Chicago Public Schools (CPS) offers a range of selective enrollment programs that provide students with a rigorous and challenging educational experience. These programs are designed to identify and nurture students with exceptional academic abilities, and admission is often competitive. One of the key factors in determining admission to these programs is the cutoff score. In this blog post, we will provide an overview of the CPS selective enrollment cutoff scores for the 2024-2025 school year.
The cutoff scores are calculated based on the number of available seats in each program and the number of students who apply. The scores are then ranked in order of highest to lowest, and students are offered admission based on their ranking.
The cutoff scores for selective enrollment programs in CPS are determined based on a student's performance on the Selective Enrollment Test (SET). The SET is a standardized test that measures a student's academic abilities in areas such as reading comprehension, math, and science.
For the 2024-2025 cycle, the cutoff scores across the top-tier schools remained rigorous. Walter Payton College Prep continued to see the highest cutoff scores in the city, often requiring near-perfect totals for Rank 1 and Tier 4 applicants. Northside College Prep and Whitney Young Magnet High School followed closely, maintaining their status as some of the most difficult programs to enter. Schools like Jones College Prep and Lane Tech also saw competitive cutoffs, particularly within the higher tiers where the margin for error on the admissions exam is incredibly slim.
The CPS Selective Enrollment cutoff scores for 2024–2025 are more than a list of numbers. They are a reflection of Chicago’s educational paradox: a world-class system of public magnets that is simultaneously meritocratic and deeply unequal. For families navigating this landscape, the wisest strategy is not to chase the highest cutoff, but to match their child’s strengths and needs with the right school environment. After all, a student who thrives at Lane Tech (cutoff ~751) but would be miserable in the pressure-cooker of Northside is the true success story—no matter what the score sheet says.
While there was a slight dip in the sheer volume of applicants compared to the post-pandemic surge, the cutoff scores for Tier 4 students at the top schools (Northside, Payton, Whitney Young, Jones) remain incredibly high, hovering near the 890-900 mark for Payton and Northside.
| School | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 823 | 835 | 848 | 858 | | Lincoln Park IB | 782 | 802 | 813 | 825 | | King College Prep | 773 | 785 | 802 | 830 | | Lindblom Math & Science | 755 | 769 | 774 | 785 |
If you're a parent or student looking to apply to a selective enrollment program, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Selective enrollment programs in CPS are designed to provide students with a more challenging and accelerated educational experience. These programs include:
