7th & 8th Grade Admissions Process
FOR ALMOST THIRTY YEARS......we have been setting the standard in gifted education. We know that gifted children can become bored with an enriched curriculum; that's why ours is accelerated. In the Academic Center, students take high school courses for high school credit and earn as many as seven high school credits before they graduate from eighth grade. This allows them to take nearly double the number of AP or college level courses they may ordinarily take in high school. In fact, many of our students earn credit for a full year of college before they leave Whitney Young. With tuition costs skyrocketing every year, this can mean a tremendous savings.
Flexibility has always played a vital role in our program. Traditional gifted centers are fine for students who are comfortable with enrichment activities, but we challenge gifted students with high school classes that are comprehensive in nature and that fully integrate with the high school classes they'll be taking in the future. And because we are situated in a high school, we have no problems placing students in appropriate content level classes.
Flexibility has always played a vital role in our program. Traditional gifted centers are fine for students who are comfortable with enrichment activities, but we challenge gifted students with high school classes that are comprehensive in nature and that fully integrate with the high school classes they'll be taking in the future. And because we are situated in a high school, we have no problems placing students in appropriate content level classes.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMISSION
- Age – Students must be 11 years old by September 1st of the next school year.
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Scores – Students must score in at least the 70th percentile in the areas of Reading Comprehension and Total Mathematics on the 5th grade ISAT test (6th grade for current 7th graders).
- 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.
- Step 1– Obtain an application. Applications will be available at all Chicago Public Elementary Schools, the Chicago Public Libraries, and City Hall beginning every October.
- Step 2 – Complete the application. Parents of qualified students must fully complete their portion of the application. They must then give the application to their child's school counselor to complete the required school information. Counselors must attach a copy of the standardized test scores with the application.
- Step 3 – Send the application. Completed applications must be forwarded by a student's home school official to the Office of Academic Enhancement, 125 S. Clark Street-4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603. Applications must be postmarked by December 21, 2007 to be considered. Do not send completed applications to Whitney Young. They must be submitted to the Office of Academic Enhancement.
- Step 4 – Admission exam dates and locations will be sent to you by the Office of Academic Enhancement if your child meets the requirements above. For additional information, contact the Office of Academic Enhancement at (773) 553-2060.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What time does school start and end?
The Academic Center student school day is from 7:15 AM-1:40 PM. Students have gym 2 times a week from 7:15-7:55 AM. Students who can get to school via car pooling or CTA can arrive at school at 7:45 on their non-gym class days. 2nd period class starts at 8 AM.
Is Transportation provided?
The Department of Transportation provides transportation for students in 7th and 8th grade. Students are not picked up at their nearest local school. Busing is done on a rapid transit type of pick up. The Department of Transportation sets up designated stops to pick up students. It is the responsibility of the parent to get his/her child to that 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. Requests for a change in bus stop location will only be approved to another designated bus stop location for the school.
Is tutoring available for my child?
The Academic Center offers an after school peer tutoring program. This takes place 8th period from 1:45-2:35 PM. Parents will have to make arrangements for students to get home as buses depart from Young at 1:40 PM.
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 center 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 100 clubs that students can join at Whitney Young.
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.
Do parents of 7th and 8th graders have an opportunity to get together and meet?
Academic Center families get together as a community for "Family Night" three times a year. These are evenings where families get to meet, talk, and eat together. Fun filled activities are planned for the entire family. Occasionally, we have guest speakers address topics of interest to parents with gifted children. Costs for these evenings are paid for by our Walk-a-Thon fundraiser held in the beginning of the school year. This year's Walk-a-Thon will take place on Thursday, September 28th, 2006.
Is there a graduation ceremony for 8th graders where they wear caps and gowns?
Yes.
Is there a graduation party for 8th graders?
Yes, an 8th grade graduation party is held at the Signature Room on the 95th Floor of the John Hancock Building annually for our graduates.
Will my child be attending classes with high school students?
Are 7th and 8th graders separated from the high school students in the building?
While Academic Center core classes are composed of only 7th and 8th grade students, our Academic Center students use the same facilities as our high school students. Please remember that 25% of every class in our high school is composed of Academic Center students. We have never had a problem between our high school students (who also have to test to enter Whitney Young) and our Academic Center students.
How many students do you accept into the 7th grade?
We will accept 110 students.
Can current seventh graders apply for 8th grade in the Academic Center?
While we welcome applications from qualified seventh graders, we cannot guarantee a slot will be available for your child in 8th grade, even if he/she scores highest among the seventh graders taking our 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. During the last 3 years we have not been able to accept students due to a lack of openings.
What is Edline?
Whitney Young faculty uses Edline to keep parents informed of student progress. If you have access to the internet, you can access Edline to find out how your child is progressing in his/her courses. Test scores, homework assignments and grades, progress reports, the school calendar, and pertinent announcements are all found on this program. Each student and parent is given an access code to use to access student information.
What is the racial makeup of Whitney Young?
Our current racial-ethnic composition is 35% African-American, 25% Caucasian, 21% Latino, and 19% Asian.
Does the Academic Center have their own counselor for the 7th and 8th graders?
Yes.
Can I contact someone with a question about the Whitney Young Academic Center program that hasn't been answered here?
Yes, you can email Matthew Swanson, Academic Center Director, at mjswanson1@cps.edu or call him with your question at 773-534-7500 x47512.
The Academic Center student school day is from 7:15 AM-1:40 PM. Students have gym 2 times a week from 7:15-7:55 AM. Students who can get to school via car pooling or CTA can arrive at school at 7:45 on their non-gym class days. 2nd period class starts at 8 AM.
Is Transportation provided?
The Department of Transportation provides transportation for students in 7th and 8th grade. Students are not picked up at their nearest local school. Busing is done on a rapid transit type of pick up. The Department of Transportation sets up designated stops to pick up students. It is the responsibility of the parent to get his/her child to that 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. Requests for a change in bus stop location will only be approved to another designated bus stop location for the school.
Is tutoring available for my child?
The Academic Center offers an after school peer tutoring program. This takes place 8th period from 1:45-2:35 PM. Parents will have to make arrangements for students to get home as buses depart from Young at 1:40 PM.
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 center 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 100 clubs that students can join at Whitney Young.
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.
Do parents of 7th and 8th graders have an opportunity to get together and meet?
Academic Center families get together as a community for "Family Night" three times a year. These are evenings where families get to meet, talk, and eat together. Fun filled activities are planned for the entire family. Occasionally, we have guest speakers address topics of interest to parents with gifted children. Costs for these evenings are paid for by our Walk-a-Thon fundraiser held in the beginning of the school year. This year's Walk-a-Thon will take place on Thursday, September 28th, 2006.
Is there a graduation ceremony for 8th graders where they wear caps and gowns?
Yes.
Is there a graduation party for 8th graders?
Yes, an 8th grade graduation party is held at the Signature Room on the 95th Floor of the John Hancock Building annually for our graduates.
Will my child be attending classes with high school students?
Most students will attend classes with fellow 7th and 8th graders. However, if a student places out of a music (band or orchestra), math, or a foreign language class, he/she will be placed in a class with high school students (i.e. a student places out of algebra and geometry and is placed in an algebra/trig class; a student is placed in intermediate band or orchestra; a student places into French II).”
Are 7th and 8th graders separated from the high school students in the building?
While Academic Center core classes are composed of only 7th and 8th grade students, our Academic Center students use the same facilities as our high school students. Please remember that 25% of every class in our high school is composed of Academic Center students. We have never had a problem between our high school students (who also have to test to enter Whitney Young) and our Academic Center students.
How many students do you accept into the 7th grade?
We will accept 110 students.
Can current seventh graders apply for 8th grade in the Academic Center?
While we welcome applications from qualified seventh graders, we cannot guarantee a slot will be available for your child in 8th grade, even if he/she scores highest among the seventh graders taking our 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. During the last 3 years we have not been able to accept students due to a lack of openings.
What is Edline?
Whitney Young faculty uses Edline to keep parents informed of student progress. If you have access to the internet, you can access Edline to find out how your child is progressing in his/her courses. Test scores, homework assignments and grades, progress reports, the school calendar, and pertinent announcements are all found on this program. Each student and parent is given an access code to use to access student information.
What is the racial makeup of Whitney Young?
Our current racial-ethnic composition is 35% African-American, 25% Caucasian, 21% Latino, and 19% Asian.
Does the Academic Center have their own counselor for the 7th and 8th graders?
Yes.
Can I contact someone with a question about the Whitney Young Academic Center program that hasn't been answered here?
Yes, you can email Matthew Swanson, Academic Center Director, at mjswanson1@cps.edu or call him with your question at 773-534-7500 x47512.
