Contact:

Matthew Greenberg (312) 409-8411

March 7, 2017

LANE TECH SCORE SURGE SQUEEZES MIDDLE CLASS SELECTIVE ENROLLMENT APPLICANTS

Chicago, IL – In the most recent round of Selective Enrollment High School admissions, average scores at all eleven schools rose an average of 11 points as shown in Figure 1. Scores at the more competitive schools continued to edge up, particularly at Lane Tech, where average scores coincidently rose exactly 11 points as well. This jump in admissions scores at Lane Tech is significant given its size (about 1,200 students per class) – making it by far the largest school in the Selective Enrollment family. Because of its size, swings in Lane Tech scores disproportionately affect the entire Selective Enrollment applicant population.

                      Figure 1. Average Admissions Scores (2017-2018)

Moreover, Tier 4 and Tier 3 Lane Tech cut-offs went up 16 and 18 points respectively. Since according to census data, the vast majority of Tier 3 students (98%) and Tier 4 students (63%) live in middle class neighborhoods, this increase makes it more difficult for middle class students to gain access to one of the competitive Selective Enrollment High Schools. Now a straight A Tier 4 student seeking entrance to Lane Tech would need at least a 90% on both the 7^th grade MAP test and the 8^th grade Selective Enrollment Exam to get in.

Scores for the four “middle” schools, Brooks, Hancock, Lindblom and Westinghouse saw the largest average score increases – about 20 points — as scores continued to recover from the hammering they took when the MAP replaced the ISAT as the 7^th grade standardized test in the admissions formula. When the MAP was initially used two years ago, average scores for less competitive schools were most dramatically affected, falling about 50 points each. Now scores at these “middle” schools have recovered to pre-MAP levels.

King and South Shore at the bottom continued to have difficulty attracting academically qualified students. Average scores for these two schools – King (666 points) and South Shore (660 points) remained at levels modestly above the minimally qualifying level of 600 points.

Huge gaps remain between the admission cut-off scores of Tier 4 and Tier 1 students at the more competitive schools as shown in Figure 2. At Lane Tech for example, Tier 4 students needed to get 151 more points than Tier 1 students on the 900-point admissions scale to get in. On average across the five more competitive schools, Tier 4 students needed about 120 points more than Tier 1 students to be admitted.

Figure 2. Tier 4 vs. Tier 1 Cut-offs (2017-2018)

Score cut-offs for Tier 4 and Tier 3 students measurably rose in the most recent admissions cycle for each of the five most competitive schools. While increases in Tier 4 cut-offs seem slight, it should be remembered that these cut-offs were so high already that any additional increases would be statistically difficult – but rise they did. Notably, the Tier 4 cut-off at Payton, last year already 890 points on the 900-point admissions scale rose to 894 and the Tier 4 cut-off at Northside, already 882 points last year, rose an additional 9 points to 891 as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Increases in T3 & T4 cut-offs (2017-2018)

Tier 3 cut-offs at the more competitive schools also jumped – from a 13-point increase at Jones to a 22-point increase at Payton. These increases coupled with the increase in Tier 4 scores narrow the path for middle class students seeking to gain entry to any competitive Selective Enrollment High School.

According to Matthew Greenberg, partner of educational services firm SelectivePrep, “The jump in scores this year at Lane Tech is a significant development. Because of its size, any measurable move in Lane Tech admissions scores has an outsize impact on the overall competitive Selective Enrollment landscape. In addition, the uptick in Tier 3 and Tier 4 cut-off scores at Lane Tech puts a squeeze on middle class students applying to a competitive Selective Enrollment High School.”

He continued, “Given the recent increase in Tier 3 and Tier 4 cut-off scores, middle class students must do very well on both tests to get into a competitive school. Now that a more rigorous Common Core aligned test has become a fixture in the Selective Enrollment High School admissions formula, performance on the 7^th grade test will continue to matter more to overall admissions success. Simply using a tougher test where high scores are more difficult to achieve increases the importance of this test to the overall admissions process.”

About SelectivePrep

SelectivePrep was founded over a decade ago by test prep veterans with over 25 years of test preparation experience – and extensive backgrounds in both classroom teaching and curriculum development. SelectivePrep offers the only classroom program that prepares students for both of the standardized tests needed to gain admission to a Selective Enrollment High School and Academic Center. SelectivePrep knows what it takes to train and motivate students who are intent upon gaining admission to one of the eleven Chicago Selective Enrollment High Schools or one of seven Academic Centers. SelectivePrep’s programs provide a thorough and rigorous review of test content, so students can approach these competitive admissions processes with confidence.

For additional information and registration go to www.selectiveprep.com or call (312) 409-8411.