A Quick Guide to NYC Specialized H.S.

Applying to New York City’s 9 Specialized High Schools

Sep 17, 2009

Students applying to New York City's Specialized High Schools need to start planning early to tour the schools and prepare for the admissions test.

New York City’s nine Specialized High Schools are among the top-ranked schools in the nation. Each year close to 30,000 students compete for approximately 6,000 seats in these schools. Students test or audition for these seats in the Fall of their 8th grade year.

Which Schools are the Specialized High Schools

The Fiorello H. LaGuardia School of Music, Art and Performing Arts is also considered a Specialized High School, however admission to that school is determined through audition or portfolio review. The New York City Department of Education publishes a handbook each year detailing the programs at each of these schools and providing sample tests for students to use for study.

Specialized High Schools Tours and Open Houses

Some middle school guidance counselors will provide information to students about tours and open houses, however, it is best to check on the websites for the schools that are being considered for the most accurate information on tour dates and times. Some schools give tours in both the Spring and Fall. Most students narrow their choices to 3 or 4 schools based on types of programs offered, size of the school and location. The Specialized High Schools are usually represented at the citywide and borough-wide high school fairs that are sponsored by the Dept. of Education. It is helpful to talk to students and staff at the booths for each school to get a sense of the school culture.

Preparing for the Specialized High School Admissions Test – SHSAT

Most students start studying for the SHSAT in the spring of the 7th grade. There are several study guides available from the major test prep publishers. These guides are available at local bookstores and online. Many students will also take a test prep course. Other students hire private tutors. Check with school guidance counselor and parents of students who took the test in previous years to get advice on which method(s) of test prep are recommended. Each child is different, so style of learning should be considered when making decisions about test prep.

The Day of the SHSAT

The SHSAT is usually administered over the course of two weekends in late October or early November. Students are given a designated date to take the four-hour test. The test is administered in one location per borough, except in Queens where the test is given in two locations based on the student’s Middle School District. Registration for the test is done through the middle schools and students must have an admission ticket in order to take the test.

On the day of the test, students will have to rank their choices for Specialized High School. They can choose up to eight schools in the order that they would like to attend. Students who are trying out for LaGuardia High School do not need to list that on this ranking as that is considered as a separate application.

SHSAT Scoring and Admission Results

The scores for all students who take the test are ranked from highest to lowest. The student with the highest score gets his/her first choice of school. This continues until all seats at a particular school are filled. Once that happens, the next student who chose the filled school as his/her first choice would then get his or her second choice; if the second choice was filled, it would be the third choice, etc.

Admission to Non-Specialized High Schools

Keep in mind that all students who apply for the Specialized High Schools must also apply to a non-specialized high school through the regular application process. A student who receives a seat offer in a Specialized High School may also receive a seat in a non-specialized school, as well as be offered a spot in one or more of the arts programs at LaGuardia High School. The student will then be able to make a choice. New York City students can enter the specialized high schools in grades 9 or 10.

The copyright of the article A Quick Guide to NYC Specialized H.S. in High School is owned by Meryl Feiner. Permission to republish A Quick Guide to NYC Specialized H.S. in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.