Whitney M Young Magnet High School
CPS choice · 7-12
At a glance
The school’s supportive environment was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). Family involvement was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey. In 2025–26, 2,038 applications were recorded for 150 offers (GoCPS, 2025–26 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).
- Cultural fit
- Family involvement was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 17% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - below what's typical for CPS high schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
- Academic performance
- 98% of students met or exceeded standards on the 2025 IAR (ISBE Report Card 2025). Year-over-year student growth was at the 36th percentile statewide in ELA and the 56th in math.
- Academic fit
- Instruction was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 92% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - above what's typical for CPS high schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
Computed from published data with its source and year on every clause - a description, never a grade.
Basics
CPS-published · verified Nov 2024
- Address
- 211 S LAFLIN ST
- Neighborhood
- Near West Side
- Phone
- (773)534-7500
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://wyoung.org
- Before and after care
Supplemental care not found.
SchoolNav searched the school’s website and the main care providers’ pages in Sep 2026 and found no before or after care. Some programs are never posted online, so ask the school office or on a tour.
- Arts and creative
Clay Creations, Drawing, Film and Video, Modern/Hip-Hop Dance, Painting, Plays/Acting, Theater, Band/Orchestra, Comprehensive Gifted Program, Crochet, Ethnic/Folk Dance, Fundamentals/Theory of Music, Knitting, Pottery, Rock Band, Student Art Club, Animation/Cartoon, Fashion, Graphic Design, Percussion, Student Music Club, Violin/Strings, Art Studio, Ceramics, Dance, Fiber Arts, Guitar, Media and Production Workshops, Musicals, Photography, Sewing, Talent Show, Web Design, Choir/Chorus, Drama, Mixed Media, Origami, Piano/Keyboard, Sketching
From the school’s CPS profile, for the 2026-27 school year. Checked Sep 2026. Offerings change each year, so confirm on a tour.
- Sports
16” Softball, Bowling, Boys' Golf, Boys' Tennis, Cheerleading, Exercise, Football, Girls' Basketball, Girls' Soccer, Girls' Volleyball, Pom-Pon, Wrestling, Boys' Baseball, Boys' Lacrosse, Boys' Track, Chess, Fast Pitch, Girls' Softball, Girls' Water Polo, Tennis, Yoga/Pilates, Baseball, Boys' Basketball, Boys' Soccer, Boys' Volleyball, Conditioning and Fitness, Girls' Cross Country, Girls' Swimming, Basketball, Boys' Softball, Boys' Water Polo, Dance, Girls' Golf, Soccer, Boys' Cross Country, Boys' Swimming, Girls' Lacrosse, Girls' Track, Ping Pong, Softball, Volleyball
From the school’s CPS profile, for the 2026-27 school year. Checked Sep 2026. Offerings change each year, so confirm on a tour.
- Climate survey
- Involved families
- Very Strong
- Supportive environment
- Very Strong
- Ambitious instruction
- Very Strong
- Effective leaders
- Strong
- Collaborative teachers
- Strong
- Safety (student-reported)
- Neutral
- Overall organization
- Well Organized
UChicago 5Essentials levels from the spring 2024 survey (CPS Progress Reports SY2425, verified 2026-09-25) - benchmarked categories relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages. A school can answer mostly positively and still rate below the benchmark typical.
5Essentials - the latest survey in detail
Academic Press, Rigorous Study Habits, and Student Peer Relationships are rated above the CPS average this year.
From the 2026 CPS 5Essentials survey (25-26). Scores are benchmarked 1–99 (not percentages) - higher is stronger, and each is shown against the CPS average that same year. This is a newer survey on a different benchmark than the component levels above, so the two aren’t directly comparable.
Show all measures ▸Hide measures ▾
Ambitious Instruction
83 ▲ above the CPS average (60)- Academic Press· students-reported96 ▲ above the CPS average (55)
- English Instruction· students-reported83 ▲ above the CPS average (65)
- Math Instruction· students-reported69 ▬ about the CPS average (69)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reportednot enough responses
Supportive Environment
81 ▲ above the CPS average (56)- Expectations for Postsecondary Education· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Safety· students-reported80 ▲ above the CPS average (49)
- School-Wide Future Orientation· students-reported89 ▲ above the CPS average (62)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported75 ▲ above the CPS average (56)
Collaborative Teachers
- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- School Commitment· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reportednot enough responses
Effective Leaders
- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Program Coherence· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reportednot enough responses
Involved Families
- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reportednot enough responses
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported73 ▬ about the CPS average (70)
- Academic Personalism· students-reported59 ▬ about the CPS average (58)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported87 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Course Clarity· students-reported73 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported90 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported59 ▲ above the CPS average (38)
- Importance of High School for the Future· students-reported88 ▲ above the CPS average (67)
- Innovation· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported80 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported67 ▲ above the CPS average (41)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported91 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- School Connectedness· students-reported84 ▲ above the CPS average (58)
- School Safety· students-reported88 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (65)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reportednot enough responses
UChicago Consortium — the 2026 cycle (school year 25-26) is re-benchmarked to spring 2024 (SY25+); it is NOT level-comparable to the spring-2013-benchmarked component levels shown elsewhere.
