Specialized High Schools

What Are the Specialized High Schools?

The nine Specialized High Schools are one way that New York City supports the educational needs of students who excel academically and/or artistically, including English language learners and students with disabilities.

Who Can Apply?

To register for the SHSAT and audition for LaGuardia, a student must be both of the following:

• A NYC resident
• A current eighth grade student or first-time (not repeating the grade) ninth grade student
  

Eight Testing High Schools—Take the SHSAT to Apply

Eight Specialized High Schools use the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) to determine who can attend. During the registration period for the SHSAT, you will indicate your preference order for the testing Specialized High Schools. You are then considered for an offer to these schools by taking the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT). These schools are: 

• The Bronx High School of Science
• The Brooklyn Latin School
• Brooklyn Technical High School
• High School for Mathematics, Science and Engineering at City College of New York
• High School of American Studies at Lehman College
• Queens High School for the Sciences at York College
• Staten Island Technical High School
• Stuyvesant High School

The SHSAT is not used to determine admissions to LaGuardia High School. 

One Audition High School—Submit your Application and Auditions to Apply

Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts is the audition Specialized High School, where students complete two parallel paths of study: conservatory-level pre-professional training in the arts and college-preparatory academics. Students can apply to LaGuardia by submitting a portfolio and auditioning for up to six different studios:

• Dance
• Drama
• Fine & Visual Art
• Instrumental Music
• Technical Theater
• Vocal Music

LaGuardia High School scores auditions for each studio, and offers are based on audition score. Students receive an offer to each studio for which they have a qualifying audition score, meaning student scan receive up to six offers to LaGuardia. 

To receive an offer to LaGuardia, students must have a documented final grade from last school year of at least 65 or the equivalent in each core subject (ELA, math, science, social studies). More information can be found on our Audition page. Visit the LaGuardia High School's website to learn about the school.

Diversity Initiatives

Our goal is that students in Specialized High Schools reflect the diversity of New York City. The Specialized High Schools Diversity Initiatives aim to increase testing, offer, and acceptance rates for high-potential students in underrepresented communities.

DREAM Program

DREAM (Determination, Resiliency, Enthusiasm, Ambition, Motivation) is an extracurricular academic program that prepares eligible New York City public school students for the SHSAT. Learn if you might be eligible to participate.

Discovery Program

Accommodations for the SHSAT and LaGuardia High School Auditions

About Testing Accommodations 

The purpose of testing accommodations is to allow students with disabilities and limited English proficiency to participate in assessments on equal basis with their peers. Testing accommodations provide the opportunity for eligible students to demonstrate mastery of skills and knowledge without being limited or unfairly restricted due to the effects of a disability or language proficiency.

Accommodations for LaGuardia High School auditions and/or the SHSAT are provided based on a student's existing testing accommodations. If applicable, these are documented on your IEP or 504 Plan and/or based on your ELL status.

The following students are eligible to receive testing and/or audition accommodations on LaGuardia High School auditions and the SHSAT:

• Students with disabilities (SWDs) who have IEPs or 504 Plans that include testing accommodations
• Current English Language Learners (ELLs)
• Former ELLs who achieved proficiency on the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT) in 2021 and/or 2022.

Please note:

• Accommodations requested only for LaGuardia High School Auditions and/or the SHSAT are not allowed. Students must demonstrate a documented history or needing and using testing accommodations.
• Students with 504 Plans must have their accommodations approved every year. Schools and families must review (and approve, if appropriate) the student's 2022-2023 504 Plan no later than the last day of school in June 2022. Learn more about 504 Plans on the 504 accommodations page.
• Some testing accommodations are not needed for LaGuardia auditions and the SHSAT. There are some accommodations that students may use on other tests that may not be needed for the SHSAT. For example, students who use a computer or other device for tests with essays will not need to use this accommodation on the SHSAT because there are no essays on the test.
• Some accommodations are not permitted for LaGuardia auditions and/or the SHSAT. Students with existing accommodations will receive them unless a particular accommodation interferes with the content or skill being measured by the audition or test. In such cases, no students will receive this accommodation. For example:
  • Students are not permitted to use calculators and/or math tables on the Math section of the SHSAT because this section of the test measures students' mathematical computation skills.
  • Oral interpretation and written translation of the SHSAT directions, questions, and answers are not permitted because this changes the standardization of the test. (ELLs who need translations are permitted to use the bilingual math glossaries provided by the testing site on the Math section of the SHSAT only)

Tip: Work with your school counselor to ask about testing accommodations or specific situations that may not be addressed in this guide. Any approved accommodations will appear on your audition or test ticket.

Accommodations for English Language Learners (ELLs)

ELLs and eligible former ELLs taking the SHSAT are granted extended testing time totaling 360 minutes (2x standard testing time) as well as two 15-minute breaks after the first 180 minutes of testing. The extended time is calculated from the start time of the SHSAT, not the arrival to the testing site.

Bilingual math glossaries will also be provided on the day of the SHSAT at each test administration site in Arabic, Bengali/Bangla, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu. Students are not permitted to bring their own bilingual math glossaries.

Tip: You can review sample bilingual glossaries on the SHSAT website.

Accommodations for Students with IEPS or 504 Plans

Students with disabilities (SWD) will be provided with the accommodations listed in their IEPs or 504 Plans unless a specific accommodation is not needed or permitted when taking the SHSAT, as detailed in the beginning of this section. 

