Posts filed under 'Applying to schools'
Finding your socio-economic tier
The Sun-Times has posted a nice link that lets you figure out what Tier you’re in for the selection criteria for gifted/classical/magnet program.
The 4 tiers will each be given an equal number of spots in the remaining 60% after top-scoring kids (gifted/classical) or neighborhood kids (magnets) get chosen.
The map can be zoomed into to find your tier (although the street names are a bit hard to read.)
As the article points out, tiers that are actually a mix of low and high income families probably end up screwing over the low income families in those neighborhoods who are competing on test scores for spots at Classical/Gifted among high income kids who are their neighbors.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/2007536,CST-NWS-skuls24.article
They system certianly isn’t perfect, but personally I think it’s better than race. Maybe. I can’t decide. The tracts look pretty small geographically so I have to imagine that they’re at least 80% accurate?
I fall into Tier 3, which based on some info I saw online recently is the Tier who will be screwed the most. More than 25% of the applications come from Tier 3 families, so since we get only 25% of the spots, our odds are slimmer. I think the Tier 4 people actually get a bit of an advantage since many of those upscale families are probably NOT applying to public school.
I just can’t wait to see how this whole thing plays out. I didn’t actually apply to any magnet schools this year, so let me know what you get in the mail and if CPS actually tells you what Tier you’re in.
28 comments January 24, 2010
Figure out what Magnet Schools you are in-neighborhood for (uh, if any)
Well, it took me some time to run across this link — calling CPS, getting transferred a couple time until I finally got a woman who asked me nicely “have you ever heard of a website called CPS.edu?” Why yes. Yes I have. (Reference to Phineas and Ferb there for you fans.)
This is the link where you can find out what magnet schools you qualify for as being in-neighborhood. The range is something like a 1.5 mile radius (someone correct me if I’m wrong there.) The actuallys show a circle so I don’t know what happens if you live on a corner just outside the circle.
This is relevant if CPS continues with the new plan to give 40% of magnet seats to neighborhood kids.
I entered my address. Nothing. Nope, no advantage for me.
I tried entering an address assuming I lived across the street from Hawthorne. Three choices. Yeah. Not cool. Not fair. Someone’s going to have to make a computer model that figures out the most advantageous area in which to live to get into a magnet. Or hey, maybe once they start going the neighborhood route, they won’t be quite so elite any more.
In any case, try it out and report what you find for your neighborhood. I’m curious.
http://schoollocator.cps.k12.il.us/
Select “Accept” (this should bring up a viewer page that I can’t directly link to
Go to the bottom left and type your address
Click on “Find schools in your vicinity” (you can also narrow it down using the drop downs on the right)
Under “Select appropriate address” click on your address
Click on one of the schools and a map will come up with your home in the center and a circle around it
I am assuming this is a 1.5 mile radius (based roughly on the distance in the map.)
So if you input the address of a magnet school, you should be able to see the neighborhood radius.
Disclaimer: Always triple check before assuming any map you see on the CPS web site is accurate. Boundaries change, informatio is not always correct, and often you can’t find 2 people in CPS to give you the same information.
8 comments January 22, 2010
CPS Big Book of Schools is now online
Each year CPS prints a giant guide to all the schools in the district (PreK and Elem together and High School separately.)
This is now online (status update is thanks to a very nice CPS employee who actually followed up to contact me about this!)
http://www.cps.edu/Pages/directories.aspx#elementary
Unfortunately the book is over 600 pages long and thus isn’t all that Internet friends. They are begining to distriute hard copies to public libraries so I highly recommend trying to pick one up. It makes the school search process a lot easier.
If anyone finds a treasure trove of these somewhere, please post.
(And FYI, someone posted here that they get these printed so late because they have to wait until the end of October to get the official test scors to but in them.) But hey, if they really send them out to libraries this week they’ll be one MONTH ahead of last year so I shouldn’t complain.
Add comment November 12, 2009
The Big Book of Schools
Every year, CPS prints a giant phonebook-style guide to the Elementary and Preschools.
Their track record of getting it out hasn’t been stellar. In fact last year I believe it was distributed to the libraries about 3 days before the end of the application period in December (that isn’t an exaggeration.)
