specialized high schools

A Comprehensive Guide To Applying To Public High Schools

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The High School selection process is one of the most critical moments in your  education and possibly your life. High School is the first time that you’ll be able to explore your interests and possible career paths. It’s essential that you choose a high school that will fit your needs and interests to help you properly prepare for college and life. Here’s a guide that will help you find a high school that’s right for you. It’s a pretty long read so we have broken it down for you into different sections.


Our NYC High School Admissions Tool

Looking for schools you may be interested in can be a daunting and difficult task! Luckily, Synergy Prep has made that task easier for you. By pulling information from the DOE (attendance, graduation rate, safety rate), we have created a NYC High School Admissions tool that evaluates and ranks all the NYC schools to help you find schools that fit your interests and academic standing. Here’s a guide on how to use it: 

Step One 

Choose the boroughs that you are interested in attending high school in. Then, select your middle school and home school district. If you do not know this information, you can find it here. This will help narrow down any schools that you have admission priority in. Here’s a provided example for you: 

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Step Two 

Select all the areas of interest you have. If you’re not sure what interests you, click ‘Select All’. This feature will match you with career-based schools that offer programs related to your interests. \

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Step Three 

Input your 7th-grade scores for each subject. All grades should be inputted out of a 100, while your state test scores should be inputted out of 4.5. This will narrow down which screened schools you will be able to apply to. 

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Step Four

A list of up to 25 schools will appear. Everything under “Best Overall Programs in All of New York City” will show you the best high schools in the city that you qualify for. The next section includes school programs based on your search criteria. The last section provides safety schools that you will most likely get into. Each recommendation provides the program name, a description of the program, the program code, and any required minimum grades (if any) and test scores needed to get in.

If you are wondering why a particular school didn’t show up, it is most likely because you are not eligible for it, or your search criteria excluded the school. Remember that this list is not definite! While this is an excellent way to find possible high schools you are interested in, you should do more research into these schools to make sure its the right choice for you. You should also look into any other schools that are not on the list that interest you. 

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What to Consider When Applying to Schools

Statistics

You should look into statistics relating to graduation rates, attendance, school safety, and test scores (SAT, AP, and regents). These measures will provide you with an understanding of how passionate and diligent the student body is. The more passionate and diligent the student body is, the easier it will be for you to develop and grow academically while exploring different interests. Schools work to fit the needs and wishes of their students. If the student body is not motivated, the school will see no reason to provide them with upper-level classes and unique opportunities.

If you are a student who prefers one-on-one teaching, you should look into class sizes. Smaller class sizes will mean that the teachers will be able to help you more and adapt to your personal needs. Larger class sizes usually correspond to a greater variety of extracurriculars and courses because there will be greater diversity in student interests. You can find all these statistics here and in your High School Admissions Guide. 

Upper-Level Courses 

Upper-level courses, such as AP courses and electives, will give you a head-start in your field of interest and strengthen your college application. AP classes are taught at the level of college introductory courses and at the end of the year they can be counted as college credit after taking the AP exam for that subject.

These credits will allow you to save money and get a head start in college as you will be able to move onto higher-level classes as a freshman. Other college-level electives will give you a more focused study into specific subjects, like Nutritional Science or Software Engineering. You can find a list of the AP classes offered by a school here under the Academics tab, in your High School Admissions Guide, or directly on the school’s website. 

Extracurricular Activities 

Extracurricular activities encompass clubs, teams, and student governments you participate in outside of school time. These activities cover a range of interests, like debate, football, or even video games. You can use these activities to strengthen your career, academic, or recreational interests. Extracurriculars will also help you stand out from other college applicants and will show them a holistic view of your interests.

Make sure to look into what types of clubs and teams there are at your prospective school. If you can’t find any schools with an activity that interests you, look into if you can start your own club or team at your prospective schools. You can find this information here under the Activities tab, your High School Admissions Guide, or directly on the school’s website. 

