Do not rely on the waitlist. Assume the initial cutoff is the final cutoff.
Key patterns from 2024
CPS converts your 7th-grade core course grades (Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies) into a scale. An A in an honors class is worth more than an A in a standard class.
If you are a Tier 1 or Tier 2 family, celebrate. The updated 2024 cutoffs show that you have a 40-50 point advantage over Tier 4 students. You can get into a top school with a composite score that would never be accepted from a Tier 4 student. Ensure your address verification is accurate in the GoCPS portal. cps selective enrollment cutoff scores 20242024 updated
Chicago Public Schools – Office of Access and Enrollment, Official 2024 Selective Enrollment High School Results Memo (released April 2024). For verification: Visit go.cps.edu and view the “SEHS Cutoff Scores by Tier” document.
Initial offer point data released via Chicago School Options and official CPS updates reveals a noticeable upward trajectory in average cutoff numbers across competitive programs. The Peak Programs
What families often misunderstand is that a cutoff score is a trailing indicator. It is not a "passing grade" but the lowest score admitted after all seats are filled. Therefore, the 2024 numbers serve as a historical record, not a future prediction. A student who scored 890 in 2024 might have been waitlisted at Jones, while the same score in a different year could have been an automatic acceptance. Do not rely on the waitlist
: You can view your specific status and any waitlist positions directly through the GoCPS Portal . Upcoming Dates for 2025-2026 Cycle
: Applicants with point totals under 600 were generally ineligible for the waitlists at premier schools like Understanding the 900-Point System
Below are the official minimum composite scores for first-round offers for the (released Spring 2024). An A in an honors class is worth
Cutoff scores vary significantly based on your assigned and the school's popularity. For top-tier schools, a near-perfect score is often required for Tier 4 applicants. High School Rank (Top 30%) Tier 1 (Lowest) Tier 4 (Highest) Walter Payton Northside Prep Whitney Young Jones College Prep Lane Tech Brooks College Prep Lindblom Math/Sci
In 2024, received a 891 composite. The highest composite admitted to Northside was 889.
Note: Exact cutoffs vary slightly each year based on applicant pool strength. For example, Northside's Tier 4 cutoff recently saw a 4-point increase. The total score is split equally between two components: