HomeResultsProgramsLocationsAbout ElevateBlogFAQContactApply Now
Selective Enrollment · Scoring · 3 min read

Chicago Selective Enrollment Scoring: The 640-Point Formula

CPS has published the 2027–28 scoring formula. Here is how grades, the PreACT 9 Secure HSAT, tiers, and rankings fit together.

By Anya Pasowicz · Updated September 7, 2026 · Educational information, not an admissions or score guarantee

Chicago Public Schools now publishes a clear 640-point formula for applicable points-based high-school programs. Half of the total comes from final seventh-grade GPA and half comes from the CPS HSAT / PreACT 9 Secure.

The 640-point formula

ComponentCalculationMaximum
Seventh-grade gradesFinal seventh-grade GPA × 80320 points
HSAT / PreACT 9 SecurePreACT 9 Secure Composite × 10320 points
TotalGrade points + HSAT points640 points

CPS states that the PreACT 9 Secure Composite used for HSAT points is made from the English, Reading, and Math sections. Science remains a required section of the test, but it is not part of that Composite calculation.

Example: A student with a 3.75 final seventh-grade GPA earns 300 grade points. If the student earns a PreACT 9 Secure Composite of 28, that adds 280 HSAT points, for a total of 580 before the selection process applies ranking, tiers, seat availability, and program-specific rules.

Why old 900-point calculators are obsolete

The previous Selective Enrollment scoring system used a different total and a different admissions test. A calculator built for the old 900-point framework should not be used to project a current result. The relevant current maximum for applicable points-based programs is 640.

The tier system still matters

For Selective Enrollment high schools, CPS allocates approximately 30% of seats by rank-order merit citywide and the remaining 70% across four socioeconomic tiers. Students compete within the rules that apply to their assigned tier, and identical point totals do not necessarily produce identical outcomes across programs.

Ranking matters

Students may rank up to six Selective Enrollment programs. GoCPS uses the student’s ranked preferences, eligibility, points, tier rules, and available seats to determine the best offer the student can receive. Families should rank schools in genuine order of preference rather than trying to guess where a score will “fit.”

2027–28 application timeline

  • September 9, 2026: GoCPS application and HSAT registration open.
  • October 7, 2026: CPS and charter school-day HSAT administration.
  • October 17–18 and October 24–25, 2026: non-CPS HSAT testing opportunities.
  • November 13, 2026: GoCPS application closes.
  • February 12, 2027: initial high-school offers are scheduled to be released.

What families can control

  • Protect seventh-grade grades. They account for up to 320 points.
  • Prepare for the correct exam. The HSAT is the PreACT 9 Secure, not the previous CPS test.
  • Build skills before chasing speed. English, math, and reading directly feed the Composite used for HSAT points; science remains part of the required testing experience.
  • Rank schools honestly. The order of preferences matters in the selection process.

Build a Plan Around the Student

Elevate begins with the student’s current skills, timing patterns, school goals, and testing timeline.

PreACT, ACT, CPS, GoCPS, HSPT, and the Archdiocese of Chicago are referenced for informational purposes. Elevate Academic Prep is not affiliated with or endorsed by ACT, Chicago Public Schools, Scholastic Testing Service, or the Archdiocese of Chicago.