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Admissions » Incoming Freshmen

Incoming Freshmen

How The Waitlist Works
There are seats available in the Class of 2030 at Richards. Freshmen interested in joining the Class of 2030 at Richards must follow the GoCPS Waitlist process. Review the instructions below for further information.

 

Students accept or decline waitlist offers via their GoCPS account. Make sure all contact information is up to date on the GoCPS account to be notified of waitlist offers.


Waitlist seats are only offered if the program has not met its capacity. The programs available at Richards are:

  • Business/Entrepreneurship
  • Culinary Arts
  • General Education

The amount of time you are on a waitlist will vary by program and waitlist number. If the program has a seat available, and the student’s number on the waitlist is reached, the person on the contact list will be notified via their preferred communication method listed on GoCPS. You may also receive a phone call or email from the school making the offer, but this is not guaranteed.

  • Applicants can withdraw from the waitlist if they no longer wish to be considered. Once withdrawn, the decision is final and cannot be reversed. If an applicant later decides to rejoin the waitlist, they will NOT get their old waitlist place back.
  • All waitlist offers will go live at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays. Once an offer is live, applicants have two business days to accept or decline the offer before it expires and goes to the next student on the waitlist. Expired/declined waitlist offers cannot be reversed.
  • Families can receive a single best waitlist offer, which is why ranking is an important part of the Rolling Waitlist process.
    • Choice: Students will be removed from waitlists ranked lower than the offer they receive.
    • Selective: Students are automatically removed from all selective waitlists if an offer is received.
  • Schools should notify families when offers are extended.

Families Join by Monday EOD

Tuesday Offers go out by 10 am
  • Families are sent an email/text notification through Enrollwise
  • Schools can reach out to families at any point to share that an offer has been made

Offers Expire on Thursday at 

11:59 pm

Families Join by Thursday EOD

Friday Offers go out by 10 am
  • Families are sent an email/text notification through Enrollwise
  • Schools can reach out to families at any point to share that an offer has been made

Offers Expire on Mondays at 

11:59 pm


Remember to rank all programs in the order that you wish to receive an offer.

Offers will be sent out to students on the waitlist until all seats are filled/the program reaches capacity. Because waitlist offers are not made once the program hits capacity, receiving a waitlist offer is not guaranteed.

Please note that once the 2026-2027 school year beings, 9th grade students can only transfer during specific windows during the school year. Please call the Richards Main Office at (773)535-4945 to learn more.

 

Family Resources
The GoCPS website offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date resources on programs, eligibility, application details, waitlist details, open houses, and the High School Admissions Test (HSAT). Several videos aviailable on the site also provide further information regarding the selection process here.

 

High School Connections (HSC) Summer 2026
Richards will host High School Connections (HSC) for incoming freshmen during the following dates and times:

  • July 6 - 30, 2026
  • Monday -Thursday
  • 9:00-2:00
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Field Trips, activities and the opportunity to earn a stipend!
 
High School Connections (HSC) is available for all incoming Freshmen attending Richards in the 2026-2027 school year. Visit the CPS HSC website for more information and to register.