Get to Know DePaul College Prep: A Spotlight on One of the Top Chicago Catholic High Schools

Leading up to the HSPT on December 5th, Test Prep Chicago is spotlighting some of Chicago's top Catholic high schools on our blog. This week, we're taking a closer look at DePaul College Prep.

DePaul College Prep stands out for its strong academics, its partnership with one of the largest Catholic universities in the country, and a recent run of athletic success few schools can match. The school traces its history to Gordon Technical High School, which opened in 1952 and served as an all-boys Catholic school for five decades before welcoming girls in 2002. In 2012, at the request of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Congregation of the Resurrection, DePaul University stepped in as an academic partner, and in 2014 the school officially became DePaul College Prep. Today, it is a Vincentian Catholic high school sponsored by the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians), the same order that sponsors DePaul University. Resultingly, service is central to the school's Vincentian mission as well. Guided by the question "What must be done?", DePaul College Prep students contribute thousands of hours of service each year to nonprofit organizations in Chicago and beyond.

Academically, DePaul Prep offers students a wide range of College Prep, Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. The school was authorized as an IB Diploma Programme school in 2015, giving students access to a globally recognized curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking and, like its AP program, offers the potential for college credit. It is also one of the only co-ed Catholic high schools in Chicago that offers the IB Diploma Programme. Additionally, thanks to the academic partnership with DePaul University, students can also take dual enrollment classes at DePaul, earning real college credit before they finish high school.

Outside the classroom, DePaul Prep offers more than 50 co-curriculars, clubs, and academic teams, and many students take part in co-curricular activities, athletics, or both. On the athletic side, the DePaul Prep Rams have been on a remarkable run. The boys' basketball team, led by head coach Tom Kleinschmidt (a Gordon Tech alum and former DePaul University All-American), won three consecutive Illinois state championships from 2023 to 2025. In 2024, the football team captured the IHSA Class 4A state championship with a 40–6 win over Mt. Zion, the school's first football state title since 1980, back when it was still Gordon Tech. Students also have access to athletic fields right on the new riverside campus, which Cardinal Cupich blessed when the campus was dedicated in 2020.

Overall, DePaul College Prep offers students a well-rounded Catholic high school experience: rigorous academics with genuine college connections, a strong service mission, and a thriving athletic and extracurricular scene on one of Chicago's newest campuses. It tends to be a great fit for students who want a challenging college-prep curriculum, including AP, IB, and college-level coursework, within a faith-based, service-minded, and driven community.

Admission to DePaul College Prep is based in part on the High School Placement Test (HSPT), the entrance exam used by Catholic high schools across the Archdiocese of Chicago, which will be given on Saturday, December 5th. A short, timed personal essay is also required after completing the HSPT at DePaul College Prep. Additionally, the school strongly encourages students to take the HSPT on its own campus, as students who test there are given preference for admission, and only students who take the HSPT at DePaul Prep are eligible for its academic scholarships and financial aid. Because Catholic high schools also use HSPT scores for scholarships and class placement, a strong score can make a real difference.

If your student is interested in attending DePaul College Prep or another Catholic high school, Test Prep Chicago can help your student prepare for the HSPT, helping them develop the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to succeed on all five sections of the exam. Students can now enroll in our online HSPT prep courses (sign up here), one-day Palooza workshops (sign up here), or individual tutoring sessions (sign up here), which all include HSPT content and test-taking strategies. With the December 5th test date just a little less than eight weeks away, sign up now to help your student prepare!

After the PreACT 9: What Are the Next Steps?

Today, Wednesday, October 7th, CPS and charter school eighth graders took the PreACT 9 Secure, which this year replaces the old CPS HSAT as the entrance exam for Chicago's 11 selective enrollment high schools and public AP/IB programs. Non-CPS students will test on the weekends of October 17–18 and 24–25. If you are wondering what the next steps for the CPS selective enrollment high school application and admissions process look like for this year, learn more below!

Although all CPS students took the PreACT 9 today in school, taking the test does not mean that your student’s application and test scores have automatically been submitted to CPS high schools. To make sure your application is final, please visit go.cps.edu. There, students can rank up to 6 Selective Enrollment programs and up to 20 Choice programs. Rank them in your true order of preference, use all six slots if your child would be happy at more schools, and be sure to include any school you might later pursue through Principal Discretion. Note that applications for CPS high selective enrollment high schools and Choice programs close on Friday, November 13th at 5pm!

