Teachers, school counselors, and principals can provide valuable information about environments in which your children will thrive. Involving your children in this process will help pave the way for them to make informed decisions throughout their lives.

Parents should begin preparing their children for high school "the minute they set foot in a school building- if not before," says Dr. Linda Henry McCarty, CPS senior advisor for school counseling. Entrance criteria include standardized test scores, attendance, behavior, academic achievements, and honorary achievements, such as spelling bees and science fairs. These are all things children can work on throughout elementary school.

Students apply to high school while in 8th grade, and can apply to any high school in the city. No application is required for students to attend their attendance-area school.