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High School Application Information

It’s the start of a brand new school year and a whole world of exciting new experiences are just around the corner. For our eighth grade families, this is especially true as you begin the last year of elementary school and start preparing for high school!

Go CPS High School Application Overview

Applications Available This Fall!

From October 2 to December 15, 2017, you will have the opportunity to apply to the high school programs that best meet your needs using our new website and online application platform at GoCPS. That’s less than a month away, so now is the time to start getting ready to make these important decisions.
 
Visit go.cps.edu today to learn about the new high school application process!

Activating Your Account

In order to apply using GoCPS, you will need to activate your account. This will allow you to:

  • Create a username and password
  • Create your primary parent/guardian profile
  • Create profiles for each high school applicant in your family
  • Link student data records for current CPS students to the profile
  • View the programs to which your student(s) are eligible to apply
  • Verify that student records are accurate
  • “Favorite” top programs you are considering for applications in October
 
To begin the account activation process, click below.
http://go.cps.edu/#/activate

Activation Codes

CPS Students During 2016-17 School Year
 
In order to activate your account, you will need to use the Activation Code from a letter sent home with your student at the end of the school year. If you have misplaced or did not receive this code, please contact the Office of Access and Enrollment at 773-553-2060 from a telephone number listed on your student’s CPS student information file to have it reissued. The OAE call center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
 
Activation Codes will also be included with the Eligibility Letters that will be distributed to students at school in September 2017.

Program Options and Selections

Once a family activates their account, they will see a list of all the high school programs to which they can apply using GoCPS. Many schools offer multiple program options. In most cases, students will apply to individual programs within a school vs. applying to the school in general.
 
To apply to ninth grade, students will submit only ONE application for the programs in which they are interested. Programs are categorized in two groups: Selective Enrollment High Schools and Non-Selective Enrollment programs. (A Non-Selective program is any program that is not one of the 11 Selective Enrollment High Schools.)

Select & Rank

Families can apply to up to 20 non-selective enrollment programs, and if students are eligible, up to 6 selective enrollment programs. (Note that non-Selective Enrollment programs can also have minimum eligibility requirements.)
 
During the application period, families will select all the programs they will apply to, rank them in order of preference, provide any supplemental information required for the programs selected, and schedule and participate in any required admissions screenings (e.g., testing, information sessions, auditions, etc.).

Single Best Offer

Students can receive one Selective Enrollment offer and one Non-Selective Enrollment offer. If they do not qualify for a Selective Enrollment offer, they can only receive one Non-Selective Enrollment offer. The offer will be to  the highest-ranked school/program on their application for which they qualify and for which seats are available. If they do not qualify for a Selective Enrollment or Non-Selective Enrollment offer, they are guaranteed a seat in the general education program of their neighborhood school.

Application Advice

No matter who is activating the account, be sure to enter the name and address of the parent/guardian with whom the student resides. The address for this parent/guardian will be the address that is used for determining tiers, proximity boundaries, and attendance and overlay boundaries.

Web Browsers

GoCPS is optimized for view on Chrome and Safari web browsers. We recommend using one of these to access the site.

Need Help?

If you have any questions about the activation process, contact the Office of Access and Enrollment at 773-553-2060 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or email gocps@cps.edu.