Specialized High Schools Admissions Test facts for kids

The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is an important test for students in New York City. It helps decide who gets into eight of the city's nine special high schools. These schools are known for their strong academic programs. About 25,000 students take the SHSAT each year. Around 5,000 of them are accepted into one of these schools. The test happens in October or November. Students find out their results the following March.

Schools Using the SHSAT

The SHSAT is used for admission to these eight schools:

• Bronx High School of Science
• Brooklyn Latin School
• Brooklyn Technical High School
• High School of American Studies at Lehman College
• High School for Math, Science and Engineering at City College
• Queens High School for the Sciences at York College
• Staten Island Technical High School
• Stuyvesant High School

The ninth specialized high school, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, uses auditions or portfolios for admission. This means students show their skills in music, art, or performance instead of taking a test.

The Hecht-Calandra Act

In 1971, a law called the Hecht-Calandra Act was passed. This law made the SHSAT the only way to get into three of the specialized schools: Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, and Bronx Science.

For a long time, people have debated if the SHSAT and these schools are fair to all students. In the 1970s, some people wondered if the test was unfair to Black and Latino students. Lawmakers then created the Hecht-Calandra Act. Some lawmakers worried the act would limit opportunities for certain groups of students.

In 2018, the Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, suggested changing how students get into these schools. He wanted to get rid of the Hecht-Calandra Act. He also wanted to use a more complete way to decide admissions. This would look at more than just a test score. However, this change did not happen. Because of the law, the city cannot remove the SHSAT without a new state law.

Some people believe the 1971 act helps keep some schools from having a diverse group of students. They say it makes it harder for Black and Latinx students to get in. A new bill in 2021 tried to remove the Hecht-Calandra Act. If it passed, the city could create its own admission process for all specialized schools.

Where the Test Happens

The SHSAT is given in late October for 8th graders. It's given in early November for 9th graders. Students with special learning plans (IEPs or 504 plans) or those learning English (ELL) also test in November.

The test centers are in different parts of New York City:

• Manhattan: Stuyvesant High School
• Bronx: Bronx High School of Science
• Brooklyn: Brooklyn Technical High School, Sunset Park High School, or James Madison High School
• Queens: Long Island City High School, Hillcrest High School, or John Adams High School
• Staten Island: Staten Island Technical High School

How to Apply and Get In

Students can choose up to eight schools they want to apply to. They list them in order of their favorite on an application website. This must be done before test day. The test is open to all 8th and 9th graders living in New York City. Most applicants are 8th graders.

After the test, scores are ranked from highest to lowest. Students are offered a spot at their top-choice school that still has open seats. This continues until all seats are filled. The New York City Department of Education handles the scoring.

Test Format

The SHSAT lasts 180 minutes, which is three hours. It tests your skills in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. It's suggested to spend 90 minutes on each section. However, students can use their time as they wish. If a student has an IEP or certain medical conditions, they might get extra time. Some students can even get double the time. No breaks are given between sections. You cannot use calculators or other math helpers during the test.

ELA Section

The ELA section has 57 multiple-choice questions.

• About 9-11 questions ask you to revise or edit sentences.
• There are 5-6 reading passages (some nonfiction, some fiction). These passages have a total of 46-48 questions.
• All questions in this section are multiple-choice.

Math Section

The Math section has 52 multiple-choice questions and 5 "grid-in" questions. Grid-in questions require you to write your answer in a special grid.

• It covers many math topics, including:
  • Algebra
  • Factoring
  • Substitution
  • Geometry
  • Basic Coordinate Graphing
  • Logic
  • Word Problems
  • 3D Geometry

How Scores Are Graded

You don't lose points for wrong answers. Only correct answers count. Your total number of correct answers (called the raw score) is changed into a scaled score. The Department of Education does not share the exact formula for this. The scaled score is a number between 20 and about 350.

The scaled scores from both sections are combined to create a composite score. This score is usually between 40 and 700. It helps decide your rank among all test-takers. The scaled score does not directly match the raw score. For example, getting almost all questions right can increase your scaled score a lot. Getting scores in the middle range increases your scaled score by smaller amounts.

The cut-off scores for each school change every year. This depends on how many spots are open and how all the students score. Students get their results in March. The Department of Education usually doesn't share all score details. However, they did release the cut-off scores for 2022.

For example, in 2022, the cut-off scores for 8th graders were:

• Stuyvesant High School: 563
• Queens High School For The Sciences At York College: 523
• The Bronx High School of Science: 524
• Staten Island Technical High School: 527
• HSMSE @ CCNY: 532
• HSAS @ Lehman: 516
• Brooklyn Technical High School: 506
• The Brooklyn Latin School: 497

The cut-off scores for 9th graders are usually much higher. This is because there are very few spots for incoming 10th graders. Some schools might only have 3-10 spots. Brooklyn Technical High School, a larger school, might have 20-30 spots. About 50-60 ninth-grade students get into specialized schools each year.

Programs from the Department of Education

The New York Specialized High School Institute (SHSI) is a free program. The City of New York runs it for middle school students. Students with good scores on city tests and high grades can apply. This program helps students prepare for the SHSAT. It offers test-taking tips and extra lessons. While it aimed to help Black and Hispanic students, any student can apply. Students in this program spend 16 months preparing, starting in the summer after sixth grade.

The Summer Discovery Program is for some students who scored just below the cut-off. If their guidance counselor recommends them, they might qualify. Finishing this program successfully can help students get into a specialized high school. To qualify, students must:

• Score within a certain range below the SHSAT cut-off.
• Be certified as needing support by their middle school. This could mean they attend a Title 1 school and their family meets income guidelines, or they receive certain government assistance. It could also apply to foster children or new immigrants whose main language is not English.
• Be recommended by their school as having high potential.

Fairness of the Test

Admission to these schools is based only on your SHSAT score. This has led to discussions about fairness. Some people worry that relying only on one test score might not give everyone an equal chance.

The New York City Department of Education created programs like the SHSI. These programs aim to help more students from all backgrounds prepare for the test. While they originally focused on increasing the number of African American and Hispanic students, any student can join.

In 2013, there were concerns that fewer African American and Latino students were getting into SHSAT schools. Some groups filed a complaint, saying that the law requiring the SHSAT for all eight schools might not be fair. They argued that only three schools were legally required to use the SHSAT. The New York Department of Education, however, believes all eight schools must use the test. An investigation into this issue is still ongoing.

There has also been disagreement about changes to the SHSAT. Some people, including many Asian American families, believe the current system is fair. They worry that changing it might make it harder for their children to get in. Others suggest looking at more than just test scores. They think things like attendance, grades, and teacher recommendations should also be considered.