CPS rescinds about 500 offers to top-notch elementary school

More than 500 families thought their children were set for September, accepted into a top North Side magnet school, according to congratulatory letters Chicago Public Schools mailed last week.

But late Monday, hopes were dashed when the district rescinded all but 16 of those offers to LaSalle Language Academy elementary school in West Town.

"According to our records, your child received an offer for LaSalle Magnet School for the 2016-2017 school year," read an email sent by Kathryn Ellis, head of CPS' Office of Access and Enrollment. "Unfortunately, due to an error in assigning transfer students to LaSalle, CPS discovered that LaSalle does not have enough available seats for the number of offers that were made. As a result of this error, your child's status for LaSalle has changed."

LaSalle Language Academy, which boasts CPS' top rating, offers nine years of Italian, Mandarin Chinese, French or Spanish at its West Town campus. No test is required for entry but there is a lottery because applications far outstrip openings in the school. It has about 550 students enrolled.

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