• If your IEP or 504 Plan includes the use of assistive technology such as Frequency Modulation (FM) Unit or other aids, such as masks, markers, highlighters, pencil grip, slant board, or a magnifying glass, you must bring these with you on the day of the SHSAT and/or audition if needed. The test or audition sites will not provide these aids.
• If you have a scribe on your IEP or 504 Plan, it is important to discuss with your school counselor and work with your IEP or 504 team to determine what you need on the SHSAT and to make sure the accommodation is listed on your IEP or 504 as well as your test ticket.
  • Students who require a scribe: You will need a scribe if you are unable to circle your answers in the test booklet. Students who require a scribe on testing day will have the test administered individually.
  • Students who do not need a scribe: If you are able to circle answers in the test booklet, you will be provided with the "Answers Recorded in the Test Booklet" accommodation. In this case, the proctor will assist you with transcribing the answers from the test booklet onto the answer sheet at the conclusion of the test.

SHSAT Administration for Students with Extended Time

All students taking the SHSAT must stay in testing rooms for the entire standard test administration time (180 minutes), with the exception of using the bathroom.

Once the standard test administration time (180 minutes) is over, students with an accommodation of extended time may leave if they have finished working on the exam. Students that decide to leave after the first 180 minutes of the standard test administration time must sign out to indicate they understood they gave up their remaining available time on the SHSAT. Students with this accommodation will have a break at the conclusion of the 180 minutes, and then again after another 90 minutes have passed. If a parent or guardian does not want their child to leave before the full amount of extended time period has ended, the parent/guardian is responsible for communicating this to their child before the test begins. Retests will not be provided to students who choose to leave before the end of their extended time.

How to Confirm or Request Testing Accommodations

During the SHSAT and audition registration period, your current DOE, charter, or non-public (private or parochial) school is responsible for entering and/or confirming the appropriate testing accommodations in MySchools.

• If you have a 504 Plan or attend a charter or non-public (private or parochial) school and have a similar school-based accommodation plan, all documentation must be submitted to the DOE for review at least three weeks before the registration deadline.
  • Documentation received after this deadline may not be reviewed in time for the student's scheduled test date. 
  • Contact your current school counselor with questions about accommodations on the SHSAT.
• Non-public school students (who attend private or parochial schools) requesting accommodations during their LaGuardia auditions must work with their school counselor to enter and/or confirm accommodations. Please note that neither parents/guardians nor school staff should send accommodations directly to LaGuardia High School.
  • Accommodations must be reviewed and approved before audition tickets are available. 
  • Approved accommodations for LaGuardia High School auditions must appear on students' audition tickets.
• Non-public school students with disabilities (SWDs) (who attend private or parochial schools) who do not have an IEP or 504 Plan indicating their need for testing accommodations must work with their school counselors to complete a Request for Accommodations form and submit the form and supporting documentation to the DOE for review and approval by the deadline provided.
  • Parents/guardians can get this form from your current school.
  • Your school counselor is responsible for submitting the form by the required date. The DOE may need additional information about how your accommodations were determined and will verify the documented history and need for requested accommodations.

How to Opt Out of Accommodations

If you are an ELL and/or have an IEP or 504 Plan but your parents/guardians wish to opt out of accommodations for the SHSAT or LaGuardia auditions, please contact your school counselor. School counselors will work with parents/guardians to complete the Accommodations Opt-Out Form for SHSAT and LaGuardia Auditions. Neither school counselors nor students may opt out of testing/audition accommodations without parent/guardian consent; written consent by a parent/guardian is required. 

• If it is not possible to provide written consent to opt out of testing accommodations before the registration deadline, parents/guardians must provide their written consent on the test or audition day to opt out of the testing accommodations listed on their child’s ticket.
• On testing or audition day, students cannot modify or opt out of the testing accommodations listed on their ticket unless parent/guardian consent has been provided in writing on the test or audition ticket.

How to Request Emergency Accommodations

Students who demonstrate disabilities or temporary impairments within 30 days of the SHSAT may request certain emergency testing accommodations, if approved by the principal of the student's current school. Emergency testing accommodations are intended for use by students whose disabilities or injuries occur after the registration deadline but before their scheduled testing/audition day and without enough time to develop an IEP or 504 Plan.

If you need emergency accommodations for the SHSAT and/or LaGuardia auditions, your family should work with a school counselor to complete the Emergency Testing Request form and ask the counselor to alert the DOE as soon as possible that emergency accommodations may be needed—this must be communicated prior to the testing day or audition day. If a family requests an accommodation without giving the DOE sufficient time to review the request before your standard SHSAT administration date or before the child’s audition date, the student’s test or audition may be rescheduled to ensure that your request for accommodations can be properly reviewed.

Tip: Review the New York City Department of Education’s resources on testing accommodations for additional information on the testing accommodations page.

Guide to the SHSAT for Students Entering High School in Fall 2025

To Prepare for the SHSAT:

• Learn what to do before you take the SHSAT: know what to expect, take the practice tests, and check your answers. Find information about the SHSAT and practice tests below. Important note: Make sure any other test preparation materials you may find at a bookstore or local library reference the current year's SHSAT.
• Find out what is on the test: learn more about the English Language Arts and math sections of the test.
• Plan for testing day: read what to bring to the testing site, what is expected of you, and important things to remember.
• Learn strategies to prepare for the SHSAT: Review suggestions for answering ELA and Math questions on the SHSAT.

SHSAT Practice Test for 2025 Admissions

For your convenience, you can use a standalone practice test to prepare to take the SHSAT for 2025 admissions.

Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) Practice Test for 2025 Admissions

You can also find the practice test as part of the NYC Guide to the SHSAT for 2025 Admissions by scrolling to the bottom of this page.