Illinois School Entrance Exam Prep Guides

We publish 17 in-depth prep guides covering 11 selective enrollment and competitive admission schools in Illinois, including CPS Classical Schools (Skinner North Classical, Skinner West Classical, Metz Elementary Classical, Coonley Elementary Classical, LaSalle Language Academy Classical), CPS Selective Enrollment Elementary Schools – Regional Gifted Centers (RGCs), CPS Selective Enrollment High Schools (HSAT), CPS Selective Enrollment HS (HSAT), Francis W. Parker School, IMSA - Illinois Math & Science Academy, Latin School of Chicago, Loyola Academy, and 3 more — covering essays, exam strategy, and application timelines.

Skinner North vs. Skinner West vs. Metz vs. Coonley vs. LaSalle Classical: Which CPS Classical School Is Right for Your Child? (2026)

CPS Classical Schools (Skinner North Classical, Skinner West Classical, Metz Elementary Classical, Coonley Elementary Classical, LaSalle Language Academy Classical)

June 10, 2026 9 min read

Skinner North vs. Skinner West vs. Metz vs. Coonley vs. LaSalle Classical: Which CPS Classical School Is Right for Your Child? (2026)

Choosing among CPS Classical Schools — Skinner North, Skinner West, Metz, Coonley, and LaSalle Language Academy Classical — starts with understanding one test. This guide compares all five schools by location, grade span, admissions competitiveness, and exactly what the 300-point Classical exam measures. Find out how to prepare your child before the November testing window opens.

Skinner North Classical School admissions Skinner West Classical admissions

CPS RGC Score Explained: How Verbal, Nonverbal, and Composite Scores Convert to Admissions Points (2025–2026)

CPS Selective Enrollment Elementary Schools – Regional Gifted Centers (RGCs)

June 17, 2026 8 min read

CPS RGC Score Explained: How Verbal, Nonverbal, and Composite Scores Convert to Admissions Points (2025–2026)

The CPS Regional Gifted Center admissions test scores your child on verbal and nonverbal reasoning, then converts those results into a 300-point total that determines their seat. This post explains exactly how that conversion works, what score thresholds are competitive, and how your child can prepare for every section type before test day.

CPS RGC score explained CPS gifted test score verbal nonverbal composite

CPS HSAT 2026-2027: Complete Parent Guide to Chicago Selective Enrollment High School Admissions

CPS Selective Enrollment High Schools (HSAT)

May 23, 2026 12 min read

CPS HSAT 2026-2027: Complete Parent Guide to Chicago Selective Enrollment High School Admissions

The CPS HSAT 2026 is a single 60-minute test with no retakes — and it determines half your child's Chicago selective enrollment admissions score. This guide covers the 2026-2027 test dates, the 900-point scoring system, how socioeconomic tiers affect cut scores, and exactly when to start preparing. If your 7th grader has a top selective enrollment school on their list, bookmark this page.

CPS HSAT 2026 CPS HSAT 2027

CPS Selective Enrollment HSAT Prep: The 7th Grade Head Start Guide (Chicago Parents 2026)

CPS Selective Enrollment HS (HSAT)

September 15, 2026 9 min read

CPS Selective Enrollment HSAT Prep: The 7th Grade Head Start Guide (Chicago Parents 2026)

Most Chicago parents start researching CPS HSAT prep too late. This guide gives 7th grade families a concrete, month-by-month timeline — covering the 900-point scoring system, socioeconomic tiers, and the reasoning skills that determine whether 8th grade prep is fast or frantic. If your child is aiming for Walter Payton, Northside Prep, or any CPS selective enrollment school, the work starts now.

CPS HSAT prep 7th grade CPS selective enrollment prep timeline

What to Do After CPS HSAT Scores Release: Ranking, Waitlists, and Principal Discretion

CPS Selective Enrollment HS (HSAT)

August 15, 2026 9 min read

What to Do After CPS HSAT Scores Release: Ranking, Waitlists, and Principal Discretion

CPS HSAT scores drop in mid-November and most families don't know what to do next. This post walks you through re-ranking schools, understanding your selective enrollment waitlist options, and pursuing Principal Discretion seats at Chicago's top selective enrollment high schools.

HSAT scores release CPS school ranking strategy

7th Grade GPA Strategy: Protecting the Other 450 Points for CPS Selective Enrollment

CPS Selective Enrollment HS (HSAT)

June 18, 2026 8 min read

7th Grade GPA Strategy: Protecting the Other 450 Points for CPS Selective Enrollment

Most families pour everything into HSAT test prep and forget that CPS 7th grade GPA controls exactly half of the selective enrollment score. This post breaks down the 900-point system, shows what each letter grade is worth in real points, and gives you a month-by-month plan to protect every GPA point your child has earned.

CPS 7th grade GPA selective enrollment GPA requirements

Francis W. Parker School

August 18, 2026 10 min read

How to Get Into Francis W. Parker School: ISEE Upper Level Prep Guide (2026)

Francis W. Parker School admits only 25–30 new 9th graders each year — and the ISEE Upper Level is a required part of every application. This guide covers target stanine scores, the 2025–26 application timeline, and exactly how to prepare for every section Parker's admissions team reviews.

Francis W. Parker School ISEE prep how to get into Francis W. Parker School

Francis W. Parker School

June 22, 2026 8 min read

Francis W. Parker School Essay Tips: How to Ace the ISEE Writing Section and Student Writing Assessment (2026)

Parker admits only 25–30 new 9th graders each year, and two separate timed writing challenges stand between your child and one of those seats. This post breaks down the unscored ISEE essay, Parker's own Student Writing Assessment, and exactly how to prepare for both.

Francis W. Parker School essay tips ISEE essay section preparation

$IMSA Admissions 2027: Complete Guide to Illinois Math & Science Academy Application$

IMSA - Illinois Math & Science Academy

May 20, 2026 13 min read

IMSA Admissions 2027: Complete Guide to Illinois Math & Science Academy Application

IMSA admissions guide for 2027: deadlines, SAT scores, essay tips, acceptance rate, and what the Selection Committee actually weighs. Illinois families, start here.

IMSA admissions Illinois Math Science Academy application

Latin School of Chicago

June 30, 2026 11 min read

How to Ace the ISEE Upper Level for Latin School of Chicago Admissions (2026–2027 Guide)

Getting into Latin School of Chicago starts with the ISEE Upper Level — but most prep guides skip the details that actually matter: what stanine scores the committee looks for, how the unscored essay fits holistic review, and why the one-score-per-season rule makes your first test your best test. This guide gives 8th graders and their parents a school-specific, section-by-section prep plan built around Latin's November application deadline.

Latin School of Chicago ISEE prep ISEE Upper Level Latin School of Chicago

Loyola Academy

August 08, 2026 9 min read

What HSPT Score Do You Need for Loyola Academy? (2026 Admissions Guide)

Only a fraction of students who sit for the Loyola Academy HSPT are admitted — but what score do you actually need? This guide covers competitive percentile benchmarks, the Bellarmine Scholarship connection, and why the Quantitative Skills section may be the section your 8th grader isn't preparing for.

Loyola Academy HSPT score Loyola Academy admissions requirements

Loyola Academy

May 30, 2026 9 min read

Loyola Academy HSPT Prep Timeline: When to Start (and What to Focus On)

The Loyola Academy HSPT is administered just once — on the first Saturday in December — and there are no retakes. This prep timeline maps every milestone from summer through exam day, with a focus on the Quantitative Skills section most 8th graders overlook and the scores needed for admission and merit scholarships.

Loyola Academy HSPT prep HSPT preparation timeline