I think you can tell a lot just from the stats --

http://schoolinfo.cps.edu/schoolprof...choolId=610081

Also, see the reviews here --

http://www.greatschools.org/illinois...ience-Academy/

It looks really great to me! If you would show me those stats, I would definitely guess that this is a selective enrollment school, not lottery!

You might also ask on their Facebook page? https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-...33409616729552

Tell people they are welcome to write to you directly via email as people might not be as forthcoming with any criticism posting on the public facebook page :-)

Hope this helps!
Eric