High School of Math, Science & Engineering (HSMSE)
The most volatile cutoff in the system — a small elite school on the CCNY campus where students work alongside college professors and use real university labs.
2026 Cutoff
539
+13 vs. 2025
Rank
#2
of 8 schools
5-yr Low
515
recent minimum
5-yr High
542
recent maximum
About High School of Math, Science & Engineering (HSMSE)
The High School for Mathematics, Science and Engineering at City College of New York is one of the smallest and most exclusive specialized high schools, enrolling only about 480 students total. What makes HSMSE unique is its physical location on the CCNY campus in Harlem — students aren't just near a university, they use its labs, attend college events, and frequently work alongside CCNY faculty on research projects. This integration creates an academic environment that feels closer to a college preparatory program than a typical high school. Founded in 2002, HSMSE offers a rigorous curriculum focused on applied math, physics, and engineering, with significant emphasis on independent research. The student body is intimate enough that every student is known individually by their teachers. HSMSE's cutoff score is notably volatile — it swung from 518 in 2023 to 542 in 2024, then back to 526 in 2025 before rising to 539 in 2026. This volatility reflects HSMSE's status as a preference-driven school: when more high-scoring students list it first, the cutoff spikes. Students considering HSMSE should be comfortable with some uncertainty around the cutoff, and should have their target score well above the school's recent range.
Academic Focus
Career Paths
Notable Alumni
Top university placement in STEM fields · Research partnership alumni at Columbia, MIT, and CCNY
HSMSE SHSAT cutoff scores — 2021 to 2026
Source: NYC DOE official admissions data. Cutoffs shift each cycle based on applicant volume and performance.
| Admissions Year | Cutoff Score |
|---|---|
| 2026 Latest | 539 |
| 2025 | 526 |
| 2024 | 542 |
| 2023 | 518 |
| 2022 | 532 |
| 2021 | 515 |
How to get into High School of Math, Science & Engineering (HSMSE) — admissions strategy
HSMSE has the most volatile cutoff in the system — it ranged from 515 to 542 over the past 6 years. Target 550+ if this is your first choice.
The 2024 cutoff spike to 542 caught many students off guard. The 2026 cutoff of 539 confirms it's trending higher — don't rely on any single year as a baseline.
With only ~480 students, HSMSE is intimate and research-focused. It's ideal if you want direct access to university resources and prefer small class sizes over the scale of Stuyvesant or Brooklyn Tech.
Being located at CCNY means students need to be comfortable navigating a college campus from day one — many find this energizing, but it's a big shift from a traditional HS.
What score do you need for HSMSE?
The 2026 cutoff was 539. Use the SHSAT score calculator to see how close you are — and which schools are within reach based on your current practice test results.
Check your score →HSMSE — frequently asked questions
What is the SHSAT cutoff score for HSMSE in 2026?
The official 2026 SHSAT cutoff score for High School of Math, Science & Engineering (HSMSE) is 539. This is the lowest composite score that received an admissions offer for students entering in Fall 2026, as published by the NYC Department of Education. Cutoff scores shift each year based on applicant volume and performance.
How many questions do I need to get right to get into HSMSE?
To reach a composite score of 539, you need approximately 270 points per section. Based on the DOE's scoring curve, that translates to roughly 42–43 correct answers per section out of 57 total questions. Note that 10 of the 57 questions per section are unscored experimental items — so your effective accuracy on the 47 scored questions needs to be approximately 89%.
Is HSMSE hard to get into?
High School of Math, Science & Engineering (HSMSE) has a 2026 SHSAT cutoff of 539, which ranks #2 among the 8 testing specialized high schools. Only the top 3–5% of SHSAT test-takers score at or above this level. Preparation matters enormously — students who start targeted prep 6–12 months before the exam see the most significant score improvements.
What programs does HSMSE offer?
High School of Math, Science & Engineering (HSMSE) is known for its programs in Engineering, Math, Science, Applied Physics. This integration creates an academic environment that feels closer to a college preparatory program than a typical high school. Founded in 2002, HSMSE offers a rigorous curriculum focused on applied math, physics, and engineering, with significant emphasis on independent research.
Where is HSMSE located?
High School of Math, Science & Engineering (HSMSE) is located at 240 Convent Ave, New York, NY 10031 in Manhattan, New York. The school was founded in 2002 and currently enrolls ~480 students.
What happens if I don't get into HSMSE?
You can list multiple specialized high schools on your SHSAT registration in order of preference. If HSMSE is your first choice and your score doesn't reach the cutoff, you'll be considered for your second choice, then third, and so on. You can also retake the SHSAT once — once in 8th grade and once in 9th grade. Students who don't receive any specialized school offer can continue in the NYC high school application process through MySchools.
Schools with similar cutoff scores
Start preparing for HSMSE today
The free SHSAT diagnostic tells you exactly where you stand across 33 skill areas — and how far you are from the 539 cutoff. Takes about 90 minutes.