?

Yes. If you do not select a racial/ethnic category, your child cannot be considered for

enrollment. The category you select is your decision.

 

9. Can students with disabilities apply to magnet schools and programs?

All students with disabilities or mobility impairments are eligible to apply to magnet schools and

programs. Appropriate services within these programs will be provided to meet individual needs.

If a student with a mobility impairment is selected by lottery for a magnet school or program that

is not accessible, transportation will be provided to a comparable magnet program at an

accessible school.

 

10. Are students with disabilities required to meet entrance test requirements for

enrollment?

Students with disabilities are required to take entrance tests at schools that require them.

Applicable test accommodations described in the student’s Individualized Education Program

(IEP) or 504 Plan will be made available.

 

11. Can English Language Learners (ELLs) apply to magnet schools and programs?

Yes. All ELLs are eligible to apply to magnet schools and programs.

 

12. When will I find out if my child has been accepted?

Notification letters will be mailed according to the schedule below:

All high schools: February 22, 2008

Elementary magnet schools: March 3-7, 2008

Magnet cluster schools: March 3-7, 2008

Elementary open enrollment schools: March 3-7, 2008

Regional Gifted Centers, Classical Schools

Academic Centers, IB Prep Programs: March 7, 2008

 

Results cannot be given to parents via telephone. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A

NOTIFICATION LETTER WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THE DESIGNATED DATE,

CONTACT THE OFFICE OF ACADEMIC ENHANCEMENT AT (773) 553-2060.

 

13. Is transportation provided?

The following types of transportation are provided to elementary school students:

• Gifted Program transportation service: This service is provided only to students attending

Regional Gifted Centers. Students must live more than 1.5 miles from the school in order to

receive transportation service (with the exception of Carnegie, which provides transportation

to students living between 3900 South and 7500 South, from Lake Shore Drive to the city

limits; and South Loop, which provides transportation to students living between 900

North and 3900 South, from Lake Shore Drive to the city limits).

 

• Classical School transportation service: This service is provided to students enrolled in one of

the four Classical Schools. Transportation is provided to students who reside more than 1.5 miles

from the school and within the boundaries identified below:

School North Boundary South Boundary

Decatur North City Limits Fullerton — 2400 North

Skinner Fullerton — 2400 North Pershing Road — 3900 South

McDade Pershing Road — 3900 South 106th St. South

Poe 71st St. South South City Limits

 

• Magnet school transportation service: This service is provided to students attending

elementary magnet schools who live more than 1.5 miles but less than 6 miles from the school.

• Magnet cluster school transportation: Transportation is not provided for incoming students to

magnet cluster schools.

• Majority-to-minority transfer program transportation: Transportation is not provided for

incoming students in most cases. Transportation is only provided if there is an existing bus

route from the student’s neighborhood school to the transfer receiving school. If there is no

existing bus route, bus passes will be provided to the student.

• Academic Centers and International Baccalaureate Preparatory Programs: Transportation is

provided to seventh and eighth grade students who live more than 1.5 miles from the school.

Students must get to a designated pick-up location; no bus route will require a student to ride the

bus for more than 60 minutes each way.

 

Bus transportation is not generally provided for high school students. Transportation at the

elementary and high school levels is provided to students with disabilities if the IEP or 504 Plan

requires it. Transportation may also be provided to homeless students upon enrollment. Contact

the Office of Specialized Services at (773) 553-1800 for more information.

Note: All transportation provisions and policies are subject to modification.

 

14. Who should I contact to obtain this document in an alternate format?

You can contact the ADA administrator at (773) 553-2698 (Voice) or (773) 553-2699 (TTY).

 

15. Who should I contact if I have more questions?

For further information, call the Office of Academic Enhancement at (773) 553-2060.

 

You may also wish to contact the following CPS departments:

Charter Schools (773) 553-1530                Special Education Services (773) 553-1800

Student Transportation (773) 553-2860     JROTC Programs (773) 534-9770

 

Education-to-Careers (773) 553-2460       Early Childhood Programs (including Tuition-Based (773) 553-2010

                                                            Preschool and State PreKindergarten)