After all students have completed the PreACT 9 and submitted their applications, CPS will begin the process of determining admissions. Test results and 7th-grade grades will each count for half of a student’s admissions score. The PreACT composite score (on a 1–32 scale) is multiplied by 10, and the seventh-grade GPA in core subjects (math, English, science and social studies) is multiplied by 80, for a total of 640 points. Some schools add a 35-point bonus for students who live nearby. The top 30% of seats at each school go to the highest scorers citywide, and the rest are split evenly among four socioeconomic tiers based on home address. Because this is the PreACT's first year in CPS admissions, there are no known cutoff scores.

Scores and offers will arrive together on Friday, February 12th, 2027, in each student’s GoCPS account, a month earlier than last year's March release. Each student can receive, at the most, one Selective Enrollment offer and one Choice offer. Families then have a few weeks to accept or decline their offers. Though CPS hasn't announced the deadline for student decisions yet, it has historically fallen in mid-March. That said, as the announcement date of scores and offers have been moved up, the decision date may possibly be moved up as well. Once students have made their decisions, rolling waitlists will follow, with short response and decision windows. Note that once your child accepts a selective enrollment offer, they can't receive a different SEHS offer in a later round.

The exception is Principal Discretion, which lets each selective enrollment high school principal fill a small number of seats, historically up to about 5%, based on a holistic review of an essay, recommendations, and supporting documents. Students can apply to just one school this way. It must be a school they ranked on their application, and they can apply even after accepting another offer. The window opens in the spring after results and stays open about two weeks; in 2023 it ran March 29 to April 14, with decisions on April 28. If you think you'll go this route, it’s best to start lining up recommendation writers early.

If your student does not attend a CPS school, there is still time to prepare your student for the exam, helping them develop the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to succeed. As a licensed participant in the NTPA ACT Affiliate Tutor Program, we had been aware of the change from the CPS HSAT to the PreACT 9, and our team had already begun creating new PreACT 9 Secure curriculum. As such, students enrolled or looking to enroll in any courses or one-day workshops, or students beginning individual tutoring, can be assured that the content and test-taking strategies they are being taught will reflect the content seen on the new exam. While all of our courses have begun, you can still sign up for our self-paced course (sign up here), self-paced Palooza workshop (sign up here), or individual tutoring sessions (sign up here), which all include the new PreACT 9 Secure content and test-taking strategies instead of the old CPS HSAT curriculum. Sign up now to help your student prepare!

A Deep Dive into Whitney Young: What Makes this CPS Selective Enrollment High School Special?

Leading up to the PreACT 9 next week, Test Prep Chicago is spotlighting all eleven CPS selective enrollment high schools, along with some of the city's top AP, IB, and Honors programs, right here on our blog. This week, we're taking a closer look at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School.

Whitney Young stands out for its history, its academic depth, and a competitive track record few schools in the country can match. The school is at 211 South Laflin Street in the West Loop, on Chicago's Near West Side. It opened on September 3, 1975, as Chicago's first public magnet high school, and is named after Whitney M. Young Jr., a prominent civil rights leader. Its alumni include former First Lady Michelle Obama, who graduated in 1981 as her class's salutatorian.

Academically, Whitney Young is consistently one of the top-ranked public high schools in Illinois. In the 2026–2027 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings, it placed sixth in the state and No. 107 in the nation. It has also been named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, in 2009 and again in 2020. Students follow a rigorous college-prep curriculum with a wide range of honors and Advanced Placement courses.

Whitney Young is well known for its dominance in academic competition. Its Academic Decathlon team won its 20th consecutive Illinois state championship in 2023, competing across ten events ranging from economics and literature to music, science, and speech. The school also has a nationally competitive policy debate team. Beyond these, students have joined clubs like Math Team, Science Olympiad, Model UN, Robotics, the Chess Team, and the Certamen Latin Club. Cultural groups such as the Asian-American Culture Club, Latinos Unidos, and the Muslim Student Association are active too, along with service organizations like Best Buddies and Habitat for Humanity.

