SHSAT Test Date & Registration 2026
The SHSAT is offered once per year in October. Here's every date, deadline, and detail you need for the 2026 admissions cycle.
Registration opens
Sept 2025
Registration closes
Late Sept 2025
Test window
Late Oct 2025
Results released
Feb–Mar 2026
Always verify dates directly with the NYC DOE
The SHSAT calendar shifts slightly each year. Exact dates are published by the NYC Department of Education at schools.nyc.gov in August–September each year. The timeline on this page reflects the typical pattern based on recent cycles.
Complete SHSAT admissions timeline
Sept 2025
Registration opens
NYC DOE opens SHSAT registration through MySchools (myschools.nyc.gov). Your school's guidance counselor will also distribute information. Register early — testing slots fill quickly at popular sites.
Late Sept / Early Oct 2025
Registration deadline
The registration window typically closes 2–3 weeks before the test. Missing the deadline means missing the test — there are no late registrations. Check the NYC DOE website for the exact date each year.
Late Oct 2025
SHSAT test day
The test is administered over a ~2-week window. Your assigned date and testing site are confirmed in your MySchools account. Most students test on a Saturday. The test is 3 hours long with a short break.
Nov 2025 – Jan 2026
Scores processed
The DOE scores all tests and processes offers. No action needed during this period. Continue studying if you're a 9th grader considering the retake.
Feb – March 2026
Results released
SHSAT composite scores and specialized high school offers (if any) are posted in MySchools. Families are notified by email. Students who receive offers have a short window to accept or decline.
March – April 2026
Offer acceptance deadline
If your child receives a specialized high school offer, you must accept it by the deadline to secure the seat. Missing this deadline forfeits the offer.
How to register for the SHSAT
Log in to MySchools
Go to myschools.nyc.gov and log in with your child's NYC student account. If you don't have an account, the school's guidance counselor can help you create one.
Select 'Specialized High Schools Test' in the application
During the 8th-grade high school application, there is a section to register for the SHSAT. Check the box to opt in. You'll be prompted to select testing accommodations if applicable.
Request testing accommodations if needed
Students with IEPs or 504 plans may be eligible for extended time, separate testing rooms, or other accommodations. Accommodations must be requested during registration — they cannot be added after the deadline.
Receive your testing site and date
After the registration window closes, the DOE assigns each student a testing site and date. You'll see this in your MySchools account. Testing sites are typically middle or high schools near your home address.
Confirm receipt and check for updates
Log back into MySchools a week before the test to confirm your assignment hasn't changed. Bring your confirmation to the testing site.
Test day checklist
Bring these
- Your testing site confirmation (from MySchools — print it or screenshot it)
- Government-issued or school-issued photo ID (NYC student ID, passport, or school ID with photo)
- 2–3 sharpened No. 2 pencils (no mechanical pencils)
- A watch (no smartwatches — traditional analog or digital only)
- Water and a small snack for the break
- Comfortable clothing — testing rooms vary in temperature
Leave these at home
- ✗No calculator (not permitted under any circumstances)
- ✗No phone (must be turned off and stored — any use is grounds for disqualification)
- ✗No smartwatch
- ✗No extra scratch paper (scratch space is provided in the test booklet)
- ✗No food or drinