Frequently Asked Questions

• CRLS Family Connection Guidebook: review this guidebook to learn a lot about CRLS

• How to see student schedules in Aspen

• How the CRLS lunch schedule works

• How to get a student ID:  If your 9th grader hasn’t yet gotten their school ID, they can get it at the CRLS security desk. Some local stores, theatres, or banks offer special offers or discounts to students.

My child is struggling academically. What can I do?

1. Urge your child to email their teacher or go to their teacher’s office hours (before or after school). The teacher is best first resource.

2. Go to Cambridge School Volunteers drop-in tutoring (every morning before school at CRLS library or after school. Also at the Cambridge Main Library Teen Room 5-6pm Tues, Wed, Thur

3. If your child receives special education through an IEP (Individualized Education Plan), contact your case manager AND the teacher through email or ParentSquare with your specific concern.

• Junior Timeline and Checklist

• SAT test prep options (Free and paid) Test Prep Options

CRLS Junior (11th grader) website https://sites.google.com/cpsd.us/crls-junior-guidance 

MCAS

MCAS testing was a requirement for graduation up through the CRLS Class of 2026 (competency determination graduation requirements before Jan 5, 2025)
After January 5, 2025, MCAS testing is no longer required to graduate.
Here is more from CRLS on MCAS: https://crls.cpsd.us/academics/m_c_a_s_testing
Here are the competency determination graduation requirements after Jan 5, 2025

SAT 

SAT stands for scholastic aptitude test. It is a standardized test run by the College Board and it is often required for applying to colleges in the US. Full score in math is 800, and full score in English is 800 for a maximum score of 1600. (NOTE: The ACT is equivalent to the SAT for college applications and students only need to take one. The ACT is taken mostly in the Western part of the US.)

PSAT

 (Preliminary SAT) is a practice version of the SAT for students to experience the test ahead of time. Scores on the PSAT are not seen by colleges, but may qualify students for scholarships. (example, National Merit Scholarship Program) or the National Honor Society (a nationwide organization). There is an English and math section of the SAT with 800 being a full score for each section. Scores over 750 are generally considered competitive for highly selective colleges. Typically students take the PSAT in the fall of 11th grade. CRLS will usually offer this test for free to students.

2025: PSAT, SAT (11th grade), AP Exam (any grade) Deadlines

If you have an 11th grader, please look at the timeline for the PSAT and SAT exams which are needed for students interested in going to college. Learn about what is the PSAT and SAT. 

Advanced Placement Tests

Read more about Advanced Placement tests at the CRLS website: https://crls.cpsd.us/academics/ap_testing 

Find It Cambridge

We thank Andrew Liedtka, Find It Cambridge Manager, for telling us about https://www.finditcambridge.org/. It’s more than just a website. If you don’t know where to start, you can ask Andrew (aliedtka@cambridgema.gov or 617-686-2998) for help finding something whether it’s programs for students, housing, public benefits & community assistance or a community group.

Examples of what Andrew helped us answer about jobs for youth:

• Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program is hard to get into but there is also the Youth Employment Center (an office at CRLS, I believe Room 2101) where young people can make an appointment to speak with a youth employment specialist, work on their resume, and apply for jobs. For a summer job, students should start preparing their resume in winter and applying by spring. Some parents also want to wait until they find out whether their child got into Mayor’s Program and don’t pursue other options in the meantime

Volunteer opportunities to do as a group: See Cambridge Volunteers (formerly Cambridge Volunteer Clearinghouse), who recently developed their new database for volunteer opportunities. Much like Find It, they have filters on the left you can use to narrow down your options, one of which is “Groups Welcome”. 

Mayors Youth Summer Employment Program (MYSEP)

Applications accepted April 16-May 9 for this program to help youth learn the soft skills of working with the support of liaisons at public sector and nonprofit jobs in Cambridge. Students with work authorization in the US are eligible starting the summer after 8th grade. MSYEP will run six weeks from July 7 - August 15, 2025 for 20 hours a week (workers cannot miss more than one week). Participants will work 20 hours per week and will be paid $15 per hour.
Information at: www.cambridgema.gov/Services/mayorssummeryouthemploymentprogram

Youth Employment Center

Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program is hard to get into but there is also the Youth Employment Center (an office at CRLS, I believe Room 2101) where young people can make an appointment to speak with a youth employment specialist, work on their resume, and apply for jobs. For a summer job, students should start preparing their resume in winter and applying by spring. Some parents also want to wait until they find out whether their child got into Mayor’s Program and don’t pursue other options in the meantime