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Long-form articles on the Chicago Public Schools HSAT exam, the Selective Enrollment system, and how to prepare effectively.
A clear, honest walkthrough of the 900-point CPS HSAT scoring system: how raw scores become percentiles, how percentiles become points, how 7th-grade grades feed in, and how the 4-tier system distributes seats at Selective Enrollment High Schools.
Week-by-week study plan from foundation through test day. What to focus on each phase, how much to study daily, and how to know if you're on track for top SEHS programs.
An honest comparison of the five most competitive CPS Selective Enrollment High Schools. Cutoff scores, school size, neighborhoods, programs, and which kind of student fits best at each.
A summary of the most important recent changes to the Chicago HSAT exam: the 2021 switch from NWEA MAP, the new 60-minute format, the Riverside Assessments platform, and what to expect for the 2025-2026 cycle.
A clear explanation of CPS's 4-tier socioeconomic system that distributes 70% of Selective Enrollment seats by neighborhood. How tiers are calculated, how cutoffs differ, and how to find your tier.
Three acronyms, three different tests, three different sets of schools. The HSAT is for CPS public selective enrollment and choice programs. The SSAT is for private secular schools. The HSPT is for Catholic high schools. Here is which one matters for your family, and why mixing them up is the most common 8th-grade prep mistake in Chicago.
The CPS HSAT is computer-based. Most published prep books are paper-based. The gap matters for pacing, mental endurance, and test-day comfort — but probably not for the content. A pragmatic guide to mixing both, including which paper prep is actually worth doing.
An honest look at what Chicago families actually pay to prep for the CPS HSAT, from free apps and library books up through the CPS in-school course at $545 and private courses or tutoring at $1,500-3,000+. Which tier of spend is right for your family, and what diminishing returns look like.