Navigating the CPS Portal: A Student's Guide to Success
Welcome to the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) community! This guide is designed to help students and their families navigate the CPS portal, unlocking the resources and information needed for a successful academic journey. From enrollment to graduation, the CPS portal is your central hub for everything you need to know.
Enrollment: Joining the CPS Family
Whether you're new to CPS or returning for another year, understanding the enrollment process is the first step. The first time a child enrolls in a district school, proof of the child’s age and Chicago residency, as well as various medical forms are required before the start of the school year. Learn procedures to help ensure a smooth transition into school from another CPS school, another district, or from out of state or out of the country.
Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, all enrollments must be completed online through Focus. This means you'll need to set up your CPS account through the Parent Portal to begin the enrollment process.
Exploring Schools: Finding the Right Fit
CPS offers a diverse range of schools, each with its own unique identity and characteristics. As you browse our school profiles, you may notice that a lot has changed. We’ve made major updates to the information in the profiles to support CPS’ new approach to school practices and student outcomes. Take the time to explore the school profiles and find the best fit for your student's needs and interests.
Attendance: The Key to Success
Once your child is enrolled, daily attendance becomes one of the most important ways you can support their success. Every school day is a new opportunity for learning, growth, and connection. Consistent attendance ensures that students don't miss out on valuable learning experiences.
Read also: Comprehensive ETAR Guide
Focus: Your Academic Hub
Teachers will use Focus to record attendance, post assignments and report grades. Students and families use Focus to view assignments and monitor grades. It's important to note that Focus is the grade book of record for all CPS students. Focus allows users to access student information from any computer, smartphone or mobile device with an internet connection. A child's information on Focus is password-protected. Only parents or those with custodial rights can access their records.
Assessments: Measuring Progress and Providing Support
A balanced system of assessments is an integral part of CPS's well-rounded instructional program for all students. CPS administers different types of assessments over the course of the school year to provide a comprehensive picture of student progress. Some assessments guide improvements in ongoing instruction and enable schools to offer appropriate supports to address individual student needs. Standardized test scores, together with other factors, inform grade promotion decisions and determine student eligibility for specific schools and programs. Students may find testing stressful. Parents can find applicable test dates for their student in the Assessment Calendar.
Report Cards: Tracking Your Child's Development
The Report of Student Achievement, Grades 1-8, reflects your child’s progress toward mastering the Illinois Learning Standards, which establish what students need to know and be able to do at every grade level. The report card provides information on how your child is progressing toward meeting the standards for their grade level. The Report Card for Kindergarten is issued at the end of each of the four reporting periods. This report card will communicate your child’s progress during a reporting period. You are responsible for picking up the report card from your child’s teacher at the end of the first and third reporting periods.
High School Graduation Requirements: Preparing for the Future
CPS high school graduation requirements were developed to prepare students for success after high school. These requirements ensure that students are well-prepared for college, career, and civic life.
Additional Resources: Supporting Student Well-being
CPS offers a range of additional resources to support student well-being:
Read also: Accessing the Cal Poly Portal
- Children and Family Benefits Unit (CFBU): CFBU provides families with social services support, including Medicaid (health insurance) and SNAP (nutrition benefits) enrollment.
- Transportation Services: Your student's school is your main source for information about eligibility for transportation services provided by CPS. To learn more about Ventra passes for CPS students, please contact your school directly.
- Safe Passage Program: The Safe Passage program is offered to select schools to provide a positive, trusted adult presence for students as they travel to and from school.
Pre-K: Building a Strong Foundation
Pre-K is the beginning of a new phase in your child’s development. Your student is on their way to starting kindergarten! This is an exciting time. A strong transition from preschool will set up your child for success in kindergarten and beyond. The school calendar for Pre-K programs has been updated. Get your technology ready for school by logging into or setting up your CPS account through the Parent Portal.
The school year starts on Monday, August 18, 2025. It will be the first full day of classes for students in grades K-12.
Celebrating Student Achievement: Showcasing Talent
The Winter Wonderland Student Work Showcase features art, music, poetry, and Spanish compositions from our Virtual Academy High School students. Congratulations to the students who shared their work and the Virtual Academy teachers who helped them produce it! Please view the "Meet your Teacher" video attached below to find out some interesting facts. In our inaugural Arts Showcase, Virtual Academy High School students present visual art, music compositions, and monologues. Thank you to Ms. Zoldan (art teacher), Ms. McDaniel (music teacher), and Ms. Minardi (theater teacher) for organizing this spectacular exhibition!
Read also: Accessing the MUSD Student Portal
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