Why Prep for CPS Gifted and Selective Enrollment Tests Now?

With students scoring at 92nd percentiles and scores of 136/150 getting no CPS gifted school offers in 2012, the answer is clear. Selective enrollment CPS schools are getting more selective, and if you are in the top socioeconomic tiers, it looks like your chances are in the 1-3% range.

With private school becoming less of an option in terms of costs (average 17-20K per year for kindergarten) and seats, practicing and being ready for the format of the CPS gifted and selective enrollment tests should be at the top of your summer agenda.

Many parents believe that waiting until the test is closer is an ok thing to do, heck its all the way in December. However, waiting will put you at a disadvantage for a variety of reasons.

1. Your child will not have had enough exposure to the content to integrate it into their memory.
2. There will be many things (events, homework, and family time) competing with scheduling time for practice for the test.
3. In the fall, tutors will be solidly booked.
4. Purchasing and getting delivery of practice materials will be more dicey
5. Your child will not want "double homework" of test prep and regular homework.

So, make the investment this summer of putting some time in researching the schools, tutoring and prep companies and test format and prepare your child for the December testing period now. Its really only a little more than 6 months away, and unless you have a nice second home in Wilmette, or 160,000.00 (pre-interest) to spend on 8 years of private school, this is a great investment in your child's future.

For more info on the CPS gifted and Selective enrollment process visit www.cpsmagnet.com (Our CPS gifted test prep site) and cpsmagnet.org (the official CPS gifted site, unaffiliated with us).

Matt Kelley
Chicago Gifted Test Preparation Services
CPS Gifted Test Preparation Services