Frequently Asked Questions
What type of school is Agassiz (neighborhood, magnet, magnet cluster, gifted, classical, etc.)?
Agassiz is a neighborhood school and a magnet cluster school. As a neighborhood school, students who reside within the school's attendance boundaries are guaranteed admission to the school in Kindergarten through 8th grade. As a magnet cluster school with a fine and performing arts focus, all students receive instruction in music, dance, and drama in addition to the core academic curriculum and are admitted through a lottery system run by the CPS Academic Enhancement Department.
What grade levels are taught at Agassiz?
Agassiz has Pre-K through 8th grade and also organizes several baby and toddler programs with parent volunteers. The school has two types of preschool programs: Preschool for All and Tuition-based Preschool. It also has Kindgergarten through eighth grade classes. The school's morning baby and toddler programs include Open Gym, Yoga, Story Time/Dance, Music, and Soccer. All are welcome.
Where is the school located?
Agassiz is located at 2851 N. Seminary, Chicago, IL 60657 in the central lakeview neighborhood. The closest major intersection is Diversey and Sheffield.
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline varied depending on whether you are applying at the elementary or preschool levels. If you reside within the school's attendance boundaries and the child would be starting in Kindergarten or above, you do not need to apply at all. You're guaranteed admission to the school and only need to enroll. We ask that you notify the school as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly. If you reside outside the school boundaries and the child would be starting in Kindergarten or above, you need to apply through the CPS school lottery usually by mid-December (e.g. December 18, 2009 for the 20010-2011 school year). If you are applying for one of the preschool programs, there is no deadline. You can apply at any time. However, we expect the classes to fill by mid-December for the next school year. So, we recommend that you apply as soon as possible.
After I apply, when will I find out whether the child has been admitted?
Admission notification also varies depending on wether you are applying at the elementary or preschool levels and it also differs for each type of preschool program. If you apply at the elementary levels (Kindergarten through 8th grade) you will be notified of lottery results via U.S. mail in mid-March (by the week of March 22, 2010 for the 2010-2011 school year). If you apply for the Tuition-based preschool program you will find out immediately because it is a first-come first-serve program. Please note that a non-refundable deposit must accompany the application. If you apply for the Preschool For All program, you will be notified in early April (e.g. by the week of April 5, 2010 for the 2010-2011 school year).
What is the school's education philosophy?
Our promise is to promote a culture of academic excellence, foster a safe, nurturing learning environment, and instill within students a love of learning by identifying their positive distinctions, whether artistically, athletically or academically, thus empowering them to be responsible, contributing members of society.
What are the school's test scores?
Agassiz's overall composite score for 2010 is 80.9 percent. This composite represents the overall average of scores for students that meet or exceed standards for the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) in grades 3 through 8. This latest score surpasses the school district averages by over 10 percentage points.
If my child attends the preschool, are they guaranteed admission to Kindergarten?
At this time, all students attending either preschool program will be admitted to Kindergarten. However, the school has recently experienced an increase in the number of neighborhood families enrolling in the school. If this trend continues, there may be a point in time when preschool students cannot be guaranteed admission to Kindergarten unless they reside within the school's attendance boundaries.
Do siblings of students attending Agassiz get admissions priority?
Yes. All siblings of students attending Agassiz are guaranteed admission assuming there is space in the applicable grade level.
Do students receive any foreign language instruction?
Yes. Agassiz began an Arabic language program in school year 2008-2009. All students in grades Kindergarten through eighth grade will receive instruction starting in school year 2010-2011.
Is bussing provided to students?
No. The only bussing provided to Agassiz students are to special needs students that reside a certain distance from the school.
Is any testing required for admission to Agassiz?
No.
How diverse is the student population?
Agassiz has a high level of diversity. The student demographics in school year 2008-2009 were 34.2% Hispanic, 32.5% African-American, 21.4% Caucasian, and 2.8% Asian. In addition, there is a high level of international diversity with students or faculty speaking over 15 languages.
How involved are parents at Agassiz?
Parents are actively involved in the school in several ways. Parents serve on the local school council (LSC), the Friends of Agassiz (FOA) Board of Directors, assist teachers in classrooms, and help on field trips. Agassiz welcomes parental involvement and believes that the best schools are ones where parents are actively involved.
