7th & 8th Grade Admissions Process
Whitney M. Young Academic Center has demonstrated academic success for decades! Over 3,200 talented students have received a one-of-a-kind gifted education at Whitney M. Young Academic Center. Our students score above city, state, and national standards on standardized tests. In fact, the Whitney M. Young Academic Center has been recognized as the Top Middle School Program in Illinois! With our accelerated curriculum, talented teachers, hard working students, and involved parents, we are able to maintain these high standards year after year. Our Academic Center teachers are certified high school teachers specializing in their subject area. Teachers also have extensive training educating gifted children. Whitney M. Young Academic Center’s program has yet to be replicated.
Minimum Requirements for Application for Admission
• Age: Students must be 11 years old by September 1st of the following school year.• Scores: Minimum scores in the 70th percentile in the areas of Reading Comprehension and Total Mathematics on last year's ISAT (ITBS, Terra Nova, or any other nationally normed test is acceptable) to be eligible for the entrance exam.• Residency: Students must live in Chicago.• Grade: Students must currently be in Grade 6 or 7.• A note to parents of current 7th graders: While we welcome applications from qualified 7th graders, we cannot guarantee a position will be available for your child in 8th grade, even if he/she scores highest among the 7th graders taking the entrance test. Academic Center students enter Whitney Young with the intent of continuing their high school years here. As such, few students leave our program after 7th grade.
Procedure for Admission for the 2011-2012 School Year
- Complete a Gifted and Enriched Academic Programs (GEAP) application (available here on October 1, 2010) from any CPS elementary school, any Chicago Public Library, City Hall, or our Open House on Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 12:00 PM sharp.
- Send in the application:
- CURRENT CPS STUDENTS: Parents can send the completed application directly to the Office of Academic Enhancement (125 S. Clark St., 4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603). School Counselor or Principal signature is NOT required. Further, supplemental materials such as report cards, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, etc. should NOT be attached.
- CURRENT PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS: A portion of the application must be completed by the current School Counselor or Principal. He/she will also attach standardized test scores and grades.
- Applications must be postmarked no later than Friday, December 17, 2010. Do not send the application to Whitney Young.
- (Optional) If you would like a receipt of application from the Office of Academic Enhancement, please submit a self-addressed stamped postcard along with the application.
- The Office of Academic Enhancement will mail information regarding the entrance exam to parents. Testing will take place in January/February.
- Admission will be based on the following criteria:
300 points = previous year’s final grades in Reading, Math, Science, and Social Science
300 points = entrance exam
300 points = current ISAT scores (or other standardized test such as Terra Nova)
100 points = previous year’s attendance record
Maximum score is 1000 points - Notification of selection will be made in mid-March.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can I speak to about my child's application?
All applications are processed by the CPS Office of Academic Enhancement. You can reach them at 773.553.2060.
Are there any study guides available to help prepare my child for the entrance exam?
No. There are no printed materials available. The exam test cognitive abilities of your child, not achievement.
How many students do you accept into the 7th grade?
We will accept at most 120 students.
How many applications do you receive for 7th grade admissions?
Annually we receive over 1,200 applications of students who meet the minimum requirements for testing.
If my child is not selected for admission, is there an appeals process?
No. Our selection is final and is solely based on total points.
Is there a sibling lottery or consideration for siblings of current Whitney Young students?
No. Our selection is is based on total points.
Should I include letters of recommendation or a portfolio of my child's work with the application?
No. These supplemental materials do not have any effect on the selection process. Selection is made based on total points as listed above.
If accepted, will my child have to re-apply to gain admission into the 9th grade at Whitney Young?
No. The Academic Center program is a 6-year program therefore students accepted into the 7th grade are automatically enrolled in the 9th grade at Whitney Young High School.
What is the racial makeup of Whitney M. Young?
Our current racial-ethnic composition is 30.9% African-American, 30.3% Caucasian, 19.7% Latino, and 18.9% Asian, and 0.3% Native American.
What time does school start and end?
The Academic Center student school day is from 8:00 AM-2:35 PM on regular bell schedule days.
Is Transportation provided?
All 7th and 8th grade students are eligible for transportation provided by the Department of Transportation. Students are not necessarily picked up at their nearest local school. Busing is done on a rapid transit type of pick up. It is the responsibility of the parent to get his/her child the bus stop in the morning and to pick him/her up in the afternoon. Rides to and from school will not be longer than 1 hour.
Can my child stay at school after hours so I can pick him/her up later?
On non-staff development days, students can stay in our school library or technology centers until 4:30 PM from Monday-Thursday and until 3:30 PM on Friday.
Can my child participate in extra-curricular activities?
Yes. There are over 120 clubs that students can join at Whitney Young. Click here for an entire listing of clubs and activities.
Are there sports teams available for my child?
We are very limited in the number of sports activities for our 7th and 8th graders and these activities will vary from year to year. Our interscholastic high school athletic teams have priority in the use of the gym and athletic fields. In addition, we allow usage of our facilities to our surrounding community to do our part in being a good neighbor. Most Academic Center students participate in athletic activities via the Chicago Park District, a parochial, church, or private league.
Will 7th and 8th grade students be taking classes with high school students?
Academic Center students take their Math, Science, English, Social Science and Physical Education with other Academic Center students only. Our students have the opportunity to interact with high school students during their lunch and elective periods.
Is tutoring available for my child?
The Academic Center offers an after school peer tutoring program. This takes place on select days after school. Parents will have to make arrangements for students to get home as there is no late bus pickup.
Can I contact someone with a question about the Whitney Young Academic Center program that hasn't been answered here?
Detailed information about the Academic Center program is available at www.wyoung.org. If you need additional information, you can email Matthew Swanson, Academic Center Director, at mjswanson1@cps.edu or call with your question at 773-534-7512.
