Each year more than 25,000 students take the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) to vie for roughly 5,000 seats at eight of the nine specialized high schools, including Bronx Science, Brooklyn Latin, Brooklyn Tech, High School for Math Science and Engineering at City College, High School of American Studies at Lehman College, Staten Island Tech, Stuyvesant and Queens High School of Science at York College.
LaGuardia High School, the 9th specialized high school, selects students based on auditions as well as a review of their middle school academic records. Complete shsat test sample Study Guide includes questions, test tips and a complete study plan helps to raise your exam score
December 2020 admissions update
Current 8th- or 9th-graders who who want to take the SHSAT need to register for the exam by January via their MySchools account (contact your current school’s guidance counselor or a Family Welcome Center if you are having a problem with SHSAT registration or setting up your MySchools account).
Diversity Initiative
To increase integration at the specialized high schools, the DOE is expanding its Discovery Program, which gives some students who just missed the SHSAT cutoff score the opportunity to attend a specialized high school by completing a summer program prior to the start of 9th grade. By the summer of 2020, 20 percent of all seats at the eight specialized high schools that admit students based on the SHSAT will be reserved for students who complete the Discovery Program.
To be eligible for the Discovery Program, a student must meet all of the following criteria:
- Applied to at least one specialized high school by taking the SHSAT;
- Be at least one of the following: from a low-income household, living in temporary housing or an English language learner who moved to the New York City within the past four years;
- Scored below the cutoff score on the SHSAT, but still within a certain range set by the DOE; and
- Attend a high poverty school, which is a school where the Economic Need Index (ENI) is at least 60%.
There is no separate application for the Discovery Program. Those who meet the above criteria will be offered a spot in the Discovery Program in the spring of 8th grade. Those who participate in and complete all of the Discovery Program’s requirements will be admitted to a specialized high school. The best way to prepare for your shsat test sample is to work through as many SHSAT Math practice questions as possible.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Do the exam-based specialized high schools look at middle school grades and state ELA and math scores too?
A. No. It’s all about the SHSAT. In fact, these eight schools have no say in who is admitted. Instead, students are assigned based on an algorithm that factors in each student’s SHSAT score, how each student ranks her preferences for attending the schools and the number of seats available at each school.
Q. Do I need to take the SHSAT to apply to LaGuardia High School?
A. No. There is a separate admissions process for LaGuardia, which selects students based on an audition as well as a review of middle school grades, state test scores and records of attendance. You can learn more about the audition process for La Guardia on its
Q. I can’t afford to pay for an SHSAT prep course, is it still worth it to take the SHSAT in the fall?
A. Yes, but study! Check out some free SHSAT prep options mentioned below. While it is true that many kids take a SHSAT prep course, it’s also true that some students get into specialized high schools by studying on their own from prep books or online resources. Don’t get discouraged if at first you struggle. When studying from a book or online source, it’s important to read the tips and mini lessons and not just answer the practice questions. After taking a practice test, read the explanations in the answer key. If you think you need to learn or re-learn a specific skill tested on the SHSAT, try a free online tutoring program like Khan Academy.
Q. How do I register to take the SHSAT?
A. You will need a ticket in order to take the SHSAT (and a separate ticket to audition for LaGuardia). You can sign up via your MySchools account or contact your school’s guidance counselor to request a ticket. If you attend a private or parochial school, the person in charge of high school admissions should be able to help you get your ticket as well, but if you run into problems at your school, you may contact a Family Welcome Center to register. Scoll down to see registration deadlines and exams dates.
Q. I moved to New York City after the dates for the SHSAT and LaGuardia audition. Is it too late to get into a specialized high school for the coming fall?
A. No. Incoming 9th- and 10th-graders who moved to the city after the fall exam and audition dates will be able to take the SHSAT and audition for LaGuardia in late August. You must register ahead of time for the summer SHSAT and LaGuardia audition at a Family Welcome Center. Check the Department of Education’s website or contact a Family Welcome Center for more information and a list of documentation you’ll need to provide at the time of registration.