Commute

Another critical point of consideration is the commute time. If your club or team practice ends at 6 PM and you live about 2 hours away, you will be home by 8 PM. This gives you little time to complete your homework, study, and rest properly before having to get up before 6 AM to get to school on time. You can check how long it will take you to get to your schools by using the direction feature on Google Maps. You can find more information on what to consider here


Types of Schools

There are a variety of public high schools, all of which have their own unique characteristics and goals. To help you understand each kind of high school and choose the one best suited for your interests and goals, here is a list of some types of programs outside of regular public schools: 

Specialized High Schools

Specialized High Schools are nine prestigious high schools within NYC that have gifted students. These schools include Stuyvesant High School, Bronx High School of Science, Brooklyn Technical High School, Brooklyn Latin, High School of American Studies, High School of Math, Science, and Engineering, Staten Island Technical High School, LaGuardia High School of the Arts, and Queens High School for the Sciences. These schools receive ample funding from the Department of Education, allowing them to offer more extracurriculars and courses. 

Their reputations also give them prestige among top colleges, giving their students an upper hand to get into the best colleges. For example, the top ten universities can recruit about 20% of the students at a selective school such as Stuyvesant vs. 0-2% at a local school. Acceptance to eight of these schools is based solely on your SHSAT score. LaGuardia High School only accepts students based on auditions or portfolios. Speak to your guidance counselor in September on how you can take the exam or get an audition. To help decide between specialized high schools and regular public high schools, read this


Early College 

Early College High Schools allow you to graduate with both a high school degree and an Associate’s Degree at no extra cost. The credits for the Associate’s degree can then transfer to your future college, giving you up to a two-year head start in your college education. A prominent early college high school is Bard Early College High School. You can find a list of early college high schools by searching “Early College” here


Career-Based Schools 

Career-based high schools are schools that specialize in career programs. If you know what career field you want to go into, you should look into these schools. Each program provides students with distinct curriculums, internships, mentors, and shadowing opportunities specific to the different career fields it offers. There are over 130 schools with 260 programs of study to choose from. You can find out more about these programs here. To find Career-based schools, click here, or search “CTE” in the search engine here


Types of Admissions

To understand how to apply to high school, you must know the different types of admission:

Testing

This form of admissions only looks at the student’s score on the SHSAT. The only schools that use this type of admissions are eight specialized high schools. To attend these schools, you must schedule to take the SHSAT, and rank the high schools in the order of your preference during the exam. You can find more information on the SHSAT and specialized high schools here.

 Screened or Audition 

Schools using this form of admission rank students based on selection criteria. These selection criteria may include assessments, portfolios, essays, state test scores, grades, auditions, interviews, and/or academic records. Schools do not use all of these, but rather a combination of a few to evaluate each applicant. Students are then admitted based on their ranking, the highest-ranked being admitted first.

It’s important to note that some of the best high schools in the city are screened schools, such as Beacon High School, NEST+m, and Townsend Harris High School. Make sure to keep track of deadlines and test dates when applying to these schools. All of this information can be found on your MySchools account or on the school’s website. You can find a list of audition dates for art schools here.

Education Optional 

Ed. Opt. programs are designed to admit students from a wide variety of academic standings. While some schools rank students based on academic records, others rank students randomly. Some schools also use admissions priorities, giving certain students first priority to offers. Admissions priority is usually based on the school district, borough residents, or if the student attended the school from K-8. 

Zoned

Zoned schools give priority and sometimes even guaranteed offers to students based on where you live. To find your zoned school, type your address into the top search engine, and change the filter to ‘Zoned’ here

Open 

Open schools are schools that do not have any admissions requirements. Students are ranked solely on their priority group and given a randomly assigned number. Depending on your academic performance, it might be wise to have one open-admission school listed on your application as a safety. 


How to Apply

Now that you know what to consider and how to find possible schools, you can now apply to the programs. Here are some guidelines on application timelines and how to use myschools.nyc to apply. 

Application Timeline 

June-August: Start exploring schools you may be interested in online and on MySchools. Attend high school family workshops and begin to prepare for any high school entrance exams you need to take if you haven’t already. 

