SHSAT Cutoff Scores 2026: Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech & All 8 Specialized High Schools

If your child is preparing for the SHSAT, one question comes up before any other: "What score do we actually need?" It's the right question to ask, but the honest answer surprises most NYC parents. There is no fixed passing score on the SHSAT. The cutoff for each specialized high school is set after testing every year, based on how that year's applicants scored and how they ranked their school choices. A score that earned a Stuyvesant offer one year might fall short the next.

Below are the most recently published cutoff scores for all eight testing specialized high schools, the historical ranges so you can see how much they move, and a clear explanation of how the SHSAT-to-school matching really works. Knowing the target is the first step; knowing how to hit it consistently is the rest.

2026 SHSAT Cutoff Scores: All 8 Specialized High Schools

These figures reflect the lowest qualifying score that resulted in an offer to each school for 2026 admissions (students who tested in fall 2025). They are listed from highest cutoff to lowest.

Source: cutoffs compiled from NYC Department of Education admissions data. The lowest qualifying score changes each year with the applicant pool and the number of available seats. Treat these as a guide, not a guarantee.

A few things jump out. Stuyvesant sits in a tier of its own, typically needing a score in the high 550s to low 560s. The next group, HSMSE, Queens Science, and Bronx Science, clusters in the 520s to high 530s. The remaining schools, Staten Island Tech, HSAS-Lehman, Brooklyn Tech, and Brooklyn Latin, generally fall between the high 490s and high 510s. The spread from the highest cutoff to the lowest is usually around 60 to 65 points.

Why "Smaller" Schools Sometimes Have Higher Cutoffs

Parents are often confused that schools like Queens Science (cutoff 531 in 2026) or HSMSE (539) can require a higher score than the famous Bronx Science (525). The reason is seats. Bronx Science offered roughly 748 seats in a recent cycle, while Queens Science had about 116 and HSMSE around 140. When a school has very few seats but thousands of applicants ranking it highly, the cutoff is pushed up. Brooklyn Tech, by contrast, has the most seats of any specialized high school, roughly 1,490, which is a major reason its cutoff stays among the lowest despite its strong reputation.

In other words: a high cutoff reflects scarcity and demand, not necessarily that one school is "better" than another. All eight are excellent, tuition-free public schools.

How SHSAT-to-School Matching Actually Works

This is the part most families misunderstand, and getting it right can change your whole strategy. When you register for the SHSAT, you rank the specialized high schools in your order of preference (you may list up to all eight). After every student tests, the Department of Education matches students using a single-score, ranked-preference system:

• Students are sorted from highest SHSAT score to lowest.
• Starting with the top scorer, each student is placed in the highest-ranked school on their list that still has open seats.
• The process continues down the score list until all seats at all eight schools are filled.

The SHSAT is the only criterion used; there are no essays, grades, or interviews. This system has two big implications. First, you can only receive an offer to a school you actually listed, so rank generously and thoughtfully. Second, your ranking order matters enormously: if you'd genuinely prefer Bronx Science over Brooklyn Tech, list Bronx Science higher, because you'll be placed in your highest-listed school that your score can reach. Strategically leaving schools off, or mis-ordering them, can cost a child an offer they would have happily accepted.

Take our free SHSAT diagnostic to see exactly where your child stands today relative to these cutoffs, and which schools are realistically in reach.

What Scores Have Historically Been Needed

Because cutoffs shift yearly, it helps to think in ranges rather than a single magic number. Looking across recent years (roughly 2019 through 2026), the typical bands have been:

• Stuyvesant: ~556–566. The most competitive seat in the city.
• HSMSE, Queens Science, Bronx Science: ~515–542, depending on the year and seat counts.
• Staten Island Tech: ~517–529.
• HSAS-Lehman: ~502–524.
• Brooklyn Tech: ~493–507.
• Brooklyn Latin: ~481–497.

A practical takeaway for planning: a composite score in the mid-500s and above puts every specialized high school in play, while a score in the low 500s generally opens the door to Brooklyn Tech, Brooklyn Latin, and HSAS-Lehman. Aiming a comfortable cushion above your target school's recent cutoff is wise, since you can't know the exact line until offers are released.

One Important Change for 2026 and Beyond

The SHSAT is moving to a digital format, and the test is expected to become computer-adaptive (questions adjust in difficulty based on student responses) for the fall 2026 administration. The underlying content, math plus English Language Arts with revising/editing and reading comprehension, is expected to stay consistent. Because scoring and scaling could shift under the new format, this year's cutoff numbers are an especially valuable baseline but should be read with a little extra caution going forward. Preparation fundamentals, mastering the content and building test stamina, matter as much as ever.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a single passing score on the SHSAT?

No. There is no fixed pass/fail line. Each specialized high school has its own cutoff that is determined only after all students test, based on that year's scores, seat counts, and how applicants ranked their choices.

What's the lowest score that gets into any specialized high school?

In recent years, the lowest cutoff has belonged to The Brooklyn Latin School, typically in the low-to-high 490s (495 for 2026). A score below the lowest cutoff on your ranked list means no specialized high school offer that year.

Do I need a higher score for Bronx Science than for Stuyvesant?

No. Stuyvesant consistently has the highest cutoff of all eight schools (561 for 2026). Bronx Science is highly competitive but typically requires a lower score than Stuyvesant. Note, however, that a few smaller schools like HSMSE or Queens Science can edge above Bronx Science in some years due to limited seats.

How should we use these cutoff numbers when preparing?

Use them as targets, then aim above them for a safety margin, since the exact line moves each year. Start with a diagnostic to find your child's current scoring level, identify which sections to prioritize, and build a realistic, ranked school list. Individual results vary, but a focused, data-driven plan is what closes the gap.

Start with a free SHSAT diagnostic and get a clear, personalized picture of your child's path to a specialized high school offer. Our SHSAT instructors are Stuyvesant graduates who scored in the 99th percentile, and they know exactly what these cutoffs demand.