Every spring, a unique tension grips thousands of Chicago families. It is not the anxiety of state tests or the chaos of prom season, but the release of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Selective Enrollment High School cutoff scores. For the 2024–2025 admissions cycle, these numbers—often seen as cold, mathematical thresholds—have once again sparked conversations about merit, access, and the very definition of a “good” school.
The 2024–2025 cycle also highlighted a critical flaw: the cutoffs reward early preparation. Students with access to test prep tutors, NWMA MAP coaching, and grade-grinding private schools have a clear advantage—especially in Tiers 3 and 4. This has renewed calls for CPS to de-emphasize the SEHSAT and move toward a lottery or portfolio-based system, though no changes have been announced for future cycles. cps selective enrollment cutoff scores 2024-2025
For the uninitiated, CPS does not use a simple entrance exam. Instead, the district calculates a composite score based on 7th-grade grades (core subjects), NWEA MAP scores in reading and math, and the score from the Selective Enrollment High School Admissions Test (SEHSAT). The final cutoff is the lowest composite score admitted to a particular school. In 2024–2025, while the official citywide cutoffs shifted modestly from the previous year, the underlying trends remained stark: top-tier schools like Payton, Northside, and Young continued to require near-perfect scores, while other strong magnets remained more accessible. Every spring, a unique tension grips thousands of
According to CPS data released in early 2025 for the fall 2024 entering class (the 2024–2025 school year), the highest cutoff scores once again belonged to (tier 4: 893), followed closely by Northside College Prep (887) and Whitney M. Young Magnet High School (882). At the other end of the spectrum, schools like Gage Park (623) and Westinghouse (642) offered genuine selective opportunities without the hyper-competitive thresholds. The 2024–2025 cycle also highlighted a critical flaw:
For all the data released by CPS, the cutoff scores are a lagging indicator. They do not measure a school’s culture, its arts programs, or its support for students with IEPs. Furthermore, many families overlook the “tier A” and “tier B” options—schools like Lindblom (718) or Hancock (707)—that offer rigorous IB curricula without the crushing pressure of a 900-point target.
Note: Specific cutoff scores are updated annually by CPS. For the most current list, refer to the official CPS Office of Access and Enrollment website.
Notably, the 2024–2025 cycle saw a slight decrease in cutoffs at some top schools compared to the previous year—a rare occurrence. For instance, Jones College Prep dropped from 866 to 857, likely due to cohort size adjustments and changes in applicant pools. Conversely, Brooks College Prep saw a modest increase, reflecting its growing reputation in STEM fields.