September-November: Attend high school fairs and open houses. To find a list of open house dates and times, click here and look under the ‘View Our Open House’ tab, or check the calendar on the website of the school you are interested in. Meet with your guidance counselor to gain access to your MySchools account and discuss your options. From here, you can save up to 25 of your favorite programs, add up to 12 programs to your application, and schedule any tests and interviews you may need to complete for your application. If you wish to attend a specialized high school, register for the SHSAT, get your ticket, and take the test. This is the same procedure for Laguardia’s auditions, the only difference being the completion of an audition instead of the SHSAT. You can apply to take both the SHSAT and audition. 

December: Through MySchools, your guidance counselor, or a Family Welcome Center, send in your application by December 2nd. If you have any assessments, submissions, or interviews scheduled after this day, make sure to complete them on time.

March: Get your offer letter. This letter will include your high school offers, your SHSAT score, and any offers to a specialized high school. Note that if you auditioned for Laguardia and took the SHSAT, you may see two specialized high school offers (one from Laguardia and one based on your SHSAT score). 

You can find this timeline when you log into your MySchool account and in the form of a checklist here. To help keep track of things, you should print it out and check off each as you complete them. Noting submission due dates, test dates, and interviews in a calendar can help you keep track of when things should be done by. 

The Application 

You can apply to high schools in three different ways: your guidance counselor, Family Welcome Centers, and MySchools. Guidance counselors can help you apply to high schools during and after school hours. You can apply in person at Family Welcome Centers, where you can find translators to help you if English is not your first language. However, you can only use this method during the times the center is open. MySchools is the online option for the application that you can complete by yourself. It is running 24/7, so it is always accessible. Listed below is a guide on how to use this website. 

Finding Schools 

To find programs that match your needs, use this function on the website. You can use filters like subways, school size, sports teams, eligibility, borough, admissions method, uniform, and diversity to narrow your searches. Make sure to click the ‘Eligible’ filter to get a list of schools that you can list on your application. You can also use the search engine provided to search names of schools, types of schools, and your interests. For example, if you search ‘Medicine’,  a list of schools that have medical programs will appear. 

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After clicking on the school’s name, you will be provided with information on the school. The school’s address, contact info, school size, class times, and any transportation methods will appear directly under the name. The overview will give the school’s mission and a brief summary of what makes it different from others. 

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Under the Performance tab, you will find statistics on graduation rates, college enrollment, attendance, and safety. Under the Academics tab, you see all AP classes, college-level electives, languages, diploma endorsements, and ELL programs offered by the school. The Activities tab will show what sports teams the school has. You can find other information and accessibility information under the ‘Other Features’ and ‘Accessibility’ tabs.

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By clicking on the names of programs, you can get a brief overview of the program. There is sometimes an Eligibility tab that shows you who is allowed to apply for the program. The Admissions Method tab will show you how students are chosen, who the priority groups are if there are any, and the Demand. The Demand section indicates how many applicants there were per seat, how many seats there were, how many applicants there were, and if the seats were all filled last year.

This gives you an idea of how many students you are competing with for an offer at that school. If it is a screened program, the Admissions Method tab will also provide you with information on what schools look at to rank students. The Additional Information tab will have extra information you may need, like if they take transfer students or the interest area of the program. If you are interested in the program, you can click the star to favorite it. This does not add the school to your application but instead saves it so you can find it easily later. 

It’s important to note that some schools recruit a majority of their students or students exclusively from certain boroughs or school districts. Do not apply to schools that do not recruit from your residence or school district. The DOE doesn’t tell you that you have no chance, it just says you are in the lowest priority.

Check the handbook to find the actual recruitment percentage from your district and borough. The rule of thumb is not to apply to a school program that recruits less than 30% of their applications from your residential priority group. For example, if you live in district 10 and the school recruits 99% from District 2 alone, DO NOT APPLY since it is a wasted application.

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Submitting Your Application

You can build your application on the ‘Apply’ and ‘Your Application’ page. You can move programs from your favorites list (located on the right side of the page) to your application by clicking the “+Add” button or by dragging it to your application. You can also search for program names and directly add them to your list from this page.  You’re allowed to apply to up to 12 programs. Make sure to order them based on preference, with the first program on your list being the one you wish to attend the most.

