Remember:
- CPS serves free breakfast and lunch to every student all year long.
- CPS students and accompanying adults can get a free ride on CTA buses and trains on the first day of school.
- To check school hours, search for your school using the CPS School Locator.
- Some charter school start dates differ. Find a full charter schedule here.
For any additional questions, email the Back-to-School team at b2s@cps.edu.
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To learn about how to enroll your child in school, explore our enrollment procedures and requirements and read the FAQs below:
- How do I enroll my child in a Chicago Public School?
Every address in the city of Chicago is assigned to a neighborhood school, and families can enroll in their assigned neighborhood school without applying. To identify the neighborhood school for your child’s grade level, please use the CPS School Locator. Next, contact or visit your desired school to speak with an administrator about the enrollment process. - How do I apply to a school that is not my designated neighborhood school?
From September 30–December 6, 2019, families can apply to any school in the city that their student is eligible to attend using GoCPS, the district’s online application system. Applications are available for all district and charter high schools, all district elementary schools, and three magnet preschool programs. - How do I enroll my child in preschool?
For complete details on Chicago Early Learning, CPS' school-based early childhood program, please visit the Chicago Early Learning website or call the Office of Early Childhood Education at 773-553-2010. - How do I obtain school records/transcripts?
You may be able to obtain records by calling the school directly. If not, please contact the Office of Student Records at 773-553-2340. - Can children of families who are homeless or in temporary living situations still enroll in school and receive services?
Yes. To learn more, please contact the Office of Students in Temporary Living Situations at 773-553-2242 for information and support.
- How do I enroll my child in a Chicago Public School?
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Our top priority is keeping all students safe and healthy. In order to do so, CPS has specific health requirements for enrollment. These include:
- Immunizations and physical health exams for some grade levels.
- An eye exam for some students.
- A dental exam for some students.
To find out what's required for your child, please review the 2020-2021 Minimum Health Requirements.
CPS Student Health Forms – Booklet [ English | Spanish ]
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Health Insurance and SNAP/Food Stamps Enrollment Information
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Dental Exam Consent (Participating Schools only) [ English | Spanish ]
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Healthcare Provider Statement for Food Substitution Form
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Request for Emergency and Health Information
[ English | Spanish | Polish ] -
School Messaging Consent Form [ English | Spanish | Polish ]
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Media Consent Form and Release [ English | Spanish | Polish ]
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Family Income and Information Form [ English/Spanish ]
For questions about Illinois student health requirements, please contact your school's main office.
- How do I submit proof of immunization and/or health exam?
The following forms should be completed by your child's doctor's office, and will then be accepted by your child's school to satisfy the health requirements. The school will enter proof of completion in the Student Information System: - What do I do if my child has asthma, diabetes, or food allergies?
Follow the four-step chronic conditions reporting process [ English | Spanish ]. Visit Health Forms for Medical Providers to download forms related to food allergy, asthma, diabetes, and the administration of medication. - How does my family obtain medical insurance?
CPS encourages all families to have a family doctor. If you are in need of health insurance or need help renewing your health insurance, call 773-553-KIDS (5437). Find the nearest enrollment site and additional information on the Children and Family Benefit Unit (CFBU) website. - What if I have more questions about student health and wellness?
Call 773-553-KIDS (5437) or email oshw@cps.edu.
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CPS provides all students free breakfast and lunch meals. Some schools also serve after-school snacks, after-school suppers, Saturday meals, and summer meals. Check out the CPS menu, and if you have questions, please email food@cps.edu.
As an extra resource for students who purchase milk in elementary school or a la carte in high school, the Office of Nutrition Support Services is excited to offer MySchoolBucks®! This online payment service provides a quick and easy way to add money to your student's meal account using a credit/debit card or electronic check. For more information, click here.
For questions about student health and wellness, call (773) 553-KIDS (5437) or email the Office of Student Health and Wellness at oshw@cps.edu.
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It’s important for you and your child to be prepared for the first day of school, and checking this list of recommended school supplies is the best way to make sure our students have everything they need.
The school supply list is subject to change per teacher request. Please contact your child’s school to get a complete list of the school supplies needed for the upcoming school year. School contact information is available on the CPS School Locator.
Pre-K through Kindergarten
- Large pencils
- Large crayons
- Washable markers
- Scissors
- Glue sticks
- Kleenex, paper towels
Grades 1–3
- Pencils
- Pocket folders
- Notebook
- Crayons
- Washable markers
- Pencil-top erasers
- Supply box
- Glue sticks
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Kleenex, paper towels
Grades 4-6
- Pencils
- Pocket folders
- Notebook
- Crayons
- Washable markers
- Pencil-top erasers
- Supply box
- Glue sticks
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Kleenex, paper towels
- Pocket folders
- Watercolor paints
- Sketch pads
Grades 7 and 8
- Same as the above, plus:
- Colored pencils
- Spiral notebooks
- Wide-ruled notebook paper
- Additional folders
- Dictionary
- Calculator
- Assignment notebook
Grades 9-12
- Same as Grades 7 and 8, plus:
- Subject specific supplies provided by teachers
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Quick Links
- CPS School Locator
Search for your child’s school and find out school-specific information, including your school’s address, hours, and contact information. - Parent Portal
The new Aspen Parent Portal is a unique web-based tool that allows you to securely view your child's grades and attendance online. - Student Code of Conduct (SCC)
The SCC helps create a safe environment for all students and school personnel by defining expected behaviors for students and a transparent process for administrators to redirect inappropriate behavior.