I tried to find the 2009-2010 guide online but it’s been taken down so I called the CPS office who distributes it, ready to give them grief for taking so long. To my great surprise I spoke to a very nice helpful human who says they are aiming to have it out by the end of October. She pointed out that the book is really a year early since it is for next school year, at which point I pointed out that in fact it is not early, but in fact LATE given that the application period will end 7 week s after the book comes out. (I did compliment them on being earlier than last year though.)
She says she’ll contact me when it’s ready. Yes, I could not believe I was speaking to a CPS employee. So we’ll see….. when I get the word I’ll let people know. These are usually available in the libraries and park district buildings. In the meantime, the CPS web site allows you to look up each school but it is a bit more time-consuming.
7 comments October 14, 2009
Race Information from CPS
This was posted as a comment but is worth its own post:
Dear Parent and/or Guardian:
On September 24, 2009, a federal court decision vacated the Desegregation Consent Decree that has governed the student selection process in the Chicago Public Schools for nearly 30 years.
As a result, race-based admission criteria will no longer be used to make admissions decisions. The Board remains committed to creating diverse
learning environments for our students. We are currently considering alternate admission procedures which will utilize selection factors other than race. We anticipate the new procedures will be presented to the Board of Education at its regular meeting on November 18, 2009.
It is likely that sibling and proximity considerations will be maintained, as well as the current status of our magnet schools and programs. Parents and guardians and other members of the public will have an opportunity to provide input into the new procedures; please check our website (www.cpsoae.org) for information related to the development of the new policy and how you can provide your thoughts on this process.
The enclosed Options for Knowledge guide contains information on all our programs, schools, and processes, as well as Standard and GEAP applications. The Options guide identifies schools by school type and by program, includes helpful tips for applying, and outlines new application submission procedures for GEAP schools and Selective Enrollment High Schools. We encourage you to apply to as many schools as you would be satisfied to have your child attend.
Please note: Because the Options guide and applications were printed before the federal court decision was handed down, they still contain language related to the use of race in the selection process. Any information regarding racial/ethnic selection guidelines or minority transfer programs that were governed by the Consent Decree is now obsolete and should be disregarded.
Add comment October 13, 2009
Back to Business
Computer virus is finally gone. Thanks to the reader for the suggestion – that did the trick but I still had to have someone come look at it to fix my email.
So….the big news among CPS parents and potential parents is the end of the consent decree, which means the end of using race to assign spots in magnet, gifted, and classical programs. For decades, CPS has balanced these classes by race (Caucasian vs Non-Caucasian) to ensure that minority students (who are actually in the majority in CPS) get spots in the desirable schools/programs.
One could argue for hours (or years) about the social implications of this decision but for now what it comes down to is: “What does it mean for my kid.”
The problem seems to be that despite knowing that this change was possibly coming down the pike, CPS seems to have no idea WHAT criteria, if any, will be used to balance the classes.
And this is resulting in chaos out on the front lines. From what I’ve been reading on the NPN message boards, the schools themselves don’t know whether parents should fill in the race bubble on the application form. In typical CPS bureacracy, the exact policy (if it exists) hasn’t been communicated to the school offices, nor to parents. I’m thinking that if I fill something out this year (I probably will not, but then again that’s what I thought last year) I will fill in the race bubble just in case.
The scary thing for the parents with kids entering K next year (or trying for a spot in a higher grade) is that it is a total unknown. In the past you kind of had an idea of where you stood in terms of odds. Now it’s anybody’s guess. And THAT is torture for an obsessed parent.
What the new policy will be, when it will be communicated, and HOW it’ll be communicated is all up in the air. This oughta be interesting…..
1 comment October 12, 2009
Selective Enrollment High School Scandal? You knew this one was coming….
While the whole U of I thing played out, in the back of my mind I had to wonder if the same thing has been going on with Chicago selective enrollment high schools. The high schools are probably HARDER to get into than most universities and unlike colleges, there aren’t a wide ranges of choices available. And you don’t have to worry about your child becoming a gang member if they don’t get into certain colleges.
So thanks to a couple readers for posting the links http://cbs2chicago.com/local/cps.enrollment.probe.2.1096296.html it does in fact look like clout and connections have been used to get kids into these top high schools.