High schools will not see your application choice order, so they will not know if they are your first or twelfth choice! However, you will be offered seats based on your order. For example, if you do not get into your first choice, then you will be considered for your second choice. Remember, you can only be accepted to one school from this list. If you wish to look at program details, you can find them by clicking on the program name. You may change your list as many times as possible before submitting it. Note that you should not add any specialized high schools to this list as they use a separate application given to you during your SHSAT test.

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When composing this list, make sure that you are eligible for the programs you are applying to. You can check your stats (grades, attendance, school district, etc.) after clicking the ‘Edit Profile’ button on the homepage after logging in. Make sure all your information is correct. If it is not, speak to your guidance counselor to get it fixed. Then, you can check eligibility for a program by hovering over the circle to the right of the program name and by clicking ‘My Chances’ under the program details. If you’re not eligible to apply for a program, the circle to the right of the program name will be red, and you will not be able to add them to your application.

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If you are applying to a screened school, remember that they have their own admissions requirements and their own respective application deadlines. Make sure to take note of any specific deadlines, such as essays, exams, or portfolio submissions by visiting the school's website that you are interested in applying.

Mark these submission dates in your calendar and make sure to get these done and submitted by the due date. You should also take note of and RSVP for any tests, interviews, or auditions dates and begin preparing for them. You can also find this information on MySchool under ‘Your Key Dates’ on the right side of the homepage of the website after you log in.

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After talking with your parents and guidance counselors and reaching a final decision, submit your application by clicking the ‘Next’ and then ‘Submit Application’ buttons before your deadline on December 2nd. You’re finally done! 

You will receive your offer letter in March. From there, you can make a final decision on where you want to spend the next four years of your life. Remember that not getting into your dream high school will not ruin your life and chances of getting into college. Although the features offered by a program or school may seem beneficial, it is ultimately up to you how hard you work and excel in academics.

A student at a smaller, lesser-known school may do a lot better academically and get into a better college than a student at a more prominent, prestigious high school. If you are still having trouble with applying to high schools, Synergy Prep offers high school application counseling. We also provide SHSAT tutoring for any students wishing to take these exams. 

Specialized High Schools vs Regular Public High Schools

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High school is the next big step in your academic career. Choosing where you’ll spend the next four years of your life is a hard decision. One thing that you should consider when choosing high schools is whether you want to go to a Specialized High School or a regular public high school.  You can find out more about which schools would be the best fit for you by clicking here. Specialized High Schools, unlike other public high schools,  can provide their students with a strong education through their ample funding and strong alumni network. The only admission requirement for eight of these high schools is the SHSAT test. Unlike the other specialized high schools, Laguardia High School requires an audition or portfolio for admission. Without further ado, here are the main differences between Specialized High Schools and regular public schools: 

AP Classes:

Advanced Placement Courses are introductory college-level courses you can take in high school. After taking an AP course, you can take the AP test in May. Based on this score, you may receive college credit for the course. This can help you get a headstart in college. Specialized High Schools tend to offer more AP classes than regular high schools. Most also require you to take at least one before you graduate and replace regular courses with AP courses. Many, like Stuyvesant High School, also teach their basic courses at the AP level, making you prepared to take the AP test by the end of the course. Look into what AP courses are offered at any school that you are interested in. 

Electives:

Electives are classes focused on one field or subfield of a subject (i.e. Neurobiology or Multivariable Calculus). Taking these electives can further your knowledge in a field you are interested in, giving you a headstart. It can also differentiate you from other applicants when you are applying to college. Taking difficult courses (college-level electives) and electives in a field you may want to major in will strengthen your college application when the time comes. Because they get more funding, Specialized High Schools offer countless electives. Generally, you can find a list of electives that the school offers on their website. 

Curriculum:

You can also look into schools whose curriculum is specialized in one field. For example, the Bronx Academy for Software Engineering’s curriculum focuses on software engineering and computer science. Multiple schools, like Brooklyn Tech, has a major system. Major systems allow you to choose from a variety of different majors or paths and take courses related to that major. For example, students at Brooklyn Tech in the Architecture major may take courses related to drafting and AutoCAD. You should also consider choosing between STEM and the liberal arts. Schools like Bronx Science specialize in the STEM fields, while schools like Brooklyn Latin specialize in the humanities.

