SHSAT Cutoff Scores 2026–2026: All 8 Schools
See SHSAT cutoff scores for all 8 specialized high schools (2026–2026), how composite scores scale 200–800, why cutoffs shift, and when results are released.
SHSAT Cutoff Scores Explained: The 200–800 Composite Scale
The SHSAT cutoff scores that determine admission to New York City's specialized high schools are not raw point totals — they are scaled composite scores derived from a 200–800 scale. Each student's ELA and Math raw scores (correct answers only; no penalty for wrong answers) are converted independently through a statistical equating process, then combined into a single composite. That composite is what schools rank students by.
A cutoff score is defined as the composite earned by the lowest-ranked student who received an offer at a given school in a given year. It is set retroactively — the DOE makes all offers first, then the cutoff is simply whatever the last admitted student scored. No target cutoff is published in advance, and it shifts every cycle based on the applicant pool's performance and each school's seat count.
Score spread across the eight schools is dramatic:
- Stuyvesant High School: consistently requires 550+ (often 560–580 in competitive years)
- Tier 2 schools (Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech, Staten Island Tech): typically 490–530
- Tier 3 schools (HSMSE, HSAS, Lehman, Brooklyn Latin, Queens Sci): frequently admit in the low-to-mid 300s
Use our SHSAT score calculator to model how your raw ELA and Math correct-answer counts convert to a scaled composite — essential for setting realistic school targets before results are released.
This article covers verified SHSAT cutoff scores from 2023 through 2025, breaks down the scaling math, compares all eight schools side by side, and explains the exact timeline for when families can expect offer letters. Track the SHSAT cutoff scores for your target school alongside your practice results to close the gap before test day.
Quick Facts: SHSAT Cutoff Scores Explained: The 200–800 Composite Scale
- SHSAT cutoff scores are derived from a 200–800 composite scale combining ELA and Math raw scores through a scaled conversion — not a raw points total
- A 'cutoff' is the minimum composite score the lowest-ranked admitted student earned at each school in a given year; it is set retroactively after all offers are made
- Scores vary sharply by school — Stuyvesant historically requires 550+ while some Tier 3 schools admit students in the low-300s
- This article covers verified cutoffs from 2023–2025, explains the scaling math, and tells you exactly when to expect your child's results
Year-by-Year SHSAT Cutoff Scores 2023, 2024, and 2025
Why SHSAT Cutoff Scores Shift Every Single Year
Score Targets by School Tier: What You Realistically Need
Stuyvesant admits fewer than 900 students from roughly 28,000 test-takers annually — a sub-3% acceptance rate. A composite of 555 or higher is a realistic floor, but in high-volume years that ceiling rises further. Even a single raw-point advantage can separate hundreds of applicants at this score density.
- Target Composite: 555+
- Approx. Seats: ~900
- Test-Taker Pool: ~28,000
Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech, Staten Island Tech, QHSS, HSAS, and HSMSE span the 490–530 composite range. Brooklyn Tech's ~760 seats create a lower score floor; HSMSE's ~105 seats push its cutoff closer to Tier 1 territory despite a Tier 2 reputation. Staten Island Tech's 50% borough preference compresses the open competitive pool, effectively raising the bar for non-borough applicants.
- Target Composite: 490–530
- Brooklyn Tech Seats: ~760
- HSMSE Seats: ~105
Brooklyn Latin carries the lowest cutoff of all eight SHSAT schools — hovering between 355 and 367 across the 2023–2025 window. It remains a legitimate academic challenge: the classical curriculum requires strong verbal reasoning, so verbal section performance matters more here than at any other school. For students scoring in the low-to-mid 300s, Brooklyn Latin is a viable offer — not a fallback.
- Target Composite: 350–370
- Curriculum Focus: Classical / Verbal-heavy
- 3-Year Range: 355–367
9th grade applicants must score 10–15 points above the 8th grade cutoff at the same school — far fewer seats are reserved for the upper grade. Build your list with 3 schools spanning all tiers: your top true preference, a solid Tier 2 target, and Brooklyn Latin as a floor. NYCDOE assigns your highest-ranked school that makes you an offer — list schools in genuine preference order, not perceived probability, or you risk being placed at a lower-ranked school when a higher one would have accepted you.
- 9th Grade Score Premium: +10–15 pts vs. 8th grade cutoff
- Recommended List Size: 3 schools across tiers
- Assignment Rule: Highest-ranked offer wins
How the SHSAT Composite Score Is Calculated
The SHSAT uses a two-part scaled scoring system where your raw answers are converted by NYCDOE into a composite score ranging from 200 to 800.
SHSAT Results Release Date: When Do Scores Come Out?
Test Day
Scoring & Matching Period
Offer Letters Mailed
Score Reports Released on MySchools NYC
Acceptance Deadline
Appeals Window
SHSAT Questions and Answers
More SHSAT - Specialized High Schools Admissions Test Resources
About the Author
Educational Psychologist & Academic Test Preparation Expert
Columbia University Teachers CollegeDr. Lisa Patel holds a Doctorate in Education from Columbia University Teachers College and has spent 17 years researching standardized test design and academic assessment. She has developed preparation programs for SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT, UCAT, and numerous professional licensing exams, helping students of all backgrounds achieve their target scores.