2025 SHSAT Cutoff Scores
SHSAT cutoff scores change every year and relying on last year’s number isn’t enough. Explore the official 2025 SHSAT cutoffs for NYC’s specialized high schools, understand how admissions really work, and learn why aiming 30–60 points above the cutoff is the smartest strategy for securing a spot.
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What Are SHSAT Cutoff Scores and How Do They Work?
So what scores do you need to get into different specialized high schools in NYC? Well, that actually changes every year. First, students take the SHSAT, which consists of one Math and one ELA section. The DOE does not use a simple raw score (the number of questions correct). Instead, each section is converted into a scaled score, taking into account the difficulty of the test, and the two scaled scores are added together to produce a total SHSAT score. Students are then ranked citywide based on this total score. Admissions are determined by combining this ranked list with each student’s ordered list of Specialized High School preferences. Starting with the highest-scoring student, the DOE assigns students to their highest-ranked school that still has available seats. This process continues down the ranked list until all seats at each school are filled.
Latest 2025 SHSAT Cutoffs Revealed: Target Scores for NYC’s Top Schools
The cutoff score for each school changes every year because it's the lowest score of the last student admitted to that school for that specific year. Because of this, and the number of available seats, preferred schools shift, and there is variability in the applicant pool, the cutoff is not a stable number to rely on. It’s a great reference point, but not a fixed target score.
According to the DOE official 2025 Admissions Outcome Report (which is publicly available on the NYC public schools website) about 26,000 8th graders took the SHSAT this past year, and around 4,000 received offers to specialized high schools. The report also displays the data of the test takers by school.
Between 2012-2025, there have been small ups and downs. Cutoffs haven’t trended consistently upward or downward. The average fluctuation in the cutoff scores is about 3-10 points every year. When the applicant pool is bigger, cutoffs will rise; when the test is more difficult that year, cutoffs will fall. And naturally, schools with fewer admissions spots are more volatile in terms of their cutoff scores.
What is the best strategy for ranking SHSAT schools?
Although it may be tempting to “strategize” your school rank list, it will not work. Ultimately the algorithm will favor the combination of your high score and your ranks list in the EXACT true preference order. The process is quite simple. All students who take the SHSAT are ranked from highest score to lowest score. Seats are filled one at a time starting from the highest score. Each student is placed into the highest ranked school on their list that still has seats available, if full, they move on to the second choice and so on until all seats are filled. Once a school fills up, no more students can get into that school, even if they listed it.
Here is the 2025 data from the schools for more context:
- Stuyvesant: Cutoff 556 | ~22,354 applicants | ~850 seats
- Bronx Science: Cutoff 518 | ~19,396 applicants | ~748 seats
- Brooklyn Tech: Cutoff 505 | ~23,910 applicants | 1,490 seats
- Brooklyn Latin: Cutoff 496 | ~17,529 applicants | 215 seats
- Staten Island Tech: Cutoff 527 | ~15,704 applicants | 328 seats
- HSMSE (CCNY): Cutoff 526 | ~19,661 applicants | 140 seats
- HSAS (Lehman): Cutoff 504 | ~16,740 applicants | 104 seats
- Queens HS for the Sciences: Cutoff 518 | ~16,873 applicants | 116 seats
Something to note is that smaller schools (QHSS, HSAS, HSMSE) have significantly fewer admissions spots, which is what makes their cutoff scores vary more each year. So although the cutoff score may seem similar to a larger school, the competition per admissions seat is much higher.
The DOE report also shows exactly how many offers each school sent out. For example, it shows that Stuyvesant sent 781 admissions offers, Bronx Science sent 738, and Brooklyn Tech sent 1,403.
Based on the data of the cutoff scores from 2012-2025, predictions for the 2026 SHSAT are as follows:
Stuyvesant: 556
Brooklyn Tech: 500-510
Bronx Science: 520-530
Brooklyn Latin: 490-500
Staten Island Tech: 517-555 (smaller applicant pool so scores vary)
HSMSE (Math, Science & Engineering): 510- 530
HSAS: 510-525
Queens HS for the Sciences: 515-535
How do you get a spot at a Specialized High School?
Don't just aim for the cutoff — aim for a buffer. Get personalized prep to hit 30-60 points above the last admitted score.
Take the next step: Contact us today for expert tutoring, practice materials, and a customized strategy plan to help you confidently approach the 2026 SHSAT!
WHAT SCORE DID YOU NEED ON THE SHSAT TO GET INTO STUYVESANT IN 2025?
The cutoff score for Stuyvesant in 2025 was 556.For the 2023–2024 school year, there were approximately 22,354 applicants for about 850 seats, an average of 26 applicants per seat.
Get Personalized Insight: Find out exactly how our expert prep can help your student aim for the target score of 556+ and secure their enrollment at Stuyvesant.
WHAT SCORE DID YOU NEED ON THE SHSAT TO GET INTO BRONX SCIENCE IN 2025?
The cutoff score for Bronx Science in 2025 was 518.For the 2023–2024 school year, there were 19,396 applicants for 748 seats, an average of 26 applicants per seat.
Is Bronx Science the top choice for your child? Stop guessing and start strategizing. Look it up.
WHAT SCORE DID YOU NEED ON THE SHSAT TO GET INTO BROOKLYN TECH IN 2025?
The cutoff score for Brooklyn Tech in 2025 was 505.For the 2023–2024 school year, there were 23,910 applicants for 1,490 seats, an average of 16 applicants per seat.
Ready to be one of the successful 16? Don't rely on luck.
Click to complete our form and learn how our customized prep can help your student confidently aim for the 505–510 target range and secure their spot at Brooklyn Tech!
WHAT SCORE DID YOU NEED ON THE SHSAT TO GET INTO BROOKLYN LATIN IN 2025?
The cutoff score for Brooklyn Latin in 2025 was 496.For the 2023–2024 school year, there were 17,529 applicants for 215 seats, an average of 82 applicants per seat.
WHAT SCORE DID YOU NEED ON THE SHSAT TO GET INTO STATEN ISLAND TECH IN 2025?
The cutoff score for Staten Island Tech in 2025 was 527.For the 2023–2024 school year, there were 15,704 applicants for 328 seats, an average of 48 applicants per seat.
WHAT SCORE DID YOU NEED ON THE SHSAT TO GET INTO HSMSE (MATH, SCIENCE & ENGINEERING AT CCNY) IN 2025?
The cutoff score for HSMSE in 2025 was 526.For the 2023–2024 school year, there were 19,661 applicants for 140 seats, an average of 140 applicants per seat.
WHAT SCORE DID YOU NEED ON THE SHSAT TO GET INTO HSAS (AMERICAN STUDIES AT LEHMAN COLLEGE) IN 2025?
The cutoff score for HSAS in 2025 was 504.For the 2023–2024 school year, there were 16,740 applicants for 104 seats, an average of 161 applicants per seat.
WHAT SCORE DID YOU NEED ON THE SHSAT TO GET INTO QUEENS HS FOR THE SCIENCES (QHSS) IN 2025?
The cutoff score for QHSS in 2025 was 518.For the 2023–2024 school year, there were 16,873 applicants for 116 seats, an average of 145 applicants per seat.
The difference between getting in and missing out is a 30-60 point buffer. Stop relying on past cutoff scores as your only target.
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