College Preparation:

The ultimate goal of high school is to get into your ideal college. You’ll want to go to a high school that prepares you well for what’s ahead. Make sure the high schools you’re going to have a designated college office that works to help you get into your choice of college. These offices will provide you with resources, like help with college applications and organizing college trips. You should also consider going to a school with a good reputation. Specialized High Schools have a good reputation among top colleges for providing good students. This makes colleges more likely to accept students from Specialized High Schools. The rigorous curriculum at Specialized High Schools makes you prepared for the difficulty of college. Students who have graduated from Specialized High Schools and moved onto college have noted that college is easier than high school.

Clubs/Teams: 

Extracurricular activities are activities you do outside of the classroom, including clubs, teams, and student governments. Participating in them will strengthen your college application. Based on your extracurriculars, colleges can have a holistic understanding of who you are as a person and your goals. Extracurriculars can also help you get involved in activities that strengthen your knowledge in your academic and career interests. Schools with more funding have more extracurriculars because they can spread money to support their clubs and teams. 

Competitiveness: 

The social environment of your school can heavily influence your grades and achievements in high school. You will want to consider what type of environment works best for you. Do you thrive in a competitive environment or do you prefer less pressure?  You may also want to consider the fact that while you may be at the top of your middle school, going to a specialized high school, like Stuyvesant will most likely mean you are no longer at the top. This is known as the small fish in a big pond effect. The opposite effect is known as the big fish in a small pond. If you go to a smaller school, you are more likely to stand out and be at the top. Factors that you should look into when determining the competitiveness of a school are the class sizes, number of students per grade, graduation rate, and the percent of students that take college-level courses. However, you should think about who you want to be surrounded with. Even if you are no longer the top student, you will be surrounded by people who are as driven as you, pushing you to work harder. 

The Best Non-Specialized Public High Schools

The best non-specialized public high schools tend to be screened. Screened schools are schools that look at your grades, attendance, and test scores from 7th grade to determine your admission. Some also require you to complete an interview or hand in a portfolio. Here’s a list of some of the best public schools in the city: 

  • Bard High School Early College: Bard is a unique high school that allows you to graduate with both a high school diploma and an Associates Degree. Their curriculum allows you to finish two years of college by the time you graduate from high school. There are two campuses: Manhattan and Queens. Bard requires applicants to take an entrance exam and to complete an interview. 

  • Beacon High School: Beacon’s curriculum focuses on college preparatory. It offers countless AP and Honors level courses, while also boasting hundreds of different clubs and teams. Unlike most schools, Beacon requires students to complete Performance-Based Assessments/Projects to pass the course. Beacon requires applicants to complete an interview and submit a portfolio of their work. 

  • Townsend Harris High School: Townsend Harris’ curriculum focuses on the liberal arts. However, they still have a strong STEM program. All courses at Townsend Harris are Honors level. They also offer a Senior Bridge Year at Queens College, allowing students to complete 12 college credits. Townsend Harris requires that all applicants must have a 90% average or higher. 

  • New Explorations Into Science, Technology + Math: Since their opening in 2001, NEST+m has had 100% of their graduates move on to college. Their curriculum is STEM-based and students are required to complete 60 hours of community service by the time they graduate. NEST+m also has a partnership with the College Now program at Hunter College, allowing their students to take college courses while in high school. 

Deciding where you’ll go to high school is a difficult task. Make sure to take every factor into account when making your list. If you still need some help deciding where to go, you can find more information that can help you here or come in for consulting at Synergy Prep. At the end of the day, remember that even if you don’t get into your top choice, it’s not about what high school you go to, but rather how well you perform at your schools and how well you use the resources that have been provided to you. 

What is the Hunter College High School (HCHS)?

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Outside of the Specialized High Schools, there are a number of other prestigious public high schools in New York City. One of the most selective examples is Hunter College High School (HCHS). Located on the Upper East Side and run by the City University of New York, HCHS is known for its student body’s high acceptance rates to Ivy League universities and other extremely selective colleges. Students must take a competitive entrance exam in the sixth grade to gain admission to this highly sought-after school.

