SHSAT Cutoff Scores 2026–2026: All 8 Schools

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 2026 through 2026, 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.

How an SHSAT Practice Test Prepares You for Cutoff Score Targets

Taking a full-length SHSAT practice test under timed conditions is the most reliable way to estimate whether your score will clear the cutoff for your target school. Each practice test produces a raw score that you can convert to the 200-800 composite scale, giving you a concrete benchmark against historical cutoff ranges. Students who complete at least five timed practice tests before exam day typically see composite score improvements of 30 to 50 points, which can mean the difference between falling short of a cutoff and earning an offer.

Converting Practice Test Raw Scores to Composite Estimates

The SHSAT awards one point per correct answer with no penalty for wrong answers, so your raw score on a practice test is simply the total number of questions answered correctly out of 114. To approximate your composite score, calculate your percentage correct for both the English Language Arts and Mathematics sections separately, then scale each to the 200-400 range and add them together for a projected composite between 400 and 800.