SHSAT admissions process
Registration through enrollment, the whole process explained. Six guides covering everything NYC families need to navigate from MySchools registration in September to enrollment the following September.
- Who takes the SHSAT?
- Current 8th-grade NYC public school students, plus 9th-grade students applying for 10th-grade admission. All test-takers must be NYC residents.
- When do I register?
- Registration opens in September each year through MySchools NYC (myschools.nyc). The deadline is typically mid-October.
- When is the test?
- October–November each year, on a specific date assigned to your school by the NYC DOE. The 2025–2026 SHSAT was administered during this window using the new Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) digital format.
- When do I find out my score?
- Early-to-mid March, about 3–4 months after the test. Results and any admission offers are released simultaneously via MySchools NYC.
The full admissions process
Registration
How to register for the SHSAT through MySchools NYC, step by step. What documents you need, what deadlines matter.
Eligibility
Who can take the SHSAT — grade requirements, residency rules, accommodations for IEPs and 504 plans.
Test dates 2026
The official testing calendar, results release date, and key deadlines for the current admissions cycle.
Ranking strategy
How to order your school preferences on MySchools to maximize the school you actually get into.
Discovery Program
The summer program that admits students who scored just below cutoffs and meet specific criteria.
Accommodations
Testing accommodations for students with IEPs, 504 plans, or English Language Learner status.
The full SHSAT admissions cycle
The SHSAT and specialized high school admissions follow a predictable annual rhythm. Knowing what happens when — and what families need to do at each stage — turns the process from confusing to manageable.
September: Registration opens
The MySchools NYC portal at myschools.nyc opens for SHSAT registration in mid-September. Current 8th graders register through this portal, ranking the specialized high schools they would accept admission to. The ranking is binding: if you clear the cutoff at a school you ranked first and at lower-ranked schools, you are admitted to your top-ranked qualifying school. You don't get to choose later.
October–November: Test administration
The SHSAT is administered on assigned dates during this window. Starting in October 2025, the test is delivered in the new Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) digital format. Each student takes the test on a specific assigned date at a specific assigned location — typically their own school or a nearby DOE site. Accommodated students may take the test on different dates.
December–February: Scoring and equating
The NYC DOE scores tests and performs the statistical equating that produces scaled scores. This is the longest phase of the cycle, about three months. Families have no information about results during this period and there is no way to check progress.
March: Results released
Results are released through MySchools NYC in early-to-mid March. Families see the student's composite score, section scaled scores, and any admission offer. Students who scored just below cutoffs may receive a Discovery Program offer instead.
March–April: Accept or decline
Families have a defined window (typically 2–3 weeks) to accept or decline their specialized high school offer. Declining means returning to the regular NYC high school admissions process. Accepting confirms enrollment at the offered school.
Summer: Discovery Program (if applicable)
Students who received Discovery Program offers complete a summer preparation program in July and August. Successful completion leads to admission to a specialized high school in September.
September: Enrollment
Admitted students begin 9th grade at their specialized high school.
What this section covers
The six pages linked above walk through each phase of this cycle in detail. Start with Registration if you're new to the process. Use Eligibility to verify your student is eligible (most NYC students are, but specifics matter). Read Ranking Strategy well before registration — your ranking choices on MySchools are the single most consequential decision your family makes in this process, more important than which study materials you use.
Common questions
When does SHSAT registration open?
Registration opens in mid-September each year through MySchools NYC at myschools.nyc. The deadline is typically mid-October. Specific dates for the 2026–2027 cycle will be announced by the NYC DOE in summer 2026.
Do I need to pay to take the SHSAT?
No. The SHSAT is free for all NYC public school students. There is no test fee, no application fee, and no charge for receiving results or being admitted.
How many specialized high schools can I rank on my application?
You can rank any number of the 8 SHSAT-based specialized high schools in your order of preference. Most families rank at least 4–5 schools to maximize the probability of an admission offer. See our ranking strategy guide.
What happens if I don't get an offer?
You return to the regular NYC high school admissions process, where you receive a placement based on your other rankings in the NYC high school choice system. You may also be eligible for the Discovery Program if you scored just below a cutoff and meet specific criteria.