Important announcement: CPS School changes the High School admission exam

Introducing PreACT 9 Secure

Beginning this fall, the current HSAT test will be replaced by the PreACT 9 Secure. We are making this important change for several reasons:

Meaningful Academic Information: Previously, the HSAT was only used for admissions purposes and provided high schools with little information on student performance. With the new PreACT 9 Secure, families and high school staff will receive meaningful information on the entering 9th grade class to support course placement and other programming decisions for students as they begin their high school journeys. It will also be aligned to the ACT, which will help students prepare for success in taking this exam later in their high school journey.

Greater Transparency: In past years, the HSAT was something of a mystery. Families, students, and school administrators did not have access to information about the test, which contributed to anxiety and made it difficult for students to prepare. By using PreACT 9 Secure — a test used by districts across the country — school communities will now have access to better information about what to expect on test day.

Greater Equity: Lack of publicly-available information about the previous HSAT led to some students struggling to access test preparation resources. Because the PreACT 9 Secure test is widely used, students will now be able to access free or low-cost preparation materials.

Greater Stability: In recent years, CPS schools have struggled with the HSAT testing platform, requiring make-up tests and other adjustments. This has caused understandable frustration among school leaders, staff, and especially students. Fortunately, we have much greater confidence in the technology and security protocols associated with the PreACT platform.

Changes to the Testing Experience

With the shift to PreACT 9 Secure, there will be some changes to the testing experience for students.

The PreACT 9 includes sections in English Language Arts (ELA), Reading, Math, and Science, as opposed to the previous HSAT, which covered only English and Math.

The new test is longer (approximately 2.5 hours) when compared to the previous HSAT (approximately 1 hour). This extended time is necessary to provide more meaningful information to support students along their high school journeys.

You can find more information on PreACT 9 Secure here. Additionally, more details on the GoCPS admissions process and school day testing logistics will be available by the start of the new school year.