GoCPS High School Selections & Offers: How Does This Work?
Results Checklist
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Receive Your Results
When initial offers are released in the spring, all families who completed a GoCPS application will be notified that results are available in their GoCPS account. HS applicants can receive up to one offer in each program category (Choice & Selective Enrollment).
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Accept or Decline Offers
Applicants who receive an offer will need to accept or decline their offer through the GoCPS online account by the posted deadline. Offers will expire after this date. Only one offer can be accepted but decisions can be changed up until the accept/decline deadline. Accepting an offer will automatically decline all other offers that are open or previously accepted. Learn more about how to accept or decline offers.
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View the Rolling Waitlist
After the initial round of offers are released in the spring once the accept/decline deadline has passed, the rolling waitlists for all programs will open. At this time, schools start to make offers to those already on the waitlist based on capacity. Students who did not submit an application in the fall can submit a new application. Students who applied in the fall can also add additional programs to their application. Offers will be sent out to students on the waitlist until all seats are filled/the program reaches capacity. Because schools extend waitlist offers based on capacity, receiving a waitlist offer is not guaranteed. Learn more about the rolling waitlist.
Managing Your Results
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Accepting and Declining Offers
For offers extended during the initial selections round, applicants will need to make a decision to accept or decline their offer through the GoCPS online account by the posted deadline known as the Accept/Decline Deadline. Offers will expire after this date.
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Rolling Waitlist
The GoCPS rolling waitlist gives applicants who have not received any offers or who are waitlisted for higher ranked programs than the offer received during the initial selection window another chance at an open seat. It also lets families who did not originally apply in the fall application window or who want to add additional programs to their application the opportunity to be considered.
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Choice Program Selection Process
When applying to Choice Programs on your GoCPS application, your student(s) will be included in the selection processes. The selection process is designed to match each student with an open seat in their highest-ranked program.
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Selective Enrollment Programs Selection Process
When applying to Selective Enrollment Elementary School (SEES) programs on your GoCPS application, your student(s) will be included in the selection process. The selection process is designed to match each student with an open seat in their highest-ranked program.
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Appeals
The appeals process is designed to remedy cases where a process within the application system was not implemented according to CPS policy, or where a decision-maker failed to follow CPS policy. The appeals process opens after results are released.
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Principal Discretion High School Selective Enrollment
Selective Enrollment High School Principal Discretion is a process that allows principals at, and only at, the Selective Enrollment High Schools to fill a designated number of seats for ninth grade, outside of the regular GoCPS selection process, in strict compliance with the Principal Discretion guidelines.
High School
- SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2025 - Application Period Opens
- OCTOBER 8th, 2025 - HSAT Exam for CPS Students
- OCTOBER 15th, 2025 - Alternative Language HSAT for Current CPS/Charter Students
- OCTOBER 18th-19th and 25th-26th, 2025 - HSAT Exam for Non-CPS Students (Registration Required)
- NOVEMBER 14th, 2025 - Application Period Closes
Go To High School Resources