Admission & Audition Process
The Admission & Audition Process
ChiArts will begin accepting applications for the class of 2017 (students entering 9th grade in September 2013) on October 1. Students may submit an online application or download and print a paper application to mail, fax, or hand deliver.
Students already attending high school who wish to be considered for transfer admission should submit a paper application or apply online.
ChiArts 2012-2013 Admission & Audition Guide
Academic Requirements
In order to be eligible to audition/interview for the 2012-13 school year, students and their families had to submit an application to ChiArts no later than December 23, 2011 (see Procedures). Applications received after the deadline will NOT be considered.
ChiArts is a college-preparatory school. Therefore, both academic and artistic programs are rigorous. Students may apply and audition/interview for ChiArts if they meet all of the minimum criteria listed below:
1. The applicant must have no more than 10 unexcused absences in the 7th grade year.
2. The applicant must have achieved a minimum "stanine" score of 5 or higher in both Reading and Math on the 7th grade Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT) or other approved nationally norm-referenced standardized test (ITBS, SAT10, TERRA NOVA, CAT, etc.).
Students with special needs (IEP, 504) are eligible to apply and audition/interview if their Reading and Math stanines total 10 (i.e., Reading 3 and Math 7; Reading 6 and Math 4; etc.). Students who do not meet these requirements may submit an application and then apply for special consideration by December 23, 2011. Please note: There is no guarantee that students who apply for special consideration will be granted an audition/interview. Any requests for special consideration received after December 23, 2011 will not be considered.
Procedures
Please follow the procedures described below carefully. All steps and deadlines in the application process are required for admission. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The entire process includes the following:
1. Submit an application no later than Friday, December 23, 2011 at 5:00pm. Copies of the 7th grade standardized test scores and 7th grade cumulative report card will need to be submitted separately. These student records must also be received by the application deadline in order for the applicant's file to be complete. After submission of an online application, the family will receive an email with the list of documents that must be submitted, as well as instructions on how to login to view the application checklist to see if any documents are still missing. Student records may be sent by a counselor, but must be received no later December 23, 2011.
2. If submitting a paper application, it must be received by The Chicago High School for the Arts on (or before) 5:00 p.m. on December 23, 2011. Applications sent by US Mail must be postmarked by December 23, 2011. Applications sent through the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) mail run must arrive at ChiArts on or before December 23, 2011. Please note that the CPS Mail Run does not post mark materials. After receipt of the application and verification that the student has met the minimum academic requirements, the student will be scheduled and notified of an audition/interview date and time. Audition/interview notifications will be sent no later than the beginning of January. Auditions/interviews will begin in January and continue through February.
3. Audition preparation guidelines are listed under each arts area in this guide and should be carefully followed. If a student becomes ill and is unable to audition, please contact the school immediately. Written verification documenting the illness from a doctor must be presented to the school within three (3) business days of the student's originally scheduled audition date. A new audition date and time will be scheduled for the student by the school ONLY if there are additional audition dates and times available.
4. Notification will be mailed no later than the end of February regarding the status of the student's acceptance. When all available spaces have been filled, the names of students who qualify for reconsideration will be placed on an applicant waiting list in the event that additional openings become available at a later date.
5. A parent/guardian may request an admission decision appeal by submitting a written request to the Executive Director ten (10) business days from the date of the letter indicating an applicant's status. The committee will only hear an appeal if the basis of the appeal is determined to be an inequity or technical problem that occurred during the audition. An appeal against the panel's judgment of artistic merit will not be heard.
Transfer Requirements
Transfer students must have achieved a minimum composite score of 15 on the EXPLORE - 9th Grade, PLAN - 10th Grade, or equivalent standardized high school testing. Students must also maintain a minimum G.P.A. of 2.3 and meet ChiArts' credit requirements toward graduation.
*High school students with an IEP must let us know they have an IEP & must maintain a minimum G.P.A of 2.3; 9th grade students must have acheived a minimum composite score of 13 on the EXPLORE; 10th grade students must have achieved a minimum composite score of 15 on the PLAN test.
Transfer applicants will be contacted to audition if there is an opening in the grade level & art conservatory to which they are applying.
Application Guidelines
1. We suggest that you apply online, but you can also download a paper application, or pick up an application at ChiArts (521 East 35th Street).
2. Applications must be received (online, hand-delivered, sent through the CPS mail run, or postmarked if sent by US Postal mail) no later than 5:00pm on Friday, December 23, 2011. Please deliver or send to the following address:
Attention Admissions
The Chicago High School for the Arts
521 East 35th Street
Chicago, IL 60616
3. All information on the application must be complete, current, and accurate. The application must be signed by the parent or guardian in order for the student to be eligible to audition/interview. Due to the high volume of applications, early submission is strongly recommended.
4. Applicants may apply and audition for no more than TWO arts concentrations (i.e. Dance & Flute, Acting and Visual Arts, etc.).
5. The following materials must be submitted before a student will be eligible to audition/interview:
a. Complete, signed Application for Admission, listing the arts concentration(s) to which the student wishes to apply.
b. Copy of 7th grade standardized test showing stanines for Reading and Math (TBS, SAT10, TERRA NOVA, CAT)
c. Copy of 7th grade cumulative report card showing attendance.
6. Students with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. If your child is selected for an audition or interview, and s/he requires an accommodation or modification identified in the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that is appropriate in order to participate in the audition or interview, such accommodations/modifications will be provided. This will necessitate that you provide your child's IEP to ChiArts after your child is selected for an audition/interview. The procedures for this will be communicated after ChiArts identifies which applicants will be given auditions or interviews.
Audition Process for the 2012-13 school year
Once a student submits a completed application and meets the minimum academic requirements, s/he will be given an audition date & time and notified by mail. Auditions/interviews will take place in late January and throughout February 2011. Parents are welcome to accompany their auditioning child on the scheduled date; however, parents will not be allowed in the audition or interview room.
Specific audition requirements for each arts discipline are described at the end of this guide to ensure the student will be fully prepared for his/her audition. Each requirement must be met. Auditions are scored using a rubric, and an incomplete audition presentation will result in a loss of points. Sample audition rubrics (scoring criteria) are available on our website. The audition adjudication panel for each arts discipline includes, but is not limited to, at least one of each of the following: a CPS designee, a community arts partner, a ChiArts representative; and a member of the Office of Specialized Services if the applicant has made this request.
Students will only compete for slots in their artistic discipline and within each subgroup of each arts discipline (e.g., flute students will not compete with visual artists for a slot, and beginning dance students will not compete with advanced students.) The projected admission slots for each arts department include: 30 dance (novice, intermediate and advanced combined); 30 theatre (acting and musical theatre combined); 30 visual arts; 60 music (strings, winds, voice, guitar, and piano combined). ChiArts reserves the right to adjust admission slots in each area based on the number of applicants.