[ English | Spanish | Polish | Arabic | Chinese ] - Attendance and Truancy
Explore our attendance and truancy resources if you are looking for ways to support your child and their daily attendance.
Health and Wellness Resources
- Health Insurance and SNAP Enrollment Assistance
For help applying for health insurance or the SNAP (Food Stamps) program, please connect with us in one of the following ways:- Call our Healthy CPS Hotline at 773-553-KIDS (5437).
- Fill out our Healthy CPS Encounter Form and we will call you.
- See a list of our school-based enrollment sites or access the CPS Children and Family Benefits Units Sites Map.
- Students in Temporary Living Situations (STLS)
Whatever your temporary situation is, every school is required to offer STLS services and resources that can help you get to school and stay in school. To receive these services, ask to see the STLS liaison at your school and explain that you are in a temporary living situation. Visit Students in Temporary Living Situations for more information.
Academic and Career Resources
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs
CTE is a collection of high school programs that prepare students for life-long success. Students receive a college-prep education as well as technical skills that allow them to graduate from high school with more than a high school diploma. For more information, please visit the CTE website.
Guide | Postcard - Early College Opportunities*
- Dual Enrollment (DE)
This traditional dual enrollment program allows high school juniors and seniors to take a college course at one of the City Colleges of Chicago for FREE! Students can enroll in one course during fall, spring, and summer semesters. Students frequently enroll in English, Mathematics, Foreign Languages, Science, and Literature. Students may also want to consider enrolling in career pathway courses, including Automotive, Business, Early Childhood Development, Logistics, Information Technology, and more.
- Dual Enrollment (DE)
- CPS School Locator
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General
- When does school begin?
The first day of school is Tuesday, September 3, 2019. However, note that some charter school start dates differ. - Is it too late to register my child for the coming school year?
No. To learn more about your options, read the Enrollment FAQ section below or visit the Enrollment tab. - What are the bell times for my child's school?
Bell times vary by school. To learn what the bell times are for your child's school, search for the school using the CPS School Info Map or call their main office. - What is the dress code at my child's school?
Information on dress codes can be obtained by contacting your child's school directly. Contact information for your child's school can be found by using the CPS School Info Map.
Transportation
- My child needs a CTA/Bus (Ventra) pass.
To learn more about Ventra passes for CPS students, please contact your school directly. Contact information for your child's school can be found by using the CPS School Info Map. - My child needs transportation services.
To find out if your child is eligible for transportation assistance, please visit Transportation Information, or call the CPS Office of Transportation Services at 773-553-2860. - What are the Safe Passage Routes for my School?
To learn more about Safe Passage, visit the Safe Passage website or contact your child's school. Contact information for your child's school can be found by entering the school name into the CPS School Info Map.
Enrollment
- How do I enroll my child in a Chicago Public School?
Every address in the city of Chicago is assigned to a neighborhood school, and families can enroll in their assigned neighborhood school without applying. To identify the neighborhood school for your child’s grade level, please use the CPS School Info Map. Next, contact or visit your desired school to speak with an administrator about the enrollment process. - How do I apply to a school that is not my designated neighborhood school?
From September 30 – December 6, 2019, families can apply to any school in the city that their student is eligible to attend using GoCPS, the district’s online application system. Applications are available for all district and charter high schools, all district elementary schools, and three magnet preschool programs. - How do I enroll my child in preschool?
Learn about CPS' school-based early childhood program on the Chicago Early Learning website or call the Office of Early Childhood Education at 773-553-2010. - How do I obtain school records/transcripts?
You may be able to obtain records by calling the school directly. If not, please visit Student Records and Transcripts or call 773-553-2340. - Can children of families who are homeless or in temporary living situations still enroll in school and receive services?
Yes. To learn more, please contact the Office of Students in Temporary Living Situations at 773-553-2242 for information and support.
Health and Wellness
- What are the minimum health requirements to enroll my child in school?
You can find information and resources on the Health Requirements tab. - How do I register my child for free or reduced lunch?
All students can eat school meals every day for free! Families no longer need to fill out forms to receive meals. All schools serve breakfast and lunch daily. Be sure to ask if your school has other meal programs available, such as after school snack, after-school supper, Saturday meals, or summer meals. - Where can I take my child to receive a vision or dental exam?
To find the nearest locations to you, please call 773-553-KIDS (5437) or email the Office of Student Health and Wellness at oshw@cps.edu. - Where can I take my child to receive vaccinations?
You can find information on vaccinations and other CPS minimum health requirements on the Health Requirements tab. To locate a health center who can provide a physical exam or vaccinations, visit https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/.
Diverse Learners
- I have questions about my child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Who can I contact with my questions?
You can contact the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services at 773-553-1800. - My child may have diverse learning needs. How can I get them evaluated?
Please contact the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services at 773-553-1800.
- When does school begin?
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Chicago Public Schools’ foundation, The Children First Fund, offers a range of opportunities to support CPS students and schools, including supply drives and other Back to School engagements. Click the Donate button to learn more.