What is the SHSAT? The 2026 Guide
Test dates, the new computer-adaptive format, scoring and eligibility for NYC’s Specialized High Schools Admissions Test.
The Gateway to NYC's Best Public High Schools
The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is a free exam given by NYC Public Schools (the NYC Department of Education). It is the only admissions criterion for eight of the city’s nine specialized high schools; the ninth, LaGuardia High School, admits by audition instead.
To take it, a student must be a New York City resident and either a current 8th grader (for 9th-grade entry) or a first-time 9th grader (for the small number of 10th-grade seats). In 2026 the test is given between November 14 and November 21, and results and offers are released in MySchools the following spring.
Families register in MySchools (or through the school counselor) between October 6 and October 30, 2026, and rank the specialized high schools they want in order of preference. There is no fee. Starting in Fall 2026, the SHSAT is a computer-adaptive test taken on DOE-provided computers.
SHSAT Test Dates 2026 (for Fall 2027 Admission)
Official dates from NYC Public Schools for the 2026–27 admissions cycle. Each student’s test ticket shows their exact date and location.
| Step / who | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration opens (MySchools) | Tuesday, October 6, 2026 |
| Registration deadline | Friday, October 30, 2026 |
| Test tickets released | After the registration deadline, in MySchools |
| 8th graders at other schools (6–12, K–12, charter, private, parochial, independent, homeschooled): central NYCPS site | Saturday, November 14 or Sunday, November 15, 2026 |
| 8th graders at public NYCPS middle schools that end in 8th grade: at their own school, during the school day | Wednesday, November 18, 2026 |
| All 9th graders: central NYCPS site (alternate date if you cannot test on Saturday) | Saturday, November 21, 2026 |
| Results and offers | Released in MySchools in early 2027 (last cycle: March 5, 2026) |
Source: NYC Public Schools – Specialized High Schools. Dates are set by NYCPS and can change; always check your child’s test ticket.
New for 2026: Two Sections, 100 Questions, 180 Minutes
From Fall 2026 the SHSAT is computer-adaptive. It has an ELA section and a Math section with 50 questions each and 180 minutes in total; students choose which section to start with and how to split their time. Questions get harder or easier based on the student’s answers, and both sections mix multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank and technology-enhanced items.
ELA Section
50 questions · you set the pace within 180 minutes
- Revising/Editing Part A — passage-based questions
- Revising/Editing Part B — stand-alone sentences and short paragraphs
- Reading Comprehension — literary and informational texts
Math Section
50 questions · formulas are not provided
- Ratios, proportional relationships & the number system
- Expressions, equations & inequalities
- Geometry
- Statistics & probability, plus fill-in (student-entered) answers
NYC's Specialized High Schools
These eight schools admit students based solely on SHSAT score and the order in which each student ranked them. Cutoffs shown are the official lowest qualifying scores for Fall 2026 admission (9th grade). See all SHSAT cutoff scores.
Stuyvesant High School
Manhattan · 2026 cutoff: 561 (highest) · Known for exceptional math and science programs
Bronx High School of Science
Bronx · 2026 cutoff: 525 · Alumni include eight Nobel Prize laureates
Brooklyn Technical High School
Brooklyn · 2026 cutoff: 506 · Largest specialized school, strong STEM & engineering focus
HS of American Studies at Lehman College
Bronx · 2026 cutoff: 507 · Small school with an American history and humanities emphasis
HS for Math, Science & Engineering at CCNY
Manhattan · 2026 cutoff: 539 · Partnership with City College · Strong engineering curriculum
Queens HS for the Sciences at York College
Jamaica, Queens · 2026 cutoff: 531 · Small school with college-level science courses available
Staten Island Technical High School
Staten Island · 2026 cutoff: 517 · Strong technical and engineering programs
Brooklyn Latin School
Brooklyn · 2026 cutoff: 495 (lowest of the eight) · Classical education model with Latin requirement
Important SHSAT Information
When Is the SHSAT?
In 2026: November 14–15 (weekend sites), November 18 (in school) and November 21 (9th graders). Register by October 30 in MySchools.
Who Can Take It?
NYC residents who are current 8th graders or first-time 9th graders, from any public, charter, private or parochial school, or homeschooled.
Answer Every Question
On the adaptive test you must answer each question to move on, and you cannot go back to Math or stand-alone ELA items, so pacing and accuracy matter more than ever.
LaGuardia, Discovery and Testing Accommodations
LaGuardia High School (audition, not the SHSAT)
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts is the ninth specialized high school. It does not use the SHSAT: students audition for up to six studios (Dance, Drama, Fine & Visual Art, Instrumental Music, Technical Theater and Vocal Music) and need a final grade of at least 65 in English, math, science and social studies from the previous school year.
The Discovery Program
Discovery is a summer program for rising 9th graders from low-income backgrounds and schools who take the SHSAT and score just below the cutoff. Students who complete it successfully can enroll at a specialized high school in September. NYC Public Schools contacts eligible families in the spring, after results come out.
Testing Accommodations
Students with IEPs or 504 Plans that include testing accommodations, current English Language Learners, and former ELLs who passed the NYSESLAT in the last two years receive accommodations on the SHSAT. ELLs get 360 minutes (double time) plus translated directions and bilingual glossaries. 504 Plans must be re-approved each year, and private-school documentation is due at least three weeks before the registration deadline. Paper tests are only available when an IEP or 504 Plan requires them.
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