NYC’s Specialized High Schools are among the most competitive public schools in the country. The SHSAT is the only factor that gets your child in — and the right preparation makes all the difference.
Test Date: November 11, 2026
Specialized High Schools Admissions Test
The SHSAT (Specialized High Schools Admissions Test) is the entrance exam used for admission to New York City’s Specialized High Schools, including schools such as Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, and Brooklyn Tech. It is the sole admissions criterion for these schools, meaning offers are based entirely on a student’s SHSAT score. Students typically take the SHSAT in 8th grade for 9th-grade entry, with an additional opportunity in 9th grade for limited 10th-grade seats.
Cutoff Scores — Last 3 Years
Cutoff scores are the lowest score that received an offer at each school. They shift year to year based on applicant pool size and seat availability. Use these as your benchmark, not your ceiling.
| School | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 3-Yr Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stuyvesant High School Manhattan |
561 | 556 | 561 | → Stable |
HSMSE @ City College Manhattan |
539 | 526 | 542 | → Variable |
Queens HS for Sciences Queens · York College |
531 | 518 | 524 | ↑ Rising |
Bronx High School of Science The Bronx |
525 | 518 | 526 | → Stable |
Staten Island Technical HS Staten Island |
517 | 527 | 519 | ↓ Easing |
Brooklyn Technical HS Brooklyn · Fort Greene |
509 | 504 | 508 | ↑ Rising |
HSAS @ Lehman College The Bronx |
507 | 504 | 514 | ↓ Easing |
Brooklyn Latin School Brooklyn · Bushwick |
498 | 496 | 498 | ↑ Rising |
What Makes Kent Prep Different
For families who understand the stakes of the SHSAT, true preparation goes beyond tips and shortcuts. Because admission to NYC Specialized High Schools is determined entirely by score, success requires deep mastery of reading, mathematics, and analytical reasoning. Kent Prep’s SHSAT program, historically one of our most successful and established offerings, is led by specialists who focus on building these core academic foundations so students can handle the full range of question types with precision and confidence.
We believe the strongest outcomes come from starting early, often in 6th or 7th grade, allowing students the time to develop skills, accuracy, and stamina at the level this exam demands. This mastery-driven approach enables students to execute consistently under pressure, refine strategy intelligently, and compete at the highest level on one of New York City’s most selective admissions exams.
Intensive Option
