ISEE Scores Needed for CPS, maybe retake?

Those are good scores although the math is not in the 8th or 9th statine which may be what they want.  The math program at CPS is notoriously challenging.  As another parent commented in a question about whether the ISEE is required for CPS, I would suggest you think first about whether CPS is really a good fit for your son.  Is he excited about the school?  Do you know kids like him at CPS currently?  Does he thrive in a high pressure environment? 

Our eldest went to CPS for two years -  middle school teachers had told us they thought she was very gifted, she did well enough on the ISEE (can't remember her scores though) and on the interview.  But she was pretty miserable from day one.  The pressure and competition and the smallness of the school just didn't work for her.  (I think she also had a not great cohort - the year before her there were some great kids who were a lot more like her - creative and quirky.)  She ended up transferring to Berkeley High where she immediately had lots of friends.  Berkeley High wasn't perfect - there were some great teachers and some terrible teachers (but I'd say ditto about CPS - better ratio of great to terrible but there were a couple of not great teachers there too.). And of course Berkeley High is huge and can be overwhelming at first. But it was also big enough for her to find a diverse and kind and brilliant kids who are still her close friends, years later.  Our youngest who was far more of a competitive type and high test scores had no interest in CPS, went to Berkeley High, went to a very selective college after that.  So again, just choose CPS on whether you think your child will be happy and successful there rather than focus on stretching to get the admissions test scores if there's a chance one they're there they will need constant support and tutoring.  (Not to say you might not choose tutors if they go to public or another high school).

I totally 100% agree with the poster from Nov 20 on this topic. Math at CPS was a NIGHTMARE for my student and a whole group of their friends. These were kids who went on to great colleges and a few of them majored in Economics!

Also related, do not assume that going to CPS is going to help your kid with college admissions. Those days are long gone, unless your kiddo is at the top of the totally-distorted CPS bell curve. If your kiddo has a lower GPA because their math or science grades are not As (physics first was terrible for my HS freshman) that can really hurt their college apps. With the trends in college applications and the time spent on each application, most colleges are not taking the time to consider how "fabulous" CPS is compared to other high schools in the area. I add this because the mythology around CPS kids will all go to Ivies still seems to persist with ambitious families. Plus, the longtime wonderful college advisor is gone.

Please, please heed the wise advice of the parent who posted on Nov 20: "So again, just choose CPS on whether you think your child will be happy and successful there." It's really a great school for some kids, and not so much for others. 

I'm a parent of a College Prep freshman who participated in the proctored essay and did not take the ISEE. My sense is the school is looking at more than just test scores if that helps as you think about whether or not your child should retake the test. I know how stressful the high school application process can be with all the unknowns, so if there is a way to relieve some stress, my advice would be to take it! 

Regarding some of the points made by other commenters, after watching my child navigate the first months of College Prep, I have to say I'm really glad she is the one who ultimately made the choice to enroll without us making that decision for her. We narrowed down the high school search to a handful of schools (public and private) and let her take it from there. She chose College Prep with both eyes open about the intensity of the workload, and I think that's been a key factor in the motivation she has to work hard there. She's always been a strong student, but it's almost mind boggling to see how quickly her skills have moved up. She works diligently, and also, she has great partners at school – her teachers have been incredibly responsive and proactive, meeting with her when she has questions, wants to dive deeper, or needs support. 

Regarding college, also mentioned in other comments, our hope has always been that our kids will get a high school education that gives them the skills they need to succeed wherever they go next -- this seems like it is happening in spades at College Prep. Hope this helps, and good luck with the search process!