High School Information

CONTACTS

​For additional information, parents can also contact the Enrollment Office at the Department of Education directly at (718) 935-2399 or by e-mail.
 
RESOURCES


High school applications 

  • A feature in MySchools launched last fall that will help rising high school students better understand their chance of receiving an offer to any particular program, based on the applicant’s admissions characteristics such as their report card grades, location, and priority group. With this information, families can make more informed decisions about how to rank their enrollment options and build a balanced application.
  • The DOE has updated all admissions applications to allow students to list as many program options as they’d like, up from a maximum of 12 in past years. This gives families an even greater opportunity to find a match that’s the right fit for their child.
  • Ultimately, these changes are about expanding access to all the excellent and innovative educational opportunities NYCPS has to offer. From dual language classes to our career and technical education high schools, from arts programs to STEM programs and so much more that there is something for everyone at NYCPS.  [Source: Chancellor's Newsletter, 9/27/2024]

View or download this slide deck (PDF) from the DOE that provides details of the admission process for general and specialized high schools:
WELCOME TO HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Topics covered include:

  • Admissions Timeline
  • Overview and Pathways
  • Exploring High School Options
  • Admissions Methods
  • Random Numbers
  • Building and submitting your high school application
  • Specialized High Schools

(Information updated October 2025)

DOE HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION (2026-2027)

Top-performing applicants from across each middle school and citywide will have first access to screened high school programs. Learn more here.

GENERAL AND SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION [will be updated in fall 2026]

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! These are the key dates for 2026-27 high school admissions this year. These are being publicized on the NYCPS website:

  • Tuesday, October 7, 2025: High School Application, LaGuardia Application, and Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) Registration Opens 
  • Friday, October 31, 2025: SHSAT Registration Closes 
  • Wednesday, November 12, 2025: SHSAT School Day Testing
  • Sat / Sun, November [TBA]: SHSAT Testing (8th grade students not participating in school day testing)
  • Sat / Sun, December [TBA]: SHSAT Testing (9th grade students)
  • Monday, December 3, 2025: High School and LaGuardia Applications Close 
  • Thursday, March 5, 2026: High School Offer Release 

Please note these dates are subject to change. We’ll be in touch with more information as it becomes available.

HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES/TOURS

We have compiled a list of upcoming Tours/Open Houses for 2027 HS Admissions. Check back, as this link will be updated with dates and information as it becomes available.

Additional information about High school Open Houses and Tours will be posted on MySchools  and NYC-SIFT as it becomes available.

MS54 HIGH SCHOOL ACCEPTANCES

These files indicate how many Booker T. students went to the various NYC High Schools in recent years.

2025-26.pdf NEW

2024-25.pdf 

2023-24.pdf  

2022-23.pdf  

2021-22.pdf  

2020-21.pdf  

2019-20.pdf 

2018-19.pdf

2017-18.pdf  

SHSAT

Starting in Fall 2026, the SHSAT for NYC specialized high schools becomes a computer-adaptive test (CAT).

Question difficulty will be adjusted in real-time based on student performance. Students cannot return to previous questions after submitting them. The exam remains 3 hours, covering ELA and Math for 8th/9th graders. Booker T. students take the test on school-provided Chromebooks. The test is usually given in October. Pre-registration is required.

Each year, the SHSAT is administered in the fall for Grade 8 and first-time Grade 9 students who are New York City residents and who wish to attend one of the eight testing Specialized High Schools. Approximately 30,000 students take the SHSAT each year.  As in previous years, the SHSAT will be administered to students in their own middle school for all interested 8th graders. The test is administered in fall of 2026 for admission to specialized high schools in the fall of 2027.

The SHSAT assessment portal  provides access to an SHSAT tutorial and online practice tests. The portal also offers additional information for students to understand and prepare for the SHSAT.

More Information about the SHSAT and the transition to a digital assessment is available on the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test Home Page on the NYC Public Schools website. Registration the SHSAT test will be on MySchools.