The arts and athletics are also notable at Whitney. The Young Company, the school's student-led drama group, puts on two mainstage productions each year and a full musical every other year, with student crews designing and building the sets, lighting, props, and costumes. On the athletic side, the Whitney Young Dolphins compete in the Chicago Public League. The boys' basketball program is one of the most successful in the state, with IHSA state championships in 2009, 2014, and 2017. In 2019, the school opened the $4.3 million Michelle Obama Athletic Complex, which includes football, lacrosse, and soccer fields, a running track, and softball and baseball diamonds.

Overall, Whitney Young offers students a uniquely well-rounded high school experience. The school remains one of Chicago's most sought-after (and most competitive) selective enrollment programs, and it tends to be a great fit for students who thrive in a highly rigorous academic environment and want to test themselves in competition, on stage, or on the court.

Admission to Whitney Young is competitive and based on seventh-grade core grades and the new PreACT 9. If your student is interested in attending Whitney Young or another selective enrollment high school, Test Prep Chicago can help your student prepare for the new PreACT 9, helping them develop the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to succeed. As a licensed participant in the NTPA ACT Affiliate Tutor Program, we had been aware of the change from the CPS HSAT to the PreACT 9, and our team had already begun creating new PreACT 9 Secure curriculum. As such, students enrolled or looking to enroll in any courses or one-day workshops, or students beginning individual tutoring, can be assured that the content and test-taking strategies they are being taught will reflect the content seen on the new exam. While all of our courses have begun, you can still sign up for our self-paced course (sign up here), one-day Palooza workshops (sign up here), or individual tutoring sessions (sign up here), which all include the new PreACT 9 Secure content and test-taking strategies instead of the old CPS HSAT curriculum. Sign up now to help your student prepare!

A Closer Look Inside Jones College Prep

Leading up to the PreACT 9 this October, Test Prep Chicago is spotlighting all eleven CPS selective enrollment high schools, along with some of the city's top AP, IB, and Honors programs, right here on our blog. This week, we're taking a closer look at Jones College Prep.

Jones College Prep stands out for its rigorous academics, its career-focused programs in law and engineering, and a downtown location few high schools can match. The school sits in the Printer's Row/South Loop neighborhood. This area is often called Chicago's "Education Corridor" because so many educational institutions are clustered there, meaning that Jones puts students right in the middle of the city's cultural and professional life. The school also has a long history. It opened in 1938 as Jones Commercial High School, a business-focused school, and in the late 1990s it became the college preparatory powerhouse it is today.

Academically, Jones consistently ranks among the top public high schools in the state and the country. In the 2026–2027 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings, Jones placed fifth in Illinois and No. 99 in the nation. It is also a three-time National Blue Ribbon School, and for good reason. Students can choose from more than 125 courses, most of them honors-level, including more than 25 Advanced Placement options. Students who want a head start on college can take dual credit courses at Jones through a partnership with Loyola University, as well as off-campus dual enrollment courses through the City Colleges of Chicago.

One of Jones's most distinctive features is its Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, which offers two four-year pathways: Pre-Law and Pre-Engineering. Pre-Law is an honors program where students build critical thinking and debate skills. The school has its own dedicated courtroom where students take part in mock trials. Pre-Law students have had internship opportunities with the law firms Baker McKenzie and Winston & Strawn, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the Cook County State's Attorney. In their third year, they can earn college credit through a dual credit course with Loyola. The Pre-Engineering pathway is a four-course sequence, including Honors Introduction to Engineering Design, Honors Principles of Engineering, Honors Digital Electronics, and Engineering Design and Development. The sequence ends with students developing an original product or machine design, and the program partners with the engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti.

Outside the classroom, Jones offers more than 120 clubs and organizations, from academic groups and fitness clubs to racial, ethnic, cultural, and identity affinity groups. There's no limit on how many clubs a student can join, and students can also write for the school newspaper, the Blueprint. Annual traditions add to the sense of community: Eagle Games, Homecoming, Faculty Follies, the Black Student Union's "BSU Presents…" series, Asian Fest, and the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) Festival. Athletics are a big part of life at Jones too, with teams in 23 boys' and girls' sports. The school's newer South Campus, opened in 2013, includes a gymnasium, fitness centers, a pool, and a professional-quality theater.

