SHSAT Cutoff Scores 2026
Official lowest qualifying scores for each NYC specialized high school (Fall 2026 admissions).
SHSAT Cutoff Scores by School (2026 Admissions)
The table below shows the official lowest qualifying SHSAT composite score for 9th-grade entry at each school in Fall 2026, published by NYC Public Schools. These cutoffs come from the Fall 2025 SHSAT. Cutoffs change every year with the number of test-takers, their scores, and the seats available.
Source: NYC Public Schools, “Lowest Qualifying SHSAT Score for 2026 Admissions” (9th grade). 10th-grade cutoffs are higher and are listed on the same page. Cutoffs for Fall 2027 admissions will be set after the November 2026 test.
Understanding Your SHSAT Score
Composite Score
Your SHSAT composite score is calculated from both the ELA and Math sections. Each section produces a scaled score, and the two scaled scores are added to give the composite score used to rank every applicant.
Scaled Scoring
From Fall 2026 the SHSAT is computer-adaptive. Every question has a set difficulty level, and your score is based on your pattern of right and wrong answers relative to that difficulty. Each section’s result is then converted to a scaled score, as in past years.
Answer Every Question
On the adaptive test you must answer each question before moving on, and you cannot go back to Math or stand-alone ELA questions. NYC Public Schools advises against rapid guessing at the end: make a real attempt at every item.
Ranking by Preference
Students rank the schools they want when they register in MySchools. Offers go in descending score order: each student gets their highest-ranked school that still has seats. A school’s cutoff is simply the score of the last student offered a seat there.
Setting a Realistic Target Score
The score your child needs depends on their target school. For Fall 2026 admissions, Stuyvesant required a composite score of 561 and Bronx Science required 525. The Brooklyn Latin School had the lowest cutoff of the eight at 495, and Brooklyn Tech, the largest school, took students down to 506.
Cutoff scores move every year with the applicant pool, and Fall 2026 is the first year of the new computer-adaptive format, so treat last year’s numbers as a guide rather than a guarantee. Dr. Donnelly recommends aiming 20 to 30 points above the published cutoff to build in a safety margin.
During your free consultation, Dr. Donnelly will assess your child's current skill level, identify a realistic target score range, and create a preparation timeline designed to reach that goal by test day.
Know Your Target Score
Get a personalized assessment and preparation plan during your free consultation.
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