Come Be a Part of Our Family
Hamilton Elementary School is a special place and we can't wait for your family to be a part of it.
Hamilton is a neighborhood school and accepts all students living in the attendance area at any time. Neighborhood parents for incoming Kindergarten students are strongly encouraged to register in February prior to the general lottery.
Additionally, we are a fine and performing arts magnet cluster school. This means we are a neighborhood school which accepts students from outside our attendance area through the GoCPS lottery system if space is available. Tours are available monthly throughout the school year. If you would like to learn more about Hamilton, please join us on a tour!
2024 School Tours will be offered on the following dates and times:
You must RSVP to attend
**Upper Grade Only Tours: These tours will focus on kids in the upper grade levels interested in transferring to Hamilton and how we can help to make it a smooth transition for students and their parents. The tour will focus on the curriculum and also the electives that are offered in 4th- 8th grade. We will spend time answering any questions families and kids may have about our 4-5 grades and middle school.
Prospective families are encouraged to attend an in-person school tour at Hamilton to experience our school and learn what makes us such a great place to learn. Tours are led by members of our Hamilton Action Team, and students and Admin are available to answer all of your questions. If you are interested in a tour, please RSVP below to attend.
RSVP required to attend.
Kindergarten – 8th Grade Admissions
Hamilton is a neighborhood school and accepts all students living in the attendance area at any time. Neighborhood parents for incoming Kindergarten students are strongly encouraged to register by January, prior to the general lottery.
We are excited to welcome prospective families for all grades to join us for school tours. RSVP HERE
The start of the 2024-2025 school year is still many months away; however, the GoCPS application is open now. Click here to see Hamilton attendance boundaries
Enrollment Paperwork
Proof of Age:
Includes, but is not limited to, any ONE of the documents listed below: (must be originals, we will make copies)
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Child's birth certificate
Proof of Current Address:
Includes Drivers license or State ID, and TWO of the documents listed below: (Must be originals, we will make copies) Must be in parent's name.
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Current utility bill
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Deed
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Employee identification number
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MediPlan/Medicaid card
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Court documents
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Illinois Department of Public Aid card
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Stamped United States Post Office change of address form
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Illinois state aid check/social security check
Medical Forms:
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Due by August 1st. It is recommended that you schedule your child's physical exam, eye exam (with an optometrist) and dental exam as soon as possible so that all documents/forms are completed by the due date. *All forms are linked
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Exceptions to this will be Physical exams in which your child's birth date is after the due date. All medicals must be within one year to be valid. Please see health requirements for kindergarten
Enrollment/Registration Forms:
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Visit the Parents Page for all forms
Please email Denise Pfeifer, School Clerk at dmpfeifer@cps.edu with any questions.
PreK For All Admissions
Applications Now Open! Secure your child’s spot at high-quality preschools across Chicago before seats are filled up! Click HERE for more information.
Offers are prioritized based on
- Economic Need
- Students with Disabilities and/or Living in Temporary Situations
- Siblings Currently Enrolled at Hamilton
- Proximity to Hamilton
Families that are interested in learning more about Hamilton's preschool program can visit our classroom and meet the teacher. The classroom visit is informal. Families can check out the classroom space and take some time to chat with the teacher to learn more about the program. Check back here for dates in the spring.
Classroom visits and and registration nights for families who were offered a spot in the Hamilton Preschool Program will also be offered. Stay tuned for dates.
Please email Denise Pfeifer, School Clerk at dmpfeifer@cps.edu with any questions.
Click here to learn more about PreK at Hamilton!
High School/9th Grade Admissions
Transitioning to high school in Chicago provides a lot of options. While options are great, it can also feel overwhelming. At Hamilton we believe in neighborhood schools and ask families to first look at their neighborhood high school and if the school does not have the academic programs, after school clubs or sports, or other needs, then families can open up their search to other schools and programs.
To locate your neighborhood school, use this CPS School Locator Tool.
2024-2025 GoCPS Application Window:
OPEN Wednesday, September 13th, 2023
CLOSE on Thursday, November 9th, 2023
More information about CPS high school options and applications is available on the HS Explore site as well as this GoCPS Overview Document for Applying to 9th Grade.
Interested in getting updates from CPS directly?
Sign up on the GoCPS Website and scroll down to SUBSCRIBE for 2024-2025.
If you have an account already with GoCPS from last school year or want to create one, you can sign in at: GoCPS Account Access and Creation
CPS High School Admissions Test Dates:
The CPS High School Admissions Test will be available to all current CPS students applying to ninth grade on Friday, October 13th, 2023. All 8th grade students will take the exam at Hamilton during the school day.
Results will be uploaded to the GoCPS account when results are released. CPS plans to release results prior to the due date in December. Here is more information about the CPS High School Admissions Exam.
Student Support:
Students meet one-on-one as well as in large groups with the School Counselor to review processes, to explore options, as well as understand the different school programs. Students will use HSBound.ORG site to assist in learning more, including location/distance from home.
Parent Support:
A parent information session will be held in October to assist parents in understanding the application process. Check back here for the date and time. Parents will also be invited to meet with the School Counselor to receive additional personal support during the application season. If you have questions, please email Ms. Gardner, Hamilton School Counselor at: lterry@cps.edu
Open Houses/Fairs:
Specific school open houses, tours and fairs should be considered to focus on helping decide on which schools to apply to as well as ranking order. Please always check directly using the school website for up-to-date information, however, students and parents can utilize the PADLET below to locate more information about high school options as well as open house, tours, and fair dates and times.
If you have trouble viewing the PADLET,
click the link below to visit the page.
