Apply to an Acero High School

If you are interested in applying to an Acero elementary school, please click here.

Apply to an Acero High School

Acero high schools are committed to both academic preparation and graduate success. We do so through a dynamic high school environment deeply entrenched in fostering a college-going culture.

9th Grade

Acero Schools participates in GoCPS administered by Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for 9th-grade enrollment. You may learn more about GoCPS by visiting go.cps.edu for additional details regarding applying. Visit go.cps.edu for the latest information.

Grades 10-12

In select situations, we may be able to accept high school transfers.

Please feel free to contact our high school enrollment staff directly for more information about enrollment or transfers:

Acero Campus	Enrollment Staff Member	Cell Phone Number
Cruz 9-12, Garcia, Soto	Ivette Esparza	312.282.5231

You may also visit any Acero high school for assistance with completing the application process. Please call ahead to your preferred school to set up an application appointment. Click here for a directory of school addresses and phone numbers.

Make sure to sign up for our email list for the most up-to-date enrollment information!

Click here to review our full Lottery Policy

Find answers below to "High School Application– FAQs"

How do I apply for my freshman year?

Students apply for high school through the GoCPS process. The details of this process can be found on the GoCPS website.

Please find a detailed application guide for GoCPS below.

English Application Guide

Spanish Application Guide

How do I apply for my sophomore, junior or senior year?

On a yearly basis, applications for enrollment in 10-12 will be collected by Acero for any available spaces for the upcoming school year. If there are more eligible applicants for enrollment than spaces available, successful applicants shall be selected by blind lottery.

Click the link below to begin your online application for the 2023-24 school year.

Acero Schools 2023-24 Application

* Please make sure you are selecting the correct school year: 2023-24

Note: Please click on the link at the top of the page to change the application language to Spanish.

If you prefer to submit a paper application, please download it below, print and submit to your nearest Acero school. Fill out the application in blue or black ink.

ENGLISH 2023-24 Application

ESPANOL 2023-4 Application

Use the links below to download a printable, plain-text version of the application for visually impaired users.

Plain Text ENGLISH 2023-24 Elementary Application

Plain Text ESPANOL 2023-24 Elementary Application

You may also visit your nearest Acero school to complete the application process. Please call ahead to your preferred school to set up an application appointment with social distancing and sanitization guidelines in practice. Click here for a directory of school addresses and phone numbers.

If you require further assistance with your application, please call 312-637-3900, or contact our high school enrollment team staff member:

Acero Campus	Enrollment Staff Member	Cell Phone Number
Cruz, Garcia, Soto	Ivette Esparza	312.282.5231

What are the requirements to attend an Acero high school?

Applicants must reside in the City of Chicago. If a student is found to be admitted using a false address, this could result in disenrollment.

How does the GoCPS process work? (9th Grade)

CPS has provided a resource page to provide more information on the GoCPS process.

How does the lottery work? (Grades 10-12)

Acero Schools hosts an annual lottery to determine enrollment for grades 10-12 for the upcoming school year. During the 10-12 lottery, applicants are chosen at random for all available K- 8 seats. The lottery date for the 2023-24 school year is March 8, 2023.

Online applications must be completed by 11:59 p.m. and paper applications marked received by 3:00 p.m. on February 24, 2023, to be included in the lottery.

All applications received after the deadline will be placed into open seats or waitlist positions on a first-come, first-served basis through the start of the 2023-24 school year.

Families who applied before the lottery deadline will receive detailed communications via email, text and US mail concerning the status of their application and next steps regarding registration and/or their waitlist status beginning the week of March 27, 2023.

Applicants are given priority, if applicable, in the following order: if they have siblings enrolled at the school, were previously enrolled at an Acero school, or meet neighborhood boundary requirements if applicable (specific to applicants for Clemente, Fuentes and Tamayo).

Click here to review our full Lottery Policy

When will I find out the results of my application at an Acero high school?

For 9th Grade

GoCPS Round 1 results are typically released in January. Check go.cps.edu for further updates.

For Grades 10-12

Applicants who apply before the lottery deadline will receive detailed communications via email, text and US mail concerning the status of their application and next steps regarding registration and/or their waitlist status beginning the week of March 27, 2023. All offers sent at this time must be accepted by April 7, 2023, or they will expire and the seat will be offered to the next applicant on the waitlist.

If a seat becomes available and your child is next on the waitlist, you will receive a phone call, text or email requesting that you accept or decline the seat within 48 hours. Applicants who fail to accept or decline within 48 hours will be moved to the end of the waitlist.

My student was offered a seat at an Acero high school school. What do I do next?

Congratulations! Please be sure to accept your offer. You will shortly thereafter receive information about registration and other required information. You will be required to complete student registration by a date that will be provided to you.

For 10-12th Grade Lottery Applicants

Offers from the 2023-24 school year lottery must be accepted by April 7, 2023.

Applicants of grades 10-12 must have their transcripts reviewed by a high school administrator to ensure proper grade placement. Once the transcript review is completed, registration and collection of supporting enrollment documents may continue.

Can I schedule a tour to visit a high school I’m interested in?

Not at this moment. We strongly encourage you to explore the school you are interested in via their website, social media channels, and YouTube videos. Please find our respective high school links below.

Where can I find out more information about Acero’s high schools?

For more information about Cruz, Garcia and Soto, we encourage you to explore their school websites, Facebook pages, and informational Youtube videos using the links below.

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz K-12 School

_jc.aceroschools.org

_(312) 455-5440

_Cruz K-12 School

_Video- Enroll at Cruz

Mjr. Hector P. García M.D. High School

_hg.aceroschools.org

_(773) 579-3480

_Garcia High School

_Video- Enroll at Garcia

Victoria Soto High School

_vs.aceroschools.org

_(312) 455-5446

_Soto High School

_Video- Enroll at Soto

I have more questions about the GoCPS or transfer process.

If you have any further questions, contact the Office of Access and Enrollment at 773-553-2060 (press “3” when prompted) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or email [email protected].

I have more questions about Acero high schools.

Please reach out to the high school you are interested in directly. For any additional questions, you may reach Acero Schools Central office at (312) 637-3900 or our designated enrollment staff:

Acero Campus	Enrollment Staff Member	Cell Phone Number
Cruz 9-12, Garcia, Soto	Ivette Esparza	312.282.5231

Apply- High Schools