Between its top-tier academics, its law and engineering pathways, and its downtown location, Jones gives students a high school experience that is deeply connected to the city around them. This is a big reason the school remains one of Chicago's most sought-after (and most competitive) selective enrollment programs. It's a great fit for students who thrive in a highly rigorous academic environment and want to make the most of a downtown campus, whether that means exploring a career in law or engineering or getting a head start on college coursework.

Admission to Jones is competitive and based on seventh-grade core grades and the new PreACT 9. If your student is interested in attending Jones or another selective enrollment high school, Test Prep Chicago can help your student prepare for the new PreACT 9, helping them develop the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to succeed. As a licensed participant in the NTPA ACT Affiliate Tutor Program, we had been aware of the change from the CPS HSAT to the PreACT 9, and our team had already begun creating new PreACT 9 Secure curriculum. As such, students enrolled or looking to enroll in any courses or one-day workshops, or students beginning individual tutoring, can be assured that the content and test-taking strategies they are being taught will reflect the content seen on the new exam. While all of our courses have begun, you can still sign up for our self-paced course (sign up here), one-day Palooza workshops (sign up here), or individual tutoring sessions (sign up here), which all include the new PreACT 9 Secure content and test-taking strategies instead of the old CPS HSAT curriculum. Sign up now to help your student prepare!

All About Walter Payton College Prep: Learn More about One of Chicago’s Top Selective Enrollment High Schools

Leading up to the PreACT 9 this October, Test Prep Chicago is spotlighting all eleven CPS selective enrollment high schools, along with some of the city's top AP, IB, and Honors programs, right here on our blog. This week, we're taking a closer look at Walter Payton College Prep.

Walter Payton stands out for its rigorous academics, strong emphasis on world languages, and reputation as one of the most competitive selective enrollment schools in the city to gain admission to. Located in the Old Town neighborhood on Chicago's North Side, the school has built its identity around a global, college-prep curriculum designed to prepare students to think and engage internationally.

Academically, Payton is known for its strength across math, science, and world languages, with a curriculum focused on mathematics, science, and world languages that has helped more than 99% of Payton students meet or exceed state math standards. Students have access to a wide range of Honors and AP coursework across core subjects, along with weekly seminars on topics like Zulu language and culture, Latin America in film, and world religion, giving students the chance to dig into subjects well beyond the standard curriculum.

Payton's world languages program is one of its most distinctive features. One of the school's distinguishing characteristics is a requirement for every student to complete four years of foreign language instruction, with offerings that have included Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish, and Latin. The school's commitment to language education runs deep, as Payton is home to the only Confucius Institute in the world inside a high school, a partnership that supports Chinese language and cultural exchange programs. Students in the language program have also had opportunities to travel abroad and participate in home-stays through exchange partnerships with schools in China, France, Morocco, Japan, and Chile, giving students a chance to build real fluency while immersing themselves in new cultures.

Outside the classroom, Payton's extracurricular scene reflects the same academic intensity found in its classrooms. Students can get involved in a wide range of student-led clubs, including academic groups like Robotics and Science Olympiad, as well as identity-based organizations such as the Black Student Union and Latin American Coalition. The arts have a strong presence as well, with club offerings like choir, drama, photography, and more. Students looking for competition and leadership opportunities can also get involved in debate, journalism, and other academic competitions, while athletics round out the extracurricular offerings across a variety of sports.

Between its emphasis on math and science, its standout world language program, and its deeply engaged student community, Payton gives students an unusually global high school experience. This is a big reason the school remains one of Chicago's most sought-after (and most competitive) selective enrollment programs. It's a great fit for students who thrive in a highly rigorous academic environment and want to build real fluency in a world language alongside a strong foundation in math and science.

Admission to Walter Payton is competitive and based on seventh-grade core grades and the new PreACT 9. If your student is interested in attending Payton or another selective enrollment high school, Test Prep Chicago can help your student prepare for the new PreACT 9, helping them develop the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to succeed. As a licensed participant in the NTPA ACT Affiliate Tutor Program, we had been aware of the change from the CPS HSAT to the PreACT 9, and our team had already begun creating new PreACT 9 Secure curriculum. As such, students enrolled or looking to enroll in any courses or one-day workshops, or students beginning individual tutoring, can be assured that the content and test-taking strategies they are being taught will reflect the content seen on the new exam. All of our scheduled courses (sign up here) and one-day Palooza workshops (sign up here) will continue to run as planned, as will our individual tutoring sessions (sign up here), with the new PreACT 9 Secure content and test-taking strategies instead of the old CPS HSAT curriculum. Sign up now to help your student prepare!

Scoring for the New PreACT 9, Explained

If your child is applying to a CPS Selective Enrollment High School this year, you've probably heard that the old admissions test is gone. In its place is the PreACT 9 Secure, and along with it comes an updated, scoring rubric for the 2027-28 admissions cycle. Here's what changed, what stayed the same, and one detail that trips up a lot of families: not every section of the test actually counts toward your score.

The Big Picture
CPS's admissions formula for Selective Enrollment programs is still built on the same principle: half of a student’s admissions points come from the PreACT 9, and half come from a student’s core 7th-grade grades in science, math, language arts, and social studies. That said, the math behind each half has been updated for the PreACT 9.

The total composite is worth 640 points, made up of two equal 320-point halves:

• Test score (320 points): Your child's PreACT 9 Secure composite score (reported on a 1–32 scale) is multiplied by 10. A perfect 32 composite earns the full 320 points.

• 7th-grade grades (320 points): Your child's final 7th-grade GPA across the core subjects is multiplied by 80. A 4.0 GPA earns the full 320 points.
  

Practically, this means:

• Test-day stamina still matters.

• Prep time is best concentrated on English, Math, and Reading, since those are the only three sections feeding the composite.

• Don't panic over a rough Science section on test day. It's informational, not a factor in the score CPS ranks students by.
  

How Do Tiers Impact Scoring?
Every Chicago address falls into one of four socioeconomic Tiers (1–4), based on Census data for that neighborhood. Tier assignment doesn't change anyone's odds of admission, but it does change the score needed to clear the bar.

Here's how seats are actually distributed at each program:

• The top 30% of seats go to the highest-scoring applicants citywide, regardless of tier.

• The remaining 70% of seats are split evenly across the four tiers (17.5% each), with seats in each tier going to that tier's highest scorers.
  

That structure is why cutoff scores differ by tier at the same school. A Tier 1 applicant and a Tier 4 applicant aren't competing against an identical pool for those tier-specific seats.

One important caveat: CPS has published the scoring formula, but not the cutoff scores. Those only exist once every applicant has tested and been ranked, which happens after results come out. Any specific cutoff number floating around today (especially anything referencing the old 900-point CPS HSAT scale) isn't comparable to the new 640-point system and shouldn't be treated as a target.

How Does CPS Break a Tie?
For Selective Enrollment programs specifically, ties are broken in a fixed order:

1. PreACT 9 Math score — the higher Math score wins the tiebreaker first.

2. PreACT 9 Reading score — if Math is also tied, Reading is the next tiebreaker.

3. Random computerized lottery — if both are identical, the remaining seats are assigned by lottery.

Worth noting: Math and Reading section scores carry extra weight beyond the composite, since they're the two sections that decide ties. Choice programs (IB, Military, Fine & Performing Arts, CTE) handle ties differently, as those go straight to a computerized lottery.

Putting it all together
For families prepping for the 2026-27 application cycle, the formula boils down to a short list:

• Keep 7th-grade grades as strong as possible, as they're worth just as much as the test.

• Focus test prep on English, Math, and Reading, the three sections that make up the composite.

• Don't skip Science on test day, but don't lose sleep over it either. Ultimately, it won't affect admissions or composite score.

• Treat any cutoff numbers you see right now as historical or speculative. Real 640-point cutoffs won't exist until after scores are released.

Test Prep Chicago has already built a full PreACT 9 Secure curriculum, so students in our courses, Palooza workshops, and individual tutoring are training on content and strategies that match the actual exam. All of our scheduled courses (sign up here), one-day Palooza workshops (sign up here), and individual tutoring sessions (sign up here) will continue to run as planned. All of these test prep offerings will feature the new PreACT 9 Secure content and test-taking strategies instead of the old CPS HSAT curriculum. Sign up while there’s still time to help your student prepare!