Academics

Aside from its elite reputation, what makes HCHS unique is its rigorous liberal arts curriculum spanning grades 7 through 12, providing an early foundation for college-level coursework. Because the school is exempt from New York State Regents examinations, it has more liberty in forming its special curriculum, compared to schools that require NYS standardized testing. As a result, classes generally involve more writing and discussion than what may be typical for a New York City high school. All students take honors math, with an option for taking “extended honors” at an accelerated pace; the curriculum goes beyond and is more challenging than the Regents curriculum in mathematics.

Eligibility and Admissions

Admission to HCHS is a two-step process. First, public school students must score at or above the 90th percentile on the fifth grade Common Core exams in Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA). (Students at private or independent schools need to score at or above the 90th percentile on the reading and math exams given by their schools.) Meeting this benchmark makes you eligible to then take the HCHS Entrance Exam in the sixth grade. The test is extremely competitive – while exact cutoff scores vary from year to year, generally fewer than 10% of students who take the exam are offered admission.

The HCHS Entrance Exam

The HCHS Entrance Exam is a three-hour exam given once a year. It consists of three sections: Critical Reading, Mathematics, and a Writing Assignment. The Critical Reading section contains fifty multiple-choice questions based on a given series of reading passages. The Mathematics section contains thirty multiple-choice questions assessing problem-solving ability on a variety of math topics, such as geometry, probability, and computation with fractions and decimals. In the Writing Assignment section, students must produce an appropriate, original, and detailed response to the given topic(s).

Preparing for HCHS Admissions

Because eligibility to sit for the HCHS Entrance Exam is based on fifth grade Common Core test scores, it’s important for students who are interested in HCHS to prepare adequately for those Common Core tests. Studying and prepping diligently for both the ELA and Math tests is crucial.

Afterwards, doing well on the Entrance Exam is a must!

HCHS is a great school that offers a wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities for motivated, high-achieving students. Students who want to attend HCHS should be well aware of the competitive admissions requirements, and start planning early on to improve their chances of acceptance!


What are options for NYC High Schools? (Part 1)

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The public high school admissions process in New York City can get pretty confusing, to say the least. While many students attend their zoned high school, the school automatically assigned to them based on their geographic area, this isn’t always the case. First, not every student has a zoned school. Second, there is a wide range of other available options to consider. Let’s take a look at the different types of public high schools you can attend:

Specialized High Schools

The nine Specialized High Schools [link to SHSAT basics article] are some of the most prestigious public schools in the city. Acceptance to eight out of nine of these schools requires taking the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT), a competitive entrance exam. Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, a performing arts school, does not require the SHSAT for admission. Instead, students are admitted based on an audition.

Unscreened Schools

Unscreened schools accept students based on random selection. These schools will not look at your grades, test scores, or attendance when making admissions decisions.

Screened Schools

Screened schools will take a look at your grades, test scores, and attendance in 7th grade when making an admissions decision. In addition, some schools may require an extra component, such as an interview or portfolio. Here are some notable screened high schools to look out for, and any special admissions requirements:

What are the benefits of attending a top high school?

Specialized High Schools and other top public schools such as Townsend Harris have top-notch reputations and offer a number of advantages. They provide challenging academic environments, as well as a wide variety of programs and extracurricular activities to help you explore and pursue your interests. They also generally have excellent resources to guide you through the college admissions process.

Which high school is the best fit for me?

Choosing a high school depends on your personal needs and what the school is offering. Luckily, the DOE provides a very detailed directory for every public high school in each borough. The directory provides a lot of information on each school and we highly recommend that you check it out:

Ultimately, if you’re at a crossroads when it comes to choosing a high school that is your best fit, there are multiple resources you can use to figure it out. Never come to the decision by yourself. Ask your guidance counselor, friends or relatives for advice about the schools you are applying to. Synergy Prep also offers excellent counseling on high school decision making and its absolutely free.  By understanding the different high school options available to you, you’re one step closer to figuring out which school is the best fit for you!

In an upcoming blog post we will be discussing what to look out for in a NYC high school.


