SHSAT Cutoff Scores: Most Recent from Spring 2026)

If you're curious about SHSAT cutoff scores for admission to NYC's top specialized high schools, you're in the right place. Each year, these cutoff scores shift and change, reflecting the unique dynamics of student interest and school rankings. Essentially, the cutoff score is a reflection of demand—when more students list a school as their top choice, the cutoff score for that school tends to rise. For example, we've seen some notable increases in cutoff scores for the High School for Math, Science, and Engineering (HSMSE) and Queens High School for the Sciences (QHSS) as their popularity has surged in recent years.

To help you navigate this, here’s a breakdown of the most recent cutoff scores from spring 2026 that applied to students who took the SHSAT in fall/winter 2025:

Specialized High School	Cutoff Score for 2026 Admission
Stuyvesant High School (Manhattan)	561
High School for Math, Science, & Engineering at City College (HSMSE) (Manhattan)	539
Queens High School for the Sciences at York College (Queens)	531
Bronx High School of Science (Bronx)	525
Staten Island Technical High School (Staten Island)	517
High School of American Studies at Lehman College (Bronx)	507
Brooklyn Technical High School (Brooklyn)	506
Brooklyn Latin School (Brooklyn)	495

The scores above can serve as a goal. However, do remember that these scores change every year. As such, they function more as a means to gauge the competitiveness of different specialized high schools. For instance, according to the above scores, getting into HSMSE is a bit more challenging than winning admission to Bronx Science. This wasn't the case some years ago.

It’s also important to note that trying to outsmart the admissions process by rearranging your school preferences in the specialized high school admission process isn't the best approach. We encourage students to rank schools based on their genuine preferences, without worrying too much about the cutoff scores. If Stuyvesant is your top choice, then it should be ranked first—simple as that!

Aim high. Try to get the highest score you can on the SHSAT, and you'll increase your chances of getting into the school that feels just right for you!

And, of course, we at NYCGPrep are always here to help. We have on-going SHSAT Prep classes to fit your schedule. Please contact us to register for a course today.