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Foreign Student Services

Chicago Public Schools welcomes students who have attended school outside the United States and wish to enroll in CPS.

It is the policy of the Chicago Public Schools to recognize and grant credit for high school studies completed elsewhere on a year-by-year equivalent basis. Credit granted should be comparable to the number of credits obtainable in one academic year at a Chicago public high school.

Admissions

If you plan to arrive, or have recently arrived, in the United States and seek enrollment for your child (without a J-1 or F-1 visa) in Chicago Public Schools for the first time, contact the Foreign Student Services department to schedule an evaluation for placement.

Foreign High School Credits

CPS grants credit for high school studies completed at foreign schools on a year-by-year equivalent basis. This policy applies to:

  • Students arriving from a foreign country and enrolling in a CPS high school for the first time
  • Students with J-1 or F-1 visas 
  • Current CPS students who have chosen to study abroad as part of their high school experience

Foreign Student Services evaluates students’ foreign school records for credit and conducts testing for placement. Credit granted will be comparable to the number of credits obtainable in one academic year at a CPS high school. 

Returning CPS students who participated in a study abroad program should contact Foreign Student Services for an evaluation of their foreign high school transcripts.

Credentials Evaluation

All school records (grades 8 through 12) from students arriving from foreign countries must be evaluated by Foreign Student Services. Students and their families should contact Foreign Student Services to schedule an appointment for an evaluation of their credentials.

Original documents must be submitted for review. This includes:

  • Report cards/transcripts listing subjects and final grades
  • Birth certificate or passport

CPS high schools will record transfer credits, course grades, and course level designations based on the Evaluation of the Foreign Secondary School Credentials.

Students arriving from foreign countries are required to complete a Home Language survey. In addition, CPS tests students’ English language proficiency using the Illinois Board of Education’s screening assessment, ACCESS. The results of this assessment determine English course placement.

Make an Appointment for Credential Evaluation

For the evaluation and review of secondary school credentials from a foreign country, call for an appointment at 773-553-1936.

At the time of your appointment, bring your student's original documents (report card/transcript) listing subjects and final grades for each year of high school level education and your student's official birth certificate and/or passport to:

Mrs. Beata E. Arceo
Chicago Public Schools
Foreign Student Services
42 W. Madison St, Garden Level
Chicago, IL 60602

F-1 Visa Students

J-1 Visa Students

Beata E. Arceo

Chicago Public Schools
Foreign Student Services

773-553-1936

barceo@cps.edu

42 W. Madison St.
Garden Level
Chicago, IL 60602