Prospective high school students in Chicago have many choices ahead of them. In addition to private and independent schools in the city and close suburbs, Chicago Public Schools has many neighborhood schools, schools with unique curriculum options from performing arts to STEM, plus a handful of highly competitive selective enrollment schools that rank among the top schools in the nation.
The Chicago High School landscape can be competitive — and that can be stressful for parents and students. ”That’s not to say there isn’t a wide breadth of choice, because there are many options for families,” says Geordie Jones, Middle School Program Director at Rogers Park Montessori School, a PreK-8 independent school on Chicago’s North Side. “There isn’t just one school for students, but a lot of great options for different interests and individuals.”
Students at Rogers Park Montessori School graduate and find success at a variety of schools throughout Chicago. The middle school program at Rogers Park Montessori School provides a high level of rigor and preparedness, says Ben Blair, Principal. “We find that our graduates, no matter where they go, have academic confidence and a willingness to approach adults and advocate for themselves. They’re well-rounded and these skills very much differentiate them.”
Top tips for the Chicago high school application process
As students at Rogers Park Montessori School reach seventh grade, they begin to explore the many options available. But, as Jones says, this time can be challenging for families. All schools have an application process and most have an entrance exam that students should be prepared to take. For instance, the CPS High School Admissions exam is required to attend any CPS high school — selective enrollment or otherwise.
The Chicago high school application process can add up to a fair amount of time, work and consideration for families. We asked Jones for his best tips for applying to high schools in Chicago — plus what to expect as your child reaches this important stage.
1. Get to know the Chicago high school landscape
There are so many high schools in Chicago your child could attend — and, without knowing each one, it’s tough to know where to focus your attention. If you’re part of a school community that has resources dedicated to helping you understand the many different options, tap into this.
At Rogers Park Montessori School, Jones meets with every middle school student and family at the beginning and throughout the school year to learn about their expectations and help provide facts about the schools they’re considering. This is essentially high school placement counseling and it’s a boon to parents who are trying to make the right decision for their child.
If your school doesn’t offer this resource, take time to research on your own. Ask neighbors and work colleagues about their experiences, spend time online and build a list of schools you think will be a good fit.
2. Know your child
Is your child academic-minded? Craving hands-on STEM experiences? Interested in sports or theater? These interests can help guide you to the right high school. One selective enrollment school may be nationally recognized for its academic programs, but if it lacks a varsity football team and that is the interest driving your child, think very carefully before adding that school to your short list.
Talk with your child about what they want in their high school experience. Even if they don’t give you a well-rounded answer the first time, continue the conversation. Give them time to wrap their mind around the idea that they’ll soon be moving on to a new school, then approach the topic again. Pro tip: start this conversation early so you have plenty of time to explore and create a short list of possible schools.
Finally, consider practicalities, especially what makes sense for family. “Jones College Prep may stand out for you, but if you live in Lincoln Square and find that what Amundsen High School offers is almost as good, you’ll save your child 90 minutes each day because they can walk to school,” says Blair. “Conversely, if your child has their heart set on being a Broadway star, perhaps Chicago Academy for the Arts is right, even if the price tag is hefty.”
These are just a few of the considerations students and parents explore when they meet with educators at Rogers Park Montessori School — and parents agree that it’s helpful to have this support.
3. Test prep? Know your child’s needs
You may be considering test prep services for your child, and that’s fair. Before you sign up, take some time to assess your child’s needs, suggests Jones. “For some students, test prep classes can be helpful, but for some, the class provides anxiety. It can turn something they weren’t worried about into something they become worried about,” he says.
Some students benefit from taking a few practice tests to overcome a fear of the unknown. Unfortunately, there is no official practice exam for the CPS test, but Jones suggests using the Catholic school entrance exam as an alternative.
Along with making sure your child gets a good night of sleep before the test, take some time to help your child frame the reason for the test. Help them keep the significance in perspective.
“Talk with your kids and let them know it’s one test and that it won’t decide their entire future,” Jones suggests. “Let them know that they should try their best, but they will end up going to high school regardless. Doing well or not doing well on this one test will not limit their future.”
In other words, choice is on their side. “They will go to high school and when they apply to college, there are many, many options,” Jones says. “Not getting into their top choice of high school doesn’t mean they will end up with a terrible life.”
4. When choosing a school, put ‘best fit’ before reputation
Middle school students in Chicago talk amongst themselves about what school is “best,” but the truth is they know relatively little about what that means — and the information is often third- or fourth-hand, Jones says. “They might say their cousin’s friend knows someone on their soccer team who says a particular school is good or bad, but students do not need to worry about what their friend thinks is the best school. They have to find the school that will be the right fit for them,” he says.
5. Recognize how you can help your child (and watch your own stress level, too!)
If you worry about the Chicago high school application process, know that your worry will affect your child. “Kids pick up on the stress their parents have, even if the parents think they are hiding it well,” Jones says. “Find your own outlet by talking to friends or coworkers about what you are feeling.”
There are many factors surrounding the high school application process that are out of your family’s control. But what you can control is supporting your child to do the best they can in seventh grade and beyond. At Rogers Park Montessori School, educators help students strengthen skills that will help them in high school.
“We focus on helping kids with planning and scheduling, managing due dates and coming up with a system for prioritizing their work. When they go on to high school, they’ll have less teacher oversight, more teachers to work with and more assignments. Organizational skills are super important,” Jones says. “Students and parents come back and tell me that in our middle school program they learned how to plan using Google Calendar or a paper system and that it really helped.”
6. Help your child enjoy the middle school experience
Families should enjoy the experience of middle school without letting concerns about high school applications and admissions take over, says Jones. He encourages students to live in the moment as much as they can.
“What I stress is that you can’t let high school be the driving factor in your middle school experience,” he says. “Seventh grade is a new and exciting time. There’s a higher expectation, new independence and more freedoms than maybe you’ve had before. There may be cool things like trips or internships that you don’t want to miss out on. Try to enjoy the middle school experience outside the shadow and pressure of high school.”
7. Your child may want independence, but what they need is support
Middle school is a time when the parent-child dynamic begins to change, and kids express a desire for increased independence. Decisions around high school applications, however, should involve parents. “Your child may go from being very mature one moment to really needing you the next,” Jones says. “It’s good for parents to remember that kids are really sensitive and focused on their friends at this age.”
It’s not uncommon for middle school students to prioritize attending high school with their middle school friends. “I stress to parents not to let their child’s friendships be the driving factor. Instead, focus on whether the school is the right fit, with the right programming and the right academic level for their child. Does the school offer the sports or drama opportunities their child wants? Focus on that,” Jones says. Try to not get caught up in the name of the school. Instead, choose based on where your child will be happy and can thrive.
Expertise brought to you by Rogers Park Montessori School. Learn more at rpmschool.org.