Why No One Can Predict PreACT 9 Cutoff Scores for CPS Selective Enrollment High Schools (2027–28 School Year)

With a new exam playing a huge role in CPS selective enrollment high schools, many families are nervous about the change. There is so much uncertainty around scoring and cutoffs, and many parents just want a target score for their student to aim for. For this cycle, that target number doesn't exist yet. Below, learn why, and how you can help your student prepare to succeed on the test (even without a target score).

1. It's the first year this test has ever been used
CPS replaced the CPS HSAT with the PreACT 9 Secure starting this cycle; as such, for the 2026-27 application season, 8th graders will take the PreACT 9 for the very first time on October 7, 2026 (non-CPS students later in October). For this reason, there are no prior years' PreACT 9 scores from which to determine cutoffs: no score distributions, no precedent.

2. Cutoffs are calculated after everyone tests, not set in advance
Selective enrollment admissions do not use a pass/fail threshold; they use a competitive ranking system within each of the city's four tiers. The "cutoff" for a school/tier is just the score of the last student who meets the threshold and is admitted, which can't exist until every applicant has tested and been ranked.

3. The scoring formula is now public, but a formula isn't a cutoff
As of CPS's rubric published 8/20/2026, the old 900-point composite is now a 640-point scale:

• PreACT 9 Secure — 320 pts (50%): Composite score (1–32) × 10

• 7th Grade GPA — 320 pts (50%): GPA × 80

• Tiebreakers: PreACT 9 Math score → PreACT 9 Reading score → random lottery

This tells families how a score converts to points. Unfortunately, it does not provide information about how many points will be competitive. That still depends on how the full applicant pool performs on a test no one has taken before in this context.

4. The new PreACT 9 is structurally different from the CPS HSAT, so old benchmarks don't transfer
The PreACT 9 Secure runs ~2.5 hours across four sections (English, Math, Reading, Science) vs. the CPS HSAT's 1 hour and two sections. Because the exams are so different, old benchmarks from the CPS HSAT won't carry over to the PreACT 9.

5. Cutoffs vary by tier and by all 11 selective enrollment high schools
Even with a fixed formula, there's no single cutoff — there are separate cutoffs for each of the 4 tiers across all 11 selective enrollment high schools, all recalculated from scratch this cycle with no prior-year anchor.

The bottom line: A target score needs a defined scale, a known applicant pool, and precedent. CPS has now given us the scale. The pool and precedent still won't exist until February of 2027, when all scores are released and initial offers have been sent. 

What this means practically
It is impossible to know what scores on the PreACT 9 will be required for entrance into Walter Payton, Northside or any other selective enrollment high school. While this uncertainty is very frustrating, remember that the PreACT 9 is a new test for everyone, so all families are in the same boat. Your student can succeed on the PreACT 9 with or without a target score; what's most important is that they go into the test prepared and confident so they can perform at their best.

Test Prep Chicago anticipated this change and prepared: we've already built a full PreACT 9 Secure curriculum, so students in our courses, Palooza workshops, and individual tutoring are training on content and strategies that match the actual exam. All of our scheduled courses (sign up here), one-day Palooza workshops (sign up here), and individual tutoring sessions (sign up here) will continue to run as planned. All of these test prep offerings will feature the new PreACT 9 Secure content and test-taking strategies instead of the old CPS HSAT curriculum. Sign up now to help your student prepare!

Big Changes to CPS High School Admissions: What Parents Need to Know for 2027-28

If you're a Chicago parent whose child is applying to CPS high schools for the 2027-28 school year, some important changes have been made to the admissions process. Chicago Public Schools just released brand new information clarifying PreACT 9 scoring, the new point system, and tiebreakers. Below, Test Prep Chicago breaks down these changes, and how they may impact your student.