Should I take the 9th grade SHSAT exam?

While most students take the SHSAT in 8th grade, it’s also possible to take it during your freshman year of high school. Maybe you took the exam in 8th grade and weren’t accepted to one of the schools you wanted to attend. Or perhaps you have never taken the SHSAT but are now interested in attending a Specialized High School . In either case, there are several factors you should consider before taking or retaking the SHSAT as a 9th grader.

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How is the 9th grade SHSAT different?

The first thing to note is that the 8th grade and 9th grade tests are not identical. While the Verbal section of both tests are more or less the same, the Math section of the 9th grade test is more advanced than that of the 8th grade test. One of the most notable differences is that the 9th grade test may include questions on basic trigonometry, which is not covered on the 8th grade test. If you are planning on retaking the SHSAT as a 9th grader, beware of the following topics for math:

  • advanced algebra problems

  • greater emphasis on coordinate geometry

  • greater emphasis on 3D geometry

  • basic trigonometry

  • graphing

  • slopes

  • transformations

Click here for a sample of some math questions that you’ll find on the 9th grade SHSAT

What are my chances of getting accepted?

Keep in mind that the acceptance rates for 9th graders are significantly lower than the acceptance rates for 8th graders! Simply put, there are fewer available spots for incoming sophomores at the Specialized High Schools. This means the cutoff scores are generally higher for 9th graders taking the SHSAT. Overall, 9th graders need to achieve higher scores on the test in order to gain acceptance to a Specialized High School.

Should I retake the SHSAT?

If you took the SHSAT in 8th grade and weren’t satisfied with your results, retaking the test the following year is always an option. However, it’s a good idea to take your original score into consideration when deciding whether to retake the test. If your score was 449 or lower, the odds of improving your score enough within one year to gain acceptance as an incoming sophomore, when seats are significantly more limited, may be rather slim. If your score was 450 or higher, it may be worth your while to give it another shot. As always, studying consistently and effectively will go a long way in helping you get into the school of your dreams!

Tutoring/Test Prep

If you are considering taking the 9th grade exam, your best bet to increase your score or getting a high score is to sign up for a test prep course. Although there is a lot of material on the internet and books on the SHSAT, no instruction is more personalized than tutoring. A good tutor will help you through the questions you have difficulty with and give you regular practice tests to monitor your performance. If you are seeking a home tutor then Wyzant.com would be your safest bet. However, home tutoring could be a bit pricey and may not fit your budget. Check out Synergy Prep’s SHSAT program for more information on SHSAT tutoring.


Study tips for the SHSAT

Not sure how to prepare for the SHSAT? We came up with a list of useful tips to make your test prep more successful and help you reach your target score:

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General Tips

  • First things first, get very familiar with the format of the SHSAT. If you haven't already, check out our last blog post on the basics of the SHSAT. Knowing what to expect on the day of the exam will not only reduce test-taking anxiety, but will also save you time since you’ll know exactly what is being asked of you.

  • Take lots of practice tests! When you do, make sure to take them in a quiet environment and time yourself (the SHSAT is a three-hour long test). In other words, recreate the real-life testing conditions of the SHSAT when you take practice tests. Every year the DOE releases an SHSAT handbook which contains guidelines for the SHSAT and a full-length practice exam.

  • Once you’ve taken a practice test, score yourself and review your answers. Identify your strengths and weaknesses, and do extra practice questions targeting your problem areas.

  • For multiple-choice questions, come up with an answer in your head before looking at the answer choices. This can keep from you getting tempted by incorrect answer choices that sound appealing.

  • Use process of elimination to rule out answer choices that are clearly incorrect. Each time you eliminate an incorrect answer choice to a question, your chance of getting that question right increases. Even if you’re not entirely sure what the correct answer is, guessing between two potential answers definitely gives you better odds than guessing between four!

  • Work at a steady pace. Don’t get stuck on one question for too long – if a question is giving you a hard time, circle it and come back to it later. And remember: all questions are worth the same value, no matter how hard or easy. That said, make sure to answer every question! There is no penalty for guessing.

 

Math Tips

  • When in doubt, work backwards. Plug in each answer choice into the question, and see which choice gives you the correct value.

