Stuyvesant High School
NYC's most competitive specialized high school. Known for rigorous academics, top-tier math & science programs, and a track record of Ivy League admissions.
2026 Cutoff
561
+5 vs. 2025
Rank
#1
of 8 schools
5-yr Low
556
recent minimum
5-yr High
565
recent maximum
About Stuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School is the most selective of NYC's eight specialized high schools, consistently requiring the highest SHSAT composite score for admission. Founded in 1904, Stuyvesant has produced four Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and sends a higher percentage of graduates to Ivy League universities than virtually any other public high school in the country. The school sits in Lower Manhattan's Battery Park City, offering a modern 10-story building with state-of-the-art labs, a swimming pool, a TV studio, and specialized facilities for its 3,300+ students. Academically, Stuyvesant offers over 40 Advanced Placement courses and a rigorous independent research program in partnership with universities and national labs. Students at Stuyvesant describe the culture as intensely competitive but also deeply collaborative — study groups, tutoring circles, and peer teaching are part of daily life. The diversity of interests is notable: while STEM dominates, Stuyvesant also has one of NYC's strongest debate teams, a nationally recognized literary magazine, and a thriving arts community.
Academic Focus
Career Paths
Notable Alumni
4 Nobel Prize winners · Eric Holder (US Attorney General) · Tim Robbins (actor) · Lucy Liu (actress) · Téa Leoni (actress) · Multiple Intel/Regeneron Science Talent Search winners
Programs & academics at Stuyvesant
- →Advanced Placement (40+ AP courses offered)
- →Senior Capstone Research Program — partnerships with Columbia, NYU, and national labs
- →Stuyvesant Computer Science (one of the strongest HS CS programs in the US)
- →Math Team — perennial national competitor
- →Science Olympiad and Science Research
- →Stuyvesant Spectrum (literary magazine, founded 1915)
- →Model UN and Debate
- →Theater, Orchestra, and Choir
What is Stuyvesant like?
Stuyvesant consistently sends students to the most selective universities in the country. In recent graduating classes, students have enrolled at MIT, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, and other top research universities. Multiple Stuyvesant seniors each year receive Regeneron Science Talent Search recognition, and the school regularly places in the top 5 nationally for Intel/Regeneron semi-finalists.
- ✓10-story modern building in Battery Park City, Lower Manhattan — includes an Olympic-size pool, TV studio, and specialized research labs
- ✓~3,300 students — one of the largest specialized high schools
- ✓Intensely collaborative culture — study groups and peer tutoring are the norm, not the exception
- ✓Free 9th period available for students who use time efficiently
- ✓Strong alumni network across finance, tech, medicine, law, and the arts
Clubs & activities
Getting to Stuyvesant
Stuyvesant is located at 345 Chambers St in Battery Park City, Lower Manhattan. Accessible by the 1/2/3 subway to Chambers St, the A/C/E to Chambers St, and the PATH train to World Trade Center. The location is one of the most accessible in the city — students commute from all five boroughs.
Stuyvesant 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 | 561 |
| 2025 | 556 |
| 2024 | 561 |
| 2023 | 561 |
| 2022 | 563 |
| 2021 | 559 |
How to get into Stuyvesant High School — admissions strategy
The 2026 cutoff was 561 — aim for 570+ to have a comfortable margin above the cutoff and avoid being on the edge.
Stuyvesant requires approximately 44–45 correct per section out of 57 total questions. Focus prep on Math, where most students lose more points.
The gap between Stuyvesant (561) and HSMSE (539) is only 22 points — if Stuyvesant is your reach school, list HSMSE or Queens Science as backups.
Stuyvesant's cutoff has been remarkably stable — between 556 and 563 over the past 6 years. Plan for 565+ to be safe.
What score do you need for Stuyvesant?
The 2026 cutoff was 561. 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 →Stuyvesant — frequently asked questions
What is the SHSAT cutoff score for Stuyvesant in 2026?
The official 2026 SHSAT cutoff score for Stuyvesant High School is 561. 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 Stuyvesant?
To reach a composite score of 561, you need approximately 281 points per section. Based on the DOE's scoring curve, that translates to roughly 45–46 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 95%.
Is Stuyvesant hard to get into?
Stuyvesant High School has a 2026 SHSAT cutoff of 561, which ranks #1 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 Stuyvesant offer?
Stuyvesant High School is known for its programs in Math, Science, Computer Science, Humanities, Research. The school sits in Lower Manhattan's Battery Park City, offering a modern 10-story building with state-of-the-art labs, a swimming pool, a TV studio, and specialized facilities for its 3,300+ students. Academically, Stuyvesant offers over 40 Advanced Placement courses and a rigorous independent research program in partnership with universities and national labs.
Where is Stuyvesant located?
Stuyvesant High School is located at 345 Chambers St, New York, NY 10282 in Manhattan, New York. The school was founded in 1904 and currently enrolls ~3,300 students.
What happens if I don't get into Stuyvesant?
You can list multiple specialized high schools on your SHSAT registration in order of preference. If Stuyvesant 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 Stuyvesant today
The free SHSAT diagnostic tells you exactly where you stand across 33 skill areas — and how far you are from the 561 cutoff. Takes about 90 minutes.