For those who haven’t heard of the high school admissions process yet (expect me to be blogging about it big time in 6-7 years) there is a scoring process that’s used to get in the schools. Scores are based on grades, 7th grade ISAT test scores, and attendance. There is a formula used to rank students for admission. North Side College Prep is the hardest to get into. That school has the highest test scores of any IL high school. Others that are highly coveted are Whitney Young and Walter Peyton.
In theory, CPS goes down the ranked list offering spots just as they do for the Gifted/Classical elementary programs. But from what I’ve heard a kid pretty much knows ahead of time which school/s they have a shot at based on their score. So although there are tons of applications, most of them probably don’t stand a chance of getting in due to their grades or test scores. It’s always been competitive to get in but now with more people wanting to stay in the city the pipeline will get even more clogged. The kids who are getting in have nearly all A’s, top ISAT scores, and miss only a day or 2 in 7th grade (why yes, there are tons of sick 7th graders being sent to school – call it survival of the fittest.) It can make a parent want to crack down big time or just give up now when you see what it takes to get in those schools.
So of course it makes sense that people with connections use them. The thing that makes this slightly less objectionable to me thant the U of I scam is that in Chicago each principal gets to fill 5% of their spots using their “discretion.” So at least CPS is open about this. I was surprised to hear that this applies to selective enrollment high schools (since I don’t think it applies to gifted/classical schools that also require testing for admission) but it does work that way. So a principal can select a student who makes a good case to get in (good grades, strong leadership, but doesn’t perform well on standardized tests,) a parent could make a case for the family (mom is a scientist and will help lead a science initiative at the school,) or hey, maybe even money talks. The thing is that CPS schools desparately need these resources so to some extent I get the discretion thing. Schools even need the support of local politicians for things like extra funding, new programs, etc. Is it wrong to help out the Alderman’s kid if that means getting a great resource on your side? Maybe, maybe not. Having Michael Jordon’s son at Whitney Young certainly brought the school (and even CPS) good attention. Hmmm… does blogging about CPS get me points or does it get me on some shit-list? Must ponder that one.
I’ll be curious to see how this pans out and who has pulled strings to get students in (and how sub-par they are.) I’m also curious to see if those students could actually cut it in these top schools. I’m sure the local press will be revealing more soon.
12 comments July 23, 2009
Another Chance for Spaces in Some Magnet Cluster Schools
Hmm, I think this is new, right? CPS has issues a new form where parents can enter into another lottery I guess for some of the magnet cluster schools. Magnet clusters are basically the same as neighborhood schools but they have a special focus such as Fine Arts, Literature, Math, etc. They can take extra kids IF the neighborhood kids don’t fill up all the spots.
I see Waters and Agassiz on there which are both well-regarded.
The form is due by May 15 (to the office of academic enhancement.)
http://www.cps.edu/News/Announcements/2009/Pages/magnetclusterschools.aspx
11 comments May 8, 2009
School Assignments – Still Being Worked Through
A parent gives this update. (btw, how do I get the job of Administrator of Student Selections? That would be pretty cool, doling out those spots.)
Just a brief update. I just spoke with Crystal Vance (Administrator of Student Selections at CPS). She told me when I spoke with her back in March after the GEAP letters had been sent out that if I checked back with her later on in the process, after there had been more movement, that she might be able to give me a better idea/narrow it down as to my son’s rank/chances of getting into Lenart. Anyway, today she said that they are still in the midst of the selection process and if she could she would call me back later today or tomorrow. She didn’t indicate what she might or might not be able to tell at that point. I know this isn’t much info, but still thought I would share. 
36 comments May 5, 2009
Gifted/Classical Schools (Magnets?) – Round 2 is about to begin
Parents had to notify schools by last Friday, April 17 as to whether they would take a spot in the test/lottery programs.
So…. that means that today the GEAP office (gifted/classical) and Magnet and popular neighborhood schools can now start working their way down their lists.
Gifted and classical programs will work their way down the list of test scores (2 lists, one for caucasians and one for non-caucasians.) I’m sure now that gender isn’t accounted for – I saw the list of kids that got first offers for my son’s schools and of 28 kids there were only 9 boys.
The Magnet schools will start working their way down their waiting list.
In these cases, you will most likely get a call from GEAP or the school offering you a spot and you will have a few days to decide whether you want it or not. If not, they keep going down the list.
Post here if you here anything from a school so others will know that movement is happening. Good luck to everyone….
45 comments April 20, 2009
