Chicago

Public Schools Guide for Expat Children

The average level in Chicago public schools is rather good. Nevertheless you have to choose your children’s school carefully as the level varies from one school to another. The best Chicago public schools are listed according to the 2009 Chicago Sun-Times ranking at the end of this section.

• Top elementary schools: http://www.suntimes.com/
• Top middle schools: http://www.suntimes.com/
• Top High schools: http://www.suntimes.com/

Theoretically there is no tuition fee in Chicago Public Schools, but actually the parents’ associations may ask the school community (i.e. the parents’ students) to contribute in order to insure the payment of some teachers (arts, music, for example), to fund a full day for kindergarteners, and other needs that may not necessarily be covered through the public school system. Some school associations ask parents to pledge and to support the school yearly. There is no obligation and everybody gives what they can afford. Nevertheless be prepared for it. If you come from a country where the public schools are state funded, it might be a cultural “shock” to be asked for such a financial and personal involvement.

The main language used is English and foreigners are welcomed in all public schools. Moreover, the majority of Chicago Public Schools run English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. It means that if you choose a public school for your child, s/he will follow a special program several hours a day for children whose mother tongue is not English. A special ESL teacher is in charge of this program and personally follows these children. Once you have selected several public schools, check if they have such a program. It will make your child’s life much easier, especially if s/he doesn’t speak yet speak English.

Best public schools in Chicago

Elementary and Middle Schools

Decatur Classical: http://decaturclassical.org

7030 N. Sacramento Avenue, Chicago, IL 60645

Phone (773) 534-2200 – Fax (773) 534-2191

Keller Regional Gifted Center: http://www.keller.cps.k12.il.us/

3020 W. 108th Street, Chicago, IL 60655

Phone: (773) 535-2636 – Fax: (773) 535-2635

E-mail: Kellerschool2003@yahoo.com

Ted Lenart Regional Gifted Center: http://www.lenart.cps.k12.il.us/

8101 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60620

Tel: (773)535-0040 – Fax: (773)535-0048

Edison Regional Gifted Center: http://www.edgifted.org/

4929 N Sawyer Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

Phone: (773) 534-1209

Young Magnet: http://www.wyoung.org

211 South Laflin Street, Chicago, IL 60607

Phone: (773) 534-7500 – Fax: (773) 534-7261

Hawthorne Scholastic Academy: http://www.hawthorneacad.org/

3319 North Clifton Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60657

Phone: (773) 534-5550 – Fax: (773) 534-5781

High Schools

Northside College Prep: http://www.nscollegeprep.cps.k12.il.us/

5501 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, IL 60625

Phone: (773) 534-3954-x100 – Fax: (773) 534-3964

Payton College Prep: http://www.wpcp.org/dnn/

Walter Payton College Prep, 1034 N Wells, Chicago, IL 60610

Phone: 773.534.0034 – Fax: 773.534.0035

Young Magnet High School: http://www.wyoung.org

211 South Laflin Street, Chicago, IL 60607

Phone: (773) 534-7500 – Fax: (773) 534-7261

Enrollment and Admission Process for Public Schools

Chicago Public School describes its school enrollment process in three main steps:

1. Research the right school

Determine your child’s educational needs and objectives, become familiar with your neighborhood boundary school and identify your top school choices. It is important to know that there are school boundaries for Chicago public schools. To help you to determine what are the public schools available in your neighborhood, the school locator website is very useful: http://schoollocator.cps.k12.il.us/

Once again, to make your life easier as an expatriate family, it might be a good idea to choose your school first (especially if you decide on a public school) and then look for an accommodation in the school boundaries. It will definitely limit your accommodations research to a very specific area, but it might simplify the admission process in public schools.

2. Choose a school

• If you choose a neighborhood school: all students who live within the boundaries of their neighborhood schools may attend the school. Students living within the attendance boundaries typically do not need to apply to that school, unless the school is on Controlled Enrollment, which means that the school is not enrolling neighborhood children because it is overcrowded. In other words, if you choose your neighborhood school, there are no special criteria that apply and you can directly register to the chosen school.

• If you choose a school other than your neighborhood school: The CPS Open Enrollment Policy allows a student to apply to a school outside the neighborhood when space is available. The policy only applies to schools that have attendance boundaries and each school determines how many Open Enrollment students it can accept. This policy does not apply to schools on Controlled Enrollment.

In other words, if you choose a school other than your neighborhood school, you have to be aware of the application process. Indeed, acceptance to some schools and programs depends on a number of factors, including location, academic achievement, and/or selection by lottery. Some well known magnet and selective enrollment schools attract a large number of applicants. These schools are highly competitive. Thousands of students apply for only a few hundred spaces and most applicants are not accepted. If you are interested in applying to magnet schools, CPS recommends applying to more than one. The criteria with which students are accepted into non-neighborhood schools vary across schools. The most commonly used are random lottery, academic achievement, test scores and other factors.

Be aware that according to the type of school you choose, the application process may vary. See the charts below about the public schools types.

3. Register

According to the school your child is going to attend, you will need to provide specific documents. The medical forms (physical, dental, eyes examinations) can be found at the main office of your school or downloaded on the CPS website. The usual checklists are described below.

Elementary school registration checklist

• Proof of age: it includes, but is not limited to, any ONE of the documents listed (child’s birth certificate, child’s baptismal record, passport, court documents, medical records).
• Proof of current address: it includes, but is not limited to, any TWO of the documents listed (current utility bill, Illinois driver’s license or State of Illinois identification card, deed, employee identification number, MediPlan/Medicaid card, court documents, Illinois Department of Public Aid card, stamped United States Post Office change of address form, Illinois state aid check/social security check, a lease agreement stating the current address works as well).
• Children are encouraged to submit their required immunizations and physicals prior to the start of the school year and no later than October 15 of the current school or they will face expulsion from school. Immunization requirements: Diptheria, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Tetanus (DTP/Td), Inactivated Polio, Measles, Rubella, Mumps, Hepatitis B, Varicella (Chicken Pox), Haemophillus Influenza, Type B (HIB)
• Physical examination requirements: All students must have a physical examination within one year of: 1/ entering schools in the State of Illinois for the first time, at any grade level; 2/ entering kindergarten or 1st grade, 6th grade, and 9th grade (ages 5, 10, 15 for ungraded programs); 3/ entering preschool, up to age 6 (physical exam and lead screenings)
• Dental requirement: All students in Kindergarten, 2nd, and 6th grade must have a dental exam completed by a licensed dentist prior to May 15th of the current school year.

High school registration checklist

See above for a full description as the checklist is the basically the same.

• Proof of Age
• Proof of Current Address
• Medical Compliance: Immunizations and physicals are required for students entering 9th grade. It is recommended that students receive their immunizations and physicals prior to the end of their 8th grade year.
• Physical Examination Requirements
• Dental Requirement

The medical forms (physical, dental, eyes examinations) can be found at the main office of your school or downloaded on the CPS website.

Public School Types

To better understand the Chicago Public School system and make the best choice for your child, you have to understand the different types of schools CPS provides. You will find below charts that sum it up as well as the enrollment criteria for each type of schools.

Elementary School Types

* Gifted and Enriched Academic Programs.

High School Types

For more information, check the Chicago Public Schools website: http://www.cps.edu