  • Figure out which topics you struggle with most, and spend extra time on them. Weak in geometry? Do extra geometry practice problems until you notice improvement.

 

Verbal Tips

  • Remember that the correct answer must be supported by evidence from the passage. If you think an answer choice may be correct, make sure you can point to the exact part of the passage that supports this answer.

  • Read as much as you can outside of test prep, particularly nonfiction! The passages in the reading section of the SHSAT are nonfiction informational texts. Reading publications such as the New York Times and Scientific American regularly will help you improve your vocabulary and become a better reader overall. Try reading two nonfiction articles a week. Write down the main idea for each one.

 

By incorporating these strategies consistently in your test prep, you can set yourself up for SHSAT success! Sign up for our weekly newsletter for more test-taking tips and strategies like these!


What is the SHSAT? What are Specialized High Schools?

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If you’re a New York City middle-schooler and looking to start applying to high schools, you may want to consider attending a Specialized High School. The Specialized High Schools in NYC are some of the city’s most prestigious public high schools. In addition to their strong reputations, these schools provide challenging and enriching academic environments for high-achieving students.

The nine Specialized High Schools are:

Stuyvesant High School

Stuyvesant High School

Bronx High School of Science

Bronx High School of Science

Brooklyn Technical High School

Brooklyn Technical High School

Why should I attend a Specialized High School?

If you have a specific area of study you’d like to focus on, you can look into a Specialized High School that caters to your interests. For example, Stuyvesant offers an intensive math and science curriculum, while Brooklyn Latin has a strong emphasis on the humanities. These and the rest of the Specialized High Schools provide rewarding classes, extracurricular activities, and other opportunities for you to explore your interests and pursue what you’re passionate about. And during college admissions season, the stellar reputations of these schools can help your college application stand out.

How do I attend a Specialized High School?

Many NYC public high schools examine several different factors for admission, such as your grades and attendance. But the Specialized High Schools have their own unique admissions process. Eight out of the nine schools use the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) as the only factor for admission.

LaGuardia High School, an arts school, is the only Specialized High School that doesn’t consider the SHSAT. Instead, acceptance is based on an audition for one or more studio programs (Art, Dance, Drama, Instrumental Music, Technical Theater, and Vocal Music) as well as an evaluation of your academics.

For the rest of the Specialized High Schools, a sufficient score on the SHSAT is the sole criterion for acceptance. In 2016 approximately 28,000 students took the test, and less than 20% received an offer of acceptance to one of the schools. On the day of the test, you must rank the schools you are interested in attending, in order of preference. Then, you receive an offer from the highest-ranked school that accepts you. Note that you can only be accepted to one Specialized High School. The SHSAT is certainly a competitive exam, but making sure you’re well-prepared goes a long way in achieving a high score.

What is the format of the SHSAT?

The SHSAT is a three-hour long exam divided into two sections: ELA and Math. The ELA section consists of 57 questions split into two categories, Revising/Editing and Reading Comprehension. The Math section consists of 57 computational and word problems. All questions are multiple-choice with the exception of five grid-in math questions. You receive a raw score based on your number of correct answers, which is then converted into a composite score out of 800.

Check out this update from the DOE on the format for the 2018 SHSAT.

How can I prepare for the SHSAT?

If you are interested in attending a Specialized High School, you should take the exam in the fall of your eighth grade year. Many students begin test prep for the SHSAT during sixth or seventh grade, and several test prep resources are available. You can study independently using test prep books that provide drills, exercises, and practice tests. In addition, tutoring programs, paid or unpaid, offer a test prep curriculum, with the added benefit of having an instructor to help you work through the material. For example, Synergy Prep offers SHSAT tutoring for students the summer before they start the seventh grade. Since gaining admission into these high schools is so competitive, it's a good idea to get a head start! On the other hand, DREAM-SHSI is a free test prep program provided by NYC to help eligible sixth-graders prepare for the SHSAT. Here's more information on that, provided by the DOE. Test prep and regular, consistent practice can strengthen your skills and inspire greater confidence in your test-taking ability! Click the button below to learn more about our SHSAT program!