You rank the specialized schools in order of preference. Offers depend on your score and rank.
Specialized High Schools Admissions Guide
Written by Ascend Academic mentors—students from top universities helping others succeed.
New York City’s specialized high schools use the SHSAT (or, for LaGuardia, an audition/portfolio process). Here’s how admissions work and how to plan.
Schools Using the SHSAT
Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech, and five other schools use SHSAT scores as the sole criterion for admission. Each school has a set number of seats; offers are made by rank order.
LaGuardia
LaGuardia High School uses a separate process based on audition/portfolio. Check the DOE for current requirements.
Planning Your Path
Understand SHSAT scoring and cutoff scores. A strong study plan and, if needed, SHSAT tutoring can support your student’s goals.
FAQ
Eligibility rules vary. Check the NYC DOE SHSAT page for the current year.
Written by Ascend Academic mentors
Our resources are written by Ascend Academic mentors—students from top universities helping others succeed. Learn more on our team page.
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