CPS Kindergarten Enrollment With GoCPS: A Parent Guide

Every Chicago child has a guaranteed seat at their neighborhood school, and you can enroll there without applying through GoCPS, as long as you show proof of residency. To try for a magnet, selective enrollment, dual language or other choice program, you apply through GoCPS. For the 2027-28 school year, the GoCPS application was open from September 9 to November 13, 2026, and initial elementary offers are scheduled for March 12, 2027.

Here is how it works. Updated November 2026. Always confirm dates on the CPS website.

Who can start kindergarten

CPS follows the Illinois rule: children who are 5 years old on or before September 1 can start kindergarten that fall. See our guide to the Illinois kindergarten age cutoff.

Early entrance to kindergarten

CPS's early entrance process is the only way around the September 1 rule. It is for children who turn 5 between September 2 and December 31 of the year they would start. Families apply and the child is tested, and CPS says a child must score at the 91st percentile or higher on both the academic and cognitive parts to qualify.

There are two application periods. For 2027-28, the fall period ran with the GoCPS application, from September 9 to November 13, 2026. CPS also holds a spring period. For 2026-27 it ran from March 9 to April 10, 2026, so watch the CPS calendar in early 2027 for the next one. A child can be tested only once for each school year, and children who qualify in the spring cannot test for selective enrollment schools that year.

Neighborhood school vs GoCPS programs

Neighborhood school

• Every child has a guaranteed seat based on their home address.
• No GoCPS application is needed.
• You enroll directly with the school, with the required documents.
• Use the CPS School Locator to find your neighborhood school.

Programs that require a GoCPS application

• Magnet and magnet cluster programs
• Selective enrollment programs, such as regional gifted centers and classical schools, which usually include testing
• Dual language and other open enrollment programs
• Neighborhood schools outside your attendance area

You can apply to several programs on one application and rank them. Your neighborhood school remains an option no matter what offers you receive.

The 2027-28 timeline

• September 9, 2026: GoCPS application and early entrance to kindergarten application opened.
• November 13, 2026, 5 PM: GoCPS and fall early entrance applications closed.
• March 12, 2027: initial elementary school offers released.

After offers come out, families have a set window to accept or decline in their GoCPS account, and offers expire after that deadline. Only one offer can be accepted.

Does CPS preschool affect kindergarten?

CPS policy says that, starting with the 2026-27 school year, enrollment in a school's preschool program is one of the factors considered for enrollment in non-selective kindergarten programs at that school. If you have a specific school in mind, ask how its preschool connects to kindergarten. Our post on free preschool screening in Illinois explains CPS pre-K options.

Documents you will need

• Proof of age, such as a birth certificate or passport
• Proof of Chicago residency, such as utility bills or a lease
• Health records: a recent physical exam and immunization record on the Illinois form, plus an eye exam and later a dental exam

See our guide to Illinois kindergarten health requirements for deadlines.

If you missed the GoCPS deadline

• You can still enroll at your neighborhood school.
• After the spring offers, CPS opens a rolling waitlist. Families who did not apply in the fall can submit a new application then, and families who did apply can add programs.
• Ask schools directly about open seats, especially before the school year starts.
• Set a reminder for next September if you plan to apply for first grade or a sibling.

Tips for choosing

1. Visit open houses in the fall.
2. Look at full-day schedules, before and after care, and transportation.
3. Ask about class sizes and support staff in kindergarten.
4. Consider the commute. A long trip can be hard on a 5-year-old.
5. Think about siblings and where they will go later.

Also comparing private options? Read pre-K vs kindergarten to see what changes in the classroom.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need GoCPS for my neighborhood school?

No. Every Chicago child has a guaranteed seat at their neighborhood school, and you can enroll directly with proof of residency.

When are GoCPS kindergarten offers released?

For 2027-28, initial elementary offers are scheduled for March 12, 2027.

Can my child start CPS kindergarten before age 5?

Only through CPS's early entrance to kindergarten process, for children who turn 5 between September 2 and December 31. It includes testing, and the bar is high.

What if I miss the GoCPS deadline?

You can still enroll at your neighborhood school, and you can apply through the rolling waitlist after spring offers come out.

Kindergarten at Children's Land

Families on Chicago's Northwest Side and in the suburbs also consider private kindergarten. Children's Land offers a private kindergarten program with a 1:10 teacher ratio, MAP testing twice a year and two Broadway-style shows a year, in a 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM day. Ask your location whether kindergarten is offered there. Find a location or contact us.

Related reading: Kindergarten Redshirting: Pros, Cons and Summer Birthdays.