• Specialty Program Information for the 2025-2026 School Year

    Program Eligibility

    The Utica Center for Science and Industry (UCSI) welcomes eighth grade students to apply for acceptance to UCSI during the Utica Community Schools Specialty Program Application period. Applications and the timeline will be available on this site as soon as they are available.  For more information on the Utica Community Schools Specialty Programs, see Policy 6275.

    UCS Specialty Program Timeline

    Between October 4, 2024 and November 7, 2024, CSI will make two presentations to the Junior High School students to introduce them to the program.

    • The Specialty Programs Application opens December 6, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
    • The application is due December 20, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.

    Specialty Program information night will begin at 6:30 p.m.

    Program

    Location

    Information Night
    UCSI

    		  IRC

    		 November 20, 2024

     





    Specialty Programs testing date:

    Program

    Testing Location

    Testing Date

    Testing Date

      UCSI

      IRC

    		 January 18, 2025 at 8:00 AM

    January 25, 2025 at  12:00 PM

     








    Notification Mailing Date:  Accept/Decline/Waitlist notifications will be sent by email on February 28, 2025

    Program Commitment Date:   March 14, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.

    UCSI Shadowing Request

    If a current 8th grade student is interested in shadowing a current UCSI student to find out more about the program, please fill out the UCSI Student Shadow Request Form.  Students may request to shadow anytime prior to the UCS Specialty Program Application Due Date.  Once you have completed and submitted the form, you will be contacted by a UCSI staff member within one week to confirm your visit. 

    Entrance Test Requirement

    Applicants for the 2025-26 school year will be evaluated on the following criteria:

    • NWEA Mathematics
    • NWEA Reading
    • Successful completion of regular Math 8 and regular English 8 prior to start of fall semester
    • Writing assessment - student participation scored for feedback 
      • Students will be given an impromptu writing opportunity to express their thoughts and ideas
    • Performance Task - student participation scored for feedback 
      • Students will collaborate in small groups to complete a design process challenge.

    Materials to bring for testing:

    • Students may bring a small snack (nut free) and/or beverage to the testing session to be consumed during the short break between tests.