2026 SHSAT Cutoff Scores
SHSAT cutoff scores change every year and relying on last year’s number isn’t enough. Explore the official 2026 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.
Photo by Leeloo The First
This blog was originally published on December 22, 2025 and has been updated and republished with new information for the current admissions cycle.
What Are SHSAT Cutoff Scores and How Do They Work?
So, what score do you need to get into a Specialized High School in NYC? Well, that actually changes every year. First, students take the SHSAT, which has two sections, Math and ELA. The DOE doesn’t just count how many questions you get right. Instead, each section is converted into a scaled score, which accounts for how difficult the test was. The Math and ELA scaled scores are then added together to create a total SHSAT score.
Next, students are ranked across the entire city based on their total score. Admissions are decided using this ranking along with each student’s list of preferred schools. Starting with the highest-scoring student, the DOE places students into their top-choice school that still has available seats. This process continues down the list until all seats at each Specialized High School are filled.
Latest 2026 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 2026 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 2012-2026, 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 2026 data from the schools for more context:
- Stuyvesant: Cutoff 561 | ~16,962 applicants | ~672 seats
- Bronx Science: Cutoff 525 | ~12,360 applicants | ~598 seats
- Brooklyn Tech: Cutoff 506 | ~18,256 applicants | 1,120 seats
- Brooklyn Latin: Cutoff 495 | ~10,628 applicants | 160 seats
- Staten Island Tech: Cutoff 517 | ~7,513 applicants | 266 seats
- HSMSE (CCNY): Cutoff 539 | ~12,852 applicants | 128 seats
- HSAS (Lehman): Cutoff 507 | ~9,207 applicants | 85 seats
- Queens HS for the Sciences: Cutoff 531 | ~10,127 applicants | 108 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 777 admissions offers, Bronx Science sent 726, and Brooklyn Tech sent 1,393.
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.
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WHAT SCORE DID YOU NEED ON THE SHSAT TO GET INTO STUYVESANT IN 2026?
The cutoff score for Stuyvesant in 2026 was 561. For the 2026–2027 school year, there were approximately 16,962 applicants for about 672 seats, an average of 25 applicants per seat.
Get Personalized Insight: Find out exactly how our expert prep can help your student aim for the target score of 561+ and secure their enrollment at Stuyvesant.
WHAT SCORE DID YOU NEED ON THE SHSAT TO GET INTO BRONX SCIENCE IN 2026?
The cutoff score for Bronx Science in 2026 was 525. For the 2026–2027 school year, there were 12,360 applicants for 598 seats, an average of 21 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 2026?
The cutoff score for Brooklyn Tech in 2026 was 506. For the 2026–2027 school year, there were 18,256 applicants for 1,120 seats, an average of 16 applicants per seat.
Ready to be one of the successful applicants? Don't rely on luck.
Click to complete our form and learn how our customized prep can help your student confidently aim for the target range and secure their spot at Brooklyn Tech!
WHAT SCORE DID YOU NEED ON THE SHSAT TO GET INTO BROOKLYN LATIN IN 2026?
The cutoff score for Brooklyn Latin in 2026 was 495. For the 2026–2027 school year, there were 10,628 applicants for 160 seats, an average of 66 applicants per seat.
WHAT SCORE DID YOU NEED ON THE SHSAT TO GET INTO STATEN ISLAND TECH IN 2026?
The cutoff score for Staten Island Tech in 2026 was 517. For the 2026–2027 school year, there were 7,513 applicants for 266 seats, an average of 28 applicants per seat.
WHAT SCORE DID YOU NEED ON THE SHSAT TO GET INTO HSMSE (MATH, SCIENCE & ENGINEERING AT CCNY) IN 2026?
The cutoff score for HSMSE in 2026 was 539. For the 2026–2027 school year, there were 12,852 applicants for 128 seats, an average of 100 applicants per seat.
WHAT SCORE DID YOU NEED ON THE SHSAT TO GET INTO HSAS (HIGH SCHOOL OF AMERICAN STUDIES AT LEHMAN COLLEGE) IN 2026?
The cutoff score for HSAS in 2026 was 507. For the 2026–2027 school year, there were 9,207 applicants for 85 seats, an average of 108 applicants per seat.
WHAT SCORE DID YOU NEED ON THE SHSAT TO GET INTO QUEENS HS FOR THE SCIENCES (QHSS) IN 2026?
The cutoff score for QHSS in 2026 was 531. For the 2026–2027 school year, there were 10,127 applicants for 108 seats, an average of 94 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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