SHSAT Cutoff Scores
The lowest composite score admitted to each NYC specialized high school in 2025. Cutoffs ran from 496 at The Brooklyn Latin School to 556 at Stuyvesant, out of a maximum 700.
| School | 2025 cutoff |
|---|---|
| Stuyvesant High School | 556 |
| Staten Island Technical High School | 527 |
| HS for Mathematics, Science and Engineering (CCNY) | 526 |
| The Bronx High School of Science | 518 |
| Queens High School for the Sciences (York) | 518 |
| Brooklyn Technical High School | 505 |
| HS of American Studies (Lehman) | 504 |
| The Brooklyn Latin School | 496 |
How SHSAT Cutoffs Work
There is no fixed passing score on the SHSAT. Every student who takes the test is ranked by composite score, and each specialized high school fills its seats from the highest scorers down. The cutoff is simply the last score admitted to a given school that year.
Because of this, cutoffs shift from year to year with the number of available seats and how that year's applicants score. A school's cutoff can move by several points in either direction, so aim comfortably above your target school's most recent number rather than treating it as a guarantee.
Students also rank the schools in order of preference when they register, and receive at most one offer: their highest-ranked school where their score clears that year's cutoff.
A Note on the 2026 Digital SHSAT
The 2025 numbers above are the most recent published cutoffs, and they come from the paper, 57-question format. The composite scale (200 to 700) has been consistent across recent years, so they remain a useful reference. The 2026 cycle is the first fully digital, computer-adaptive SHSAT, and its cutoffs won't be known until offers go out in spring 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the cutoff score for Stuyvesant?
In the 2025 admissions cycle the lowest composite admitted to Stuyvesant was 556 out of 700, the highest cutoff of any specialized high school.
Is there a passing score on the SHSAT?
No. There's no fixed passing score. Students are ranked by composite score, and each school fills its seats from the top down, so the cutoff is just the last score admitted that year.
Do SHSAT cutoff scores change every year?
Yes. Cutoffs move a few points each year with the number of seats and how that year's applicants score, so treat any single year as a guide rather than a fixed target.
Are there 2026 SHSAT cutoff scores yet?
Not yet. 2025 is the most recent published cutoff. The 2026 cycle is the first digital, adaptive SHSAT, and its cutoffs won't be known until offers go out in spring 2027.