The New Point Scale
CPS has replaced its old 900-point system with a new 640-point system: 320 points from the PreACT 9 and 320 points from 7th-grade grades in English, science, math, and social studies. While the total amount of points has changed, the system's overall structure remains the same: 50% of a student's point total comes from the PreACT 9 and 50% comes from grades

PreACT 9 Scoring
The PreACT 9 Secure produces a composite score from 1 to 32, which CPS multiplies by 10 for up to 320 points. A 28 composite earns 280 points; a perfect 32 earns the full 320. Because CPS hasn't used this test before, families won't have prior years' score distributions, cutoff scores, or data to contextualize each student's performance, which is worth keeping in mind as results come in.

Grade Point Average Scoring
The remaining 320 points come from final 7th-grade grade (GPA) in core subjects. CPS multiplies the composite GPA by 80 to convert it into points, for a maximum of 320. A student with a 4.0 GPA earns the maximum, while a 3.0 GPA translates to 240 points. 

Final Score Calculation
Once both scores are calculated, they're simply added together to produce a total score out of 640 points. If your student wants to estimate their own score at home, this formula makes it easy to plug in real numbers and see where they stand. While this can be helpful, remember that since this is a new system, there's no prior-year data yet to compare test scores against. 

Additional Points
Certain programs award an additional 35 points to students who live within a school's designated geographic boundary, bringing the maximum possible score for those programs up to 675 points. Right now, this bonus applies to all IB programs and to Hubbard High School's University Scholars program. If you're applying to one of these programs and live nearby, that geographic bonus can make a real difference, so it's worth double-checking your address eligibility before applications close.

Tiebreakers
With thousands of students competing for a limited number of seats, ties are common, and CPS has a clear system for breaking them that works differently depending on the type of school.  Choice program, including IB, Military, Fine & Performing Arts, and CTE programs, use a computerized lottery. Selective enrollment schools compare PreACT 9 Math scores first, then Reading scores, and then fall back to a random lottery if still tied — meaning a slightly higher math score can be the deciding factor.  

What This Means for Your Student  
Because this rubric and exam are both new, there will be a learning curve this cycle for everyone: families, students, and even school staff alike. Test Prep Chicago anticipated this change and prepared: we've already built a full PreACT 9 Secure curriculum, so students in our courses, Palooza workshops, and individual tutoring are training on content and strategies that match the actual exam. All of our scheduled courses (sign up here) and one-day Palooza workshops (sign up here) will continue to run as planned, as will our individual tutoring sessions (sign up here), featuring the new PreACT 9 Secure content and test-taking strategies instead of the old CPS HSAT curriculum. Sign up now to help your student prepare!

If you have questions about how the transitions outlined in this blog will affect your student's application, you can always reach out to our team at 312-848-1266 or info@testprepchicago.com for more information. Check out our detailed overview page for more here!

Lane Tech College Prep: A Closer Look at One of Chicago’s Top Selective Enrollment High Schools

Leading up to the PreACT 9 this October, Test Prep Chicago is spotlighting all eleven CPS selective enrollment high schools, along with some of the city's top AP, IB, and Honors programs, right here on our blog. This week, we're taking a closer look at Lane Tech College Prep.

Lane Tech stands out for its blend of rigorous academics, an enormous course catalog, strong STEM offerings, and one of the broadest extracurricular programs in Chicago. Located on the North Side, the school has built its reputation on a strong college-prep curriculum paired with real room for students to explore.

Academically, Lane Tech offers an incredible breadth of courses. Students can take Honors and AP courses across math, science, English, social studies, computer science, world languages, and the arts, plus electives that stretch well beyond the standard curriculum, including psychology, economics, engineering, and environmental science.

For STEM-minded students, Lane Tech is especially strong. The school offers courses in engineering, robotics, computer science, programming, and digital design, along with specialized STEM pathways for students who want to go further in math, science, and tech.

World languages are another highlight of the high school experience at Lane. Students can choose from Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, and Arabic, with Honors and AP-level coursework available in several, giving students a chance to build fluency while exploring new cultures.

Outside the classroom, Lane Tech's extracurricular scene is impressive. Students can get involved in academic competitions, debate, journalism, student government, Model UN, and more. The arts have a strong presence, with programs in visual art, photography, ceramics, band, orchestra, choir, theatre, and creative writing. Athletics round things out, with teams in football, basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, softball, swimming, wrestling, tennis, golf, bowling, and cross country.

Between the academics, the STEM and tech programs, the language offerings, and the sheer range of activities, Lane Tech gives students an unusually broad high school experience. This is a big reason the school remains one of Chicago's most sought-after selective enrollment programs. It's a great fit for students who want a serious academic challenge and strong STEM options, while still having the opportunity to explore creatively.

Admission to Lane Tech is competitive and based on seventh-grade core grades and the new PreACT 9. If your student is interested in attending Lane or another selective enrollment high school, Test Prep Chicago can help your student prepare for the new PreACT 9, helping them develop the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to succeed. As a licensed participant in the NTPA ACT Affiliate Tutor Program, we had been aware of the change from the CPS HSAT to the PreACT 9, and our team had already begun creating new PreACT 9 Secure curriculum. As such, students enrolled or looking to enroll in any courses or one-day workshops, or students beginning individual tutoring, can be assured that the content and test-taking strategies they are being taught will reflect the content seen on the new exam. All of our scheduled courses (sign up here) and one-day Palooza workshops (sign up here) will continue to run as planned, as will our individual tutoring sessions (sign up here), with the new PreACT 9 Secure content and test-taking strategies instead of the old CPS HSAT curriculum. Sign up now to help your student prepare!

Lindblom Math and Science Academy: A Closer Look at One of Chicago’s Top Selective Enrollment High Schools

Leading up to the PreACT 9 this October, Test Prep Chicago will feature all eleven CPS selective enrollment high schools and some top AP, IB, and Honors high school programs in Chicago, breaking down each program and what makes them unique on our blog. This week, we're spotlighting Robert Lindblom Math and Science Academy.

Lindblom stands out for its combination of rigorous academics, STEM education, and unique world language opportunities. Located on Chicago's South Side, the school is known for its focus on math and science, though it also provides opportunities for students to explore technology, the arts, languages, and career-focused programs. 

One of Lindblom's greatest strengths is its advanced academic program. The school offers a rigorous curriculum with Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses across various subjects. Students can pursue advanced coursework in areas including math, science, English, social studies, world languages, and computer science. Lindblom has a strong STEM focus through its Biotechnology Center of Excellence, which gives students opportunities to explore biotechnology and lab science. For students interested in technology and engineering, Lindblom offers career and technical education pathways in Computer Networking, Game Programming and Web Development, Pre-Engineering, and a Teaching Academy. These programs allow students to connect classroom learning with practical skills and explore potential career interests before applying to university.

Beyond academics, Lindblom provides students with a wide range of extracurricular activities. Students can participate in academic organizations such as math team, science club, technology club, debate, journalism, chess, and yearbook, as well as service and leadership opportunities. The arts are another important part of the school community, with opportunities including band, orchestra, choir, dance, photography, graphic design, painting, ceramics, and theater. Lindblom also offers a broad athletics program, with sports including football, basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, swimming, water polo, wrestling, golf, tennis, bowling, cross country, and track and field.

With its combination of selective enrollment academics, advanced coursework, specialized STEM programs, distinctive language opportunities, career-focused pathways, and diverse extracurricular activities, Lindblom offers students many ways to challenge themselves and discover their interests. It is a particularly strong fit for students drawn to math, science, technology, and engineering, but its arts, languages, athletics, and humanities opportunities make it much more than a STEM-focused school.

Admission to Lindblom is competitive and based on seventh-grade core grades and the new PreACT 9. If your student is interested in attending Lindblom or another selective enrollment high school, Test Prep Chicago can help your student prepare for the new PreACT 9, helping them develop the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to succeed. As a licensed participant in the NTPA ACT Affiliate Tutor Program, we had been aware of the change from the CPS HSAT to the PreACT 9, and our team had already begun creating new PreACT 9 Secure curriculum. As such, students enrolled or looking to enroll in any courses or one-day workshops, or students beginning individual tutoring, can be assured that the content and test-taking strategies they are being taught will reflect the content seen on the new exam. All of our scheduled courses (sign up here) and one-day Palooza workshops (sign up here) will continue to run as planned, as will our individual tutoring sessions (sign up here), with the new PreACT 9 Secure content and test-taking strategies instead of the old CPS HSAT curriculum. Sign up now to help your student prepare!