Programs (5)
| Program | Entry grades | How seats are offered | Test required | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Academic Center Selective enrollment CPS requires a GPA of at least 2.50. | 7–8 | Screening | Yes | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
Deaf/Hard of Hearing (IEP) Special education | 9 | Lottery | No | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
Selective Enrollment High School Selective enrollment Your child must take the HSAT to apply. | 9 | Screening | Yes | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
Significantly Modified Curriculum w/ Intensive Supports (IEP) Special education | 9 | Lottery | No | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
Significantly Modified Curriculum w/ Moderate Supports (IEP) Special education | 9 | Lottery | No | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
Cutoff history
What it took to receive an initial offer here in each cycle CPS has published - by tier for Selective Enrollment, and on the citywide points line for points-based Choice programs. History is context - it can’t predict a future cutoff.
What is knowable right now
This cycle’s cutoffs are not published yet. CPS posts cutoff scores only after offers go out. The first 640-scale cutoffs will exist after offers go out in spring 2027.
CPS-published · verified Jul 2026
High school offers go out to every family on the same day: February 12, 2027.
CPS-published · verified Oct 2026
Academic Center
| Cycle | Rank min | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 577.5 | 482.5 | 527.5 | 540 | 565 | CPS-published · verified Jul 2026 |
| 2025-26 | 592.5 | 507.5 | 547.5 | 542.5 | 567.5 | CPS-published · verified Jul 2026 |
| 2024-25 | 572.5 | 485 | 532.5 | 550 | 557.5 | CPS-published · verified Jul 2026 |
| 2023-24 | 600 | 495 | 534 | 567 | 585 | CPS-published · verified Jul 2026 |
| 2022-23 | 597 | 489 | 537 | 558 | 579 | CPS-published · verified Jul 2026 |
Minimum point totals from CPS’s published initial offers - waitlist movement can lower what it actually took, and cutoffs move year to year. Within the current-test cycles above, a tier’s minimum has shifted by as much as 27.5 points from one cycle to the next - treat any single year as a snapshot, not a target.
Selective Enrollment High School
| Cycle | Rank min | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 895 | 803 | 855 | 861 | 884 | CPS-published · verified Jul 2026 |
| 2025-26 | 893 | 807 | 832 | 861 | 880 | CPS-published · verified Jul 2026 |
| 2024-25 | 895 | 814 | 839 | 839 | 886 | CPS-published · verified Jul 2026 |
| 2023-24 | 900 | 834 | 845 | 877 | 893 | CPS-published · verified Jul 2026 |
| 2022-23 | 891 | 810 | 840 | 859 | 884 | CPS-published · verified Jul 2026 |
| Before the 2022-23 cycle CPS used a different admissions test - the rows below are shown for context only and are never mixed into the likelihood band. | ||||||
| 2021-22 | 886 | 812 | 841 | 856 | 874 | CPS-published · verified Dec 2021 |
| 2020-21 | 883 | 808 | 831 | 854 | 872 | CPS-published · verified May 2021 |
| 2019-20 | 883 | 788 | 838 | 856 | 871 | CPS-published · verified Mar 2022 |
| 2018-19 | 884 | 814 | 840 | 857 | 876 | CPS-published · verified Apr 2018 |
| 2017-18 | 882 | 780 | 821 | 849 | 874 | CPS-published · verified Jul 2017 |
| 2013-14 | 887 | 803 | 840 | 859 | 876 | CPS-published · verified Mar 2013 |
| 2011-12 | 879 | 784 | 802 | 837 | 865 | CPS-published · verified Jan 2012 |
Minimum point totals from CPS’s published initial offers - waitlist movement can lower what it actually took, and cutoffs move year to year. Within the current-test cycles above, a tier’s minimum has shifted by as much as 38 points from one cycle to the next - treat any single year as a snapshot, not a target.
Local School Council
CPS-published· verified Oct 2026The Local School Council is a group of parents, staff, and neighbors who help run this school. They vote on the budget and the school plan. Their meetings are open to the public, so you can go and listen.
Next meetings
- Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 3:30 PM
- Wednesday, December 16, 2026 at 3:30 PM
- Wednesday, January 20, 2027 at 3:30 PM
CPS lists the date and time. Ask the school office where the meeting will be held.
Members for 2026 to 2028
- Rickey F Harris · Principal
- Andrew Kaplan · Parent
- Zaid Abdul-Aleem · Parent
- Judy Pomerantz · Parent
- Carolyn Lewis · Parent
- Dan Xu · Parent
- Elizabeth Yepez · Parent
- Eduardo Swanson · Community member
- Mary Baldwin · Community member
- Anne Michele Boyle · Teacher
- Ja'Nean Rogers-Gayles · Teacher
- Tyrone Slaughter · School staff (non-teaching)
- Langston C Ellis · Student
- Rizqi P Suryoputro · Student
- Bronson Stamper · Student
CPS keeps the official list of council meetings and members. See the CPS council list.
Parent questions & conversation
What parents and people who know this school are asking, answering, and talking about - their own words, experiences and opinions rather than verified facts.
Parent notes on this school are visible to signed-in Chicago families. Sign in to read and ask.
SchoolNav is not affiliated with CPS. Details change - each fact above shows when it was last verified. Application decisions should always be confirmed in GoCPS.