Every spring, NYC families anxiously check whether their child’s SHSAT score made the cut. The 2026 results are in 鈥� and if you have a younger child still preparing, these numbers are exactly what you should be using to set your target.
Here’s everything you need to know, in plain terms.
The 2026 Cutoff Scores, School by School
| School | Minimum Score for Admission |
|---|---|
| Stuyvesant High School | 561 |
| HSMSE at City College | 539 |
| Bronx High School of Science | 525 |
| Staten Island Technical HS | 517 |
| Brooklyn Technical HS | 506 |
| Brooklyn Latin School | 495 |
These are the lowest scores that received an offer at each school this year. If your child scored at or above their target school’s number, they got in. If they fell short 鈥� even by one point 鈥� they didn’t.
Why These Numbers Change Every Year
A lot of parents assume there’s a fixed score you need to get into Stuyvesant. There isn’t. The cutoff is set after the test, based on how many students applied, how they ranked their school choices, and how many seats were available.
Think of it like a curve that resets every year. A high-scoring applicant pool pushes cutoffs up; a less competitive year brings them down. Stuyvesant’s cutoff went from 556 last year to 561 this year 鈥� a five-point jump. This is why we always tell families: don’t aim for the cutoff. Aim 20鈥�30 points above. That buffer is your insurance against year-to-year shifts as well as to combat test day nerves where students can potentially pull back.
What’s Changing for Fall 2026 Test-Takers
If your child is in 7th grade right now, they’ll be taking a significantly different version of the SHSAT this fall. The test is becoming computer-adaptive. The content stays the same, but the format is changing 鈥� for the precise details we direct families to the , and we prepare students for it directly. See our full guide: The SHSAT Is Going Adaptive.
How to Use These Numbers Right Now
If your child is a current 7th grader targeting Stuyvesant, the goal isn’t 561. It’s 575+. For Bronx Science, aim for 540+. For Brooklyn Tech, 520+ gives you a comfortable margin.
The best thing you can do now is get a baseline diagnostic 鈥� a real practice test under timed conditions 鈥� so you know exactly where your child stands relative to these targets.
At NYC STEM Club, our SHSAT program is specifically built for students in this position. We run small classes (max 8 students), in our downtown Manhattan location. Our students have a 90%+ specialized high school acceptance rate, with more than half placing at Stuyvesant.
Summer enrollment is now open. Get in touch to learn more or schedule a diagnostic session.
