For the uninitiated, CPS does not use a simple entrance exam. Instead, the district calculates a composite score based on 7th-grade grades (core subjects), NWEA MAP scores in reading and math, and the score from the Selective Enrollment High School Admissions Test (SEHSAT). The final cutoff is the lowest composite score admitted to a particular school. In 2024–2025, while the official citywide cutoffs shifted modestly from the previous year, the underlying trends remained stark: top-tier schools like Payton, Northside, and Young continued to require near-perfect scores, while other strong magnets remained more accessible.
Note: Specific cutoff scores are updated annually by CPS. For the most current list, refer to the official CPS Office of Access and Enrollment website. cps selective enrollment cutoff scores 2024-2025
For all the data released by CPS, the cutoff scores are a lagging indicator. They do not measure a school’s culture, its arts programs, or its support for students with IEPs. Furthermore, many families overlook the “tier A” and “tier B” options—schools like Lindblom (718) or Hancock (707)—that offer rigorous IB curricula without the crushing pressure of a 900-point target. For the uninitiated, CPS does not use a simple entrance exam
According to CPS data released in early 2025 for the fall 2024 entering class (the 2024–2025 school year), the highest cutoff scores once again belonged to (tier 4: 893), followed closely by Northside College Prep (887) and Whitney M. Young Magnet High School (882). At the other end of the spectrum, schools like Gage Park (623) and Westinghouse (642) offered genuine selective opportunities without the hyper-competitive thresholds. In 2024–2025, while the official citywide cutoffs shifted