​Important things to know before you apply
 
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.)
 
Learn More
 
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.).
 
Learn More
 
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.
 
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, 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.
 
 

​Important Tips for setting up your GoCPS account
 
High School applications for Chicago Public Schools will open in three weeks, so it’s important that you activate your application account as soon as possible. This step only takes a few minutes to complete and will allow you to create your family profile and view the programs to which you are eligible to apply. Here are some important tips to make sure you complete this process correctly.
 
 
Learn More
 
Primary Parent Guardian
 
No matter who is completing the form, be sure to enter the name and address of the parent/guardian with whom the student resides. This is extremely important because the address provided here will be used for determining tiers, proximity boundaries, and attendance and overlay boundaries.
 
There will be an option on a later screen to provide the names of additional parents/guardians or others that you want included as contacts. Students in temporary living situations can enter the address where they sleep at night or the address of their current school.
 
Learn More
 
Are You New to Chicago Public Schools?
 
Make sure to follow the correct path when adding students to your account based on whether they are a new or current CPS student.
 

• If your student DID attend a CPS school in the 2016-17 school year, click NO on this screen.
• If your student DID NOT attend a CPS school in the 2016-17 school year, click YES on this screen.

 
Learn More
 
Apply to High School
 
Everyone on this mailing list is interested in applying to CPS for high school, so it is important that you follow the high school application pathway when activating your account. When asked if the student is applying to the 9th grade for fall 2018, make sure you select YES on this screen.
 
Learn More
 
Activation Codes
 
If the student attended a Chicago public school in the 2016-17 school year, you will be asked to enter their Activation Code. The Activation Code letter was sent home with students at the end of the 2016-17 school year. Non-CPS students do not need an Activation Code.
 
If the student’s Activation Code was misplaced or not received, families can call the Office of Access and Enrollment at 773-553-2060 from a number on their child’s CPS Student Information file to have it retrieved. Activation Codes will also be delivered to schools again in late September for distribution by counselors to students.
Learn More
 
Do Not Create Duplicate Students
 
If you create a student incorrectly, call the Office of Access and Enrollment rather than trying to create the student again. Duplicate students create exceptions that can slow down the application process.
 
It is also important that families only add students they are applying for, not every student in their family.
 
Learn More
 
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.

It was wonderful seeing so many at the Back to School Night yesterday!  Students were able to show parents their classrooms and teachers were able to share about their classes and expectations.  Our 8th grade, Skinner North Super Store students were selling their gear as well.  Thank you for coming to join us!

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!  
 
Learn More
 
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.
 
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.
 
Learn More
 
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.