Specialized High Schools Admissions Test facts for kids

The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is an important exam 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. In 2024, over 25,000 students took the test. About 15.9% of them got scores high enough to qualify.

Each year, around 800 students can get into these schools through the Discovery program. This program helps students from lower-income families. If they qualify and complete a summer study program, they can get in even if their SHSAT score is a bit below the usual cutoff.

The test is given in October or November. Students find out their results the following March. If they get an offer, they decide by mid-March if they want to attend that school. The New York City Department of Education works with Pearson Assessments to create and grade the test.

Schools Using the SHSAT

The SHSAT is used for admission to these eight specialized high 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. It does not use the SHSAT.

The Hecht-Calandra Act and Admissions

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.

Over the years, there have been discussions about whether the SHSAT is fair to all students. Some people felt it might not be fair to Black and Latino students. In the 1970s, a study looked into these concerns. This led to the creation of the Hecht-Calandra Act.

Changes to the Discovery Program

In 2018, there were ideas to change how students get into specialized high schools. One idea was to remove the SHSAT completely. This would have allowed schools to look at a student's overall school record instead of just one test score. However, this change did not happen because of the Hecht-Calandra Act. To remove the SHSAT, a new state law would be needed.

Instead of removing the test, a compromise was made. Now, 20% of the spots in every specialized high school class are filled through the Discovery program. This program is for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. These students take the SHSAT but score just below the cutoff. They then attend a summer study program at one of the specialized high schools. Before this change, the Discovery program filled only 5% of spots at some schools. It was not used at all for Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, or High School of American Studies.

The Discovery program has helped more Black and Latino students get into these schools. In 2024, a larger percentage of Black (12%) and Latino (21%) students were admitted through Discovery compared to those admitted by high test scores. Asian students also make up a large part of Discovery students (56%).

Where and When to Take the Test

The SHSAT is given in late October for 8th graders. For 9th graders, and 8th graders with special learning plans (IEPs or 504 plans) or who are English Language Learners (ELL), the test is in early November.

The test is given at several locations across New York City:

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

How Admission Works

Before the test day, students must choose up to eight schools they want to apply to. They list these schools in order of their preference on an application portal. 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 process continues until all seats are filled. The New York City Department of Education converts the raw scores into a special scaled score.

Test Format

The SHSAT is 180 minutes (3 hours) long. It tests students in two main areas: English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. It's suggested to spend 90 minutes on each section. However, students can divide their time as they wish. Students with an IEP or certain medical conditions may get extra time, often double the usual time. There are no breaks between the sections. Students cannot use calculators or other math aids during the test.

English Language Arts (ELA) Section

This section has 57 multiple-choice questions:

• About 9-11 questions focus on revising and editing sentences.
• About 46-48 questions are based on reading passages. These passages include both nonfiction and fiction stories.

Mathematics Section

This section has 52 multiple-choice questions and 5 "grid-in" questions. Grid-in questions require students to write their answer in a special grid. The math questions cover various topics, including:

• Basic math skills
• Algebra
• Factoring
• Substitution
• Geometry
• Basic Coordinate Graphing
• Logic
• Word Problems
• 3D Geometry

How Scores Are Graded

Students do not lose points for wrong answers. Only correct answers count. The total number of correct answers (raw score) is changed into a "scaled score" using a secret formula. This scaled score is usually between 20 and 350. Then, the scaled scores are used to create a "composite score," which is between 40 and 700. This composite score determines a student's rank.

Getting a very high score (like 99th percentile) on one part of the test and an average score (like 60th percentile) on the other part can often lead to admission. However, getting an average score (like 82nd percentile) on both sections might not be enough. The scaled score increases more for very high or very low raw scores than for middle-range scores.

The cutoff scores needed for each school change every year. They depend on how many spots are open and how all the students who took the test scored. Students receive their scores in March. The Department of Education usually doesn't share all score details publicly.

Here are some past cutoff scores for 8th graders:

• 2020: Stuyvesant High School: 566; Queens High School For The Sciences At York College: 535; The Bronx High School of Science: 532; Staten Island Technical High School: 551; HSMSE @ CCNY: 523; HSAS @ Lehman: 520; Brooklyn Technical High School: 507; The Brooklyn Latin School: 498.
• 2021: Stuyvesant High School: 560; Queens High School For The Sciences At York College: 482; The Bronx High School of Science: 517; Staten Island Technical High School: 525; HSMSE @ CCNY: 515; HSAS @ Lehman: 488; Brooklyn Technical High School: 492; The Brooklyn Latin School: 481. (Scores were lower due to fewer test-takers.)
• 2022: 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.

Ninth-grade SHSAT cutoff scores are usually much higher. This is because there are very few spots available for incoming 10th graders. Some schools might only have 3-10 spots. Brooklyn Technical High School, being larger, might have 20-30 spots. Each year, about 50-60 ninth graders get into specialized schools out of around 3,000 who take the test.

Here are some past cutoff scores for 9th graders:

• 2021: Stuyvesant High School: 560; Queens High School For The Sciences At York College: 475; The Bronx High School of Science: 510; Staten Island Technical High School: 520; HSMSE @ CCNY: 481; HSAS @ Lehman: 482; Brooklyn Technical High School: 495; The Brooklyn Latin School: 466.
• 2022: Stuyvesant High School: 563; Queens High School For The Sciences At York College: 541; The Bronx High School of Science: 551; Staten Island Technical High School: 525; HSMSE @ CCNY: 549; HSAS @ Lehman: 541; Brooklyn Technical High School; 546; The Brooklyn Latin School: 545.

Programs to Help Students Prepare

The New York City Department of Education offers programs to help students prepare for the SHSAT.

New York Specialized High School Institute (SHSI)

The New York Specialized High School Institute (SHSI) is a free program. It's for middle school students who have good scores on citywide tests and strong report card grades. The program aims to help more Black and Latino students by giving them test-taking tips and extra lessons. However, any student can apply. In 2006, nearly 4,000 students were in this program. They spent 16 months, starting in the summer after sixth grade, getting ready for the SHSAT.

Summer Discovery Program

The Summer Discovery Program is for students who scored just below the SHSAT cutoff. Their guidance counselor must recommend them. If students successfully complete this summer program, they can gain admission to a specialized high school. To qualify, students must:

• Have scored within a certain range below the SHSAT cutoff score.
• Be certified as disadvantaged by their middle school. This means they meet certain income guidelines, receive public assistance, or are foster children.
• Or, if they moved to the U.S. within the last four years and speak a language other than English at home, they can also qualify.
• They must also be recommended by their school as having high potential.

Fairness in Admissions

Admission to specialized high schools is mostly based on how well a student does on the SHSAT. This applies to about 80% of students who don't come through the Discovery program. The New York Specialized High School Institute (SHSI) was created to help more Black and Latino students prepare. While it aims to help, these test-prep programs have also seen fewer Black and Latino students staying in them over time.