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GoCPS Glossary

Find definitions to terms related to the GoCPS application and selection process.

Jump to:   A  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  L  M  N  O  P  R  S  T  W

A

Academic Centers

Housed in high schools, high-achieving 7-8 graders take high school classes in English, social studies, science, mathematics, world language, and fine art.

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Accelerated Placement

Students are placed at a higher grade level than their peers to meet their academic needs or social-emotional readiness. This includes whole grades or single subjects.

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Accept/Decline Deadline

If a GoCPS offer is given during the initial selection round, applicants need to accept or decline their offer through the GoCPS online account by the posted deadline. Offers expire after this date.

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Accommodations

These are alterations of the testing environment or equipment that allows an individual with a disability to gain access to content and/or complete assigned tasks. Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan can receive testing accommodations as defined by their plan.

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Admission Testing/Screening

All Selective Enrollment programs and some high school Choice programs require applicants to take a test or other type of admission screening (portfolio review, audition). Check the school profile page for details.

Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

College-level courses and exams taken in high school operated by the College Board that provide students an opportunity to earn college credits.

Appeals

This allows applicants/families to appeal GoCPS results only if there’s an error on the part of CPS during the application process.

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Attendance Area

This is the geographic area where students are assigned to a CPS school based on where they live. All CPS neighborhood schools have an attendance area.

Automatic Enrollment

Once a student is enrolled at their neighborhood school or GoCPS program, they are automatically re-enrolled for the next school year as long as they have not accepted a GoCPS offer to another program.

C

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

High school students can get hands-on training in an industry with an opportunity to earn college credit, certifications, shadow industry professionals, and participate in paid and unpaid internships.

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Career Academy

Offers intensified resources in high school through hands-on experiences and the opportunity to visit local businesses and shadow business professionals in various career areas.

Charter School

Independently operated schools that are authorized by the Chicago Board of Education, governed by a Boards of Directors, and can exercise autonomy over many student-related policies.

Chicago Early Learning

Application site for Pre-K (birth through age 5) programs run by CPS and community partners.

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Choice Programs

These include a variety of open enrollment schools and specialized programs that are not classified as selective enrollment. Applicants for these programs are most often chosen via a random computerized lottery.

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Citywide

These are housed in a high school that has no neighborhood attendance boundary. All must apply to attend with the exception of schools with an eighth grade.

Classical Schools K-8

Provides an accelerated program in literature, mathematics, language arts, and the humanities.

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Continuing Schools

This is a school or program that serves eighth grade in the same building that serves grades 9-12. Applicants will have a guaranteed seat in that ninth grade program as long as they graduate from the school’s eighth grade program.

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Contract Schools

 Managed by external operators, funded and monitored by the district, and must adhere to all student-related district policies.

D

Descending Points Total

For programs that use a points-based selection process to fill open seats (Selective Enrollment and some HS Choice), applicants are lined up in descending points order (combination testing and grades) from highest to lowest for available seats.

District-Run Schools

Schools that are operated and governed by CPS.

Dual Enrollment

Students take college courses while in high school, earning both high school and college credit.

Dual Language

General education programs taught in two languages, generally English and a partner language. This includes one-way programs (only English Learner (EL) students) and two way-programs (both EL and non-EL students). These programs have a neighborhood attendance boundary and accommodate neighborhood students first as long as they meet the language requirements.

Learn more: [ ENGLISH | SPANISH ]

E

Early College STEM

College partners help provide a rigorous education in science, technology, engineering, and math, and professional partners like Microsoft and Cisco Systems provide job shadowing, internships, and site visits to show students how their in-class education is applied outside of school.

Early Entrance

This is the admission of a student to kindergarten or first grade when they are younger than the required minimum age.

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Elementary Preference

Also called feeder schools, some elementary GoCPS programs give students enrolled in these programs a priority in the selection process to a specific high school program.

Eligibility

All GoCPS programs have residency requirements. Some GoCPs programs have additional requirements such as a minimum grade point average (GPA) in order to apply. For programs that use a points-based system, a minimum number of points may be required to be waitlisted.

Entry Year

This is the first year a GoCPS program starts at a school, most often kindergarten (or grade 7 for Academic Centers). Some GoCPS programs provide certain priority preferences for students only in the entry year.

Expired Offer

If an offer to a GoCPS program is not accepted by the deadline, it goes to the next applicant in line. Once an offer expires, it cannot be re-offered.

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F

Fine and Performing Arts

Programs that encourage creative and artistic expression, and develop an interest in art, music, dance, and/or drama. These programs may require admission screenings such as auditions or portfolio reviews.

G

General Education

Exposure to academic core subjects including English/language arts, math, science, and social studies, and may include world languages, art, music, and physical education to provide the foundation for the knowledge, skills, and competencies essential to becoming well-educated graduates and citizens. Also allows students to select courses around their interests.

General Priority Group

For Choice programs, any applicants who are not eligible for any listed priority group lotteries will be placed in the general group lottery.

GoCPS Application

All students who want to be considered for a GoCPS program must complete an application. Log In or Create Account.

GoCPS Hotline

You can reach a human person at 773-553-2060 during posted business hours.

Grade Skipping

A type of academic acceleration that allows students to skip one or more years of school curriculum. Applies to specific elementary grades.

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Guaranteed Seat

Students are guaranteed a seat in the neighborhood program at their designated neighborhood school without going through the GoCPS application process.

H

HSAT

The CPS High School Admissions Test (HSAT) assesses students in math and reading. These scores may be included as a component of a student's GoCPS application for eligibility and admission. It is the test used in the selection process for all high school Selective Enrollment programs and some Choice programs. It is administered to 8th graders in the fall.

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Honors/Scholars

These programs provide a challenging curriculum for academically advanced students.

Humanities

The Humanities curriculum Includes literature, history, art, music, geography, and world language, and brings artists and speakers into the classroom.

I

Initial Offer

The first round of selection results notifications are sent out in spring via the applicants GoCPS online account. See the GoCPS homepage for exact dates. 

Initial Selection Window

Families will have three weeks to make a decision on whether to accept or decline their offers during this time via their GoCPS online account.

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International Baccalaureate (IB)

Develops inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring students to create a more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. CPS offers different levels depending on the student’s grade and program offering.

Learn more at www.ibo.org.

L

Lottery Selection

Most Choice programs use a lottery system to select students for open seats. During the selection process, each applicant is assigned a number via a computer and the seats are filled from the lowest number to the highest. For some programs, a lottery is used as a tiebreaker.

M

Magnet Schools

These schools specialize in one subject area, such as fine arts, world language, or technology and generally do not have a neighborhood attendance boundary.

Magnet Cluster Programs

These schools specialize in one subject area, such as fine arts, world language, or technology and usually have a neighborhood attendance boundary that accommodates neighborhood students first.

Multiple Birth/Multiples

This means siblings from the same pregnancy like twins and triplets that are applying in the same school year. The terms “twins” and “multiples” do not include siblings adopted during the same year, adopted siblings born during the same 12-month period, biological siblings born during the same 12-month period, or any other circumstance in which siblings are close in age.

N

Neighborhood Schools:

These are schools that give priority to the students that live within the attendance boundaries and offer a general education curriculum.

Non-Entry Years:

Most GoCPS programs have an entry year, meaning the first year of the program, mostly kindergarten (grade 7 for Academic Centers). Any other year is considered a non-entry year.

O

Offer

Applicants who have been accepted into a GoCPS program will be notified and can proceed with the next steps of accepting or declining.

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OSD School Assignment Programs

These programs prepare all students with a variety of disabilities for postsecondary success. The Office of Students With Disabilities helps with placement.

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Official Grades

Some GoCPS programs require an applicant's grades from their official transcript be submitted with the application. Grades are directly uploaded for current CPS students and must be uploaded to the application for non-CPS students.

Open Enrollment

Used as a general term for any general education program at a neighborhood school that accommodates students within the attendance boundary first.

Open Seats

All GoCPS programs have limited availability. This refers to the number of available spaces for students in a program.

Overlay Priority Preference:

This is geographic preference for some high school programs that use a specific area instead of a distance radius. Overlay maps can be found here.

P

Parent Portal

Every CPS student has an Aspen account where parents/guardians can view grades, attendance, and other student information. 

Points-Based Selection System

For GoCPS programs that use points instead of a lottery, the points are made up of test scores and often the previous years grades.

Primary Address

Defined as a child’s regular, fixed nighttime residence. Current CPS students’ addresses populate on the GoCPS application based on the primary residence listed on Aspen.

Primary Guardian

Only the primary guardian has the ability to edit the GoCPS application; any additional guardians have view only access. 

Principal Discretion

This process allows principals at, and only at, Selective Enrollment high schools to fill a designated number of seats for ninth grade, outside of the regular GoCPS selection process.

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Priority Preferences/Priority Groups/Queue Priorities

Some GoCPS Choice programs consider priority preferences during the selection process. Applicants are placed in the highest priority group lottery listed on the school profile page.

Program Groups

This refers to all the different types of programs available on the GoCPS application sorted by specialty. See Program Groups.

Proximity Priority Preference

This is a geographic preference based on a set distance radius of the school and only applies to students applying for entry-level grades at magnet schools, usually kindergarten.

R

Random Computerized Lottery

For all programs that use a lottery to fill available seats (or break a tie for points-based programs), a computer assigns a random number to each applicant and the lowest number is placed first in line.

Ranking

All applications require ranking the programs applying for with the most desired ranked #1, second choice ranked #2, and so on. Choice and Selective Enrollment programs are ranked separately.

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Regional Gifted Centers K-8

Provide an accelerated instructional program that places an emphasis on thinking, reasoning, problem solving, and creativity.

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Regional Gifted Centers for English Learners (ELs) K-8

Housed in three elementary schools, these programs are designed to meet the needs of high-ability students whose primary language is Polish or Spanish. 

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Rolling Waitlist

Applicants are placed on a waitlist in certain situations such as not receiving an offer in any Choice or Selective Enrollment program applied for. The amount of time on a waitlist will vary by program and waitlist number. Waitlist numbers for all High School programs and Elementary Choice programs are updated nightly and can be viewed by logging into the student's GoCPS account.

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S

School Profile Page

This is a school’s individual page that gives all the details about the school, GoCPS programs offered, requirements, and more when clicked on using the School Search Tool.

School Search Tool

Use this to find your assigned neighborhood schools, and to explore any and all CPS schools, locations, GoCPS programs, requirements, details, and more.

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School Types

This is how GoCPS schools/programs are categorized.

Scoring Rubric

For points-based programs, criteria such as test scores and grades are converted to points based on the program. The rubrics are published yearly.

Selection Results

Selection results notifications are sent out in spring. Parents, guardians, and students can access the results via their GoCPS online account.

Selective Enrollment

These schools/programs provide academically advanced students with a challenging and rigorous curriculum, are highly competitive, and require academic testing.

Selective Enrollment Elementary (SEES) Admissions Exams

There are different tests depending on the program(s) applying for. Applicants may be required to take more than one test. Learn more.

Selective Enrollment High School (SEHS) Admissions Exam

The only test used for SEHS programs is the CPS High School Admissions Test (HSAT).

Selection Process

This is how applicants are chosen for available seats in GoCPS programs. The selection process is either via lottery or points-based. If applicants apply for both Choice and Selective Enrollment programs, they will be included in two separate selection processes.

Service Leadership Academies

These unique four-year high schools prepare students for college and subsequent careers through leadership opportunities and cocurricular activities. Learn more at Chicago Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC).

Sibling

This is a natural sibling, step-sibling, foster sibling, or adopted sibling who lives in the same household.

Sibling Priority Preference

Some programs offer a priority to applicants that have a sibling already attending the school to which they are applying. Requirements apply.

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Single Best Offer

Applicants can receive one offer in Choice and Selective Enrollment categories based on their random selection and/or points total.

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Staff Priority Preference

Some programs give priority to students applying to a school where their parent/guardian is a full-time staff member. Requirements apply.

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STEM and STEAM

Connects high school, college, and the world of work through dynamic partnerships and a new vision for college and career readiness. Students can graduate with industry certifications and up to two years of college credit, internships, and access to professional mentors. STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Math. STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math.

T

Tiebreakers

Tie-breakers are only used for programs that use a points-based selection system. If there are more applicants next in line for an available seat that have the same number of points, a tiebreaker will be used. All tiebreaker processes are published for each program that uses them.

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Tiers

Every address in the city of Chicago is assigned a tier by CPS from 1-4. Tiers may be used in the selection process for some programs.

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W

World Language

These programs provide students with intensive instruction to acquire proficiency in the new language as well as develop cultural understanding and awareness.

Office of Access & Enrollment (OAE)

773-553-2060

gocps@cps.edu

Chicago Public Schools
42 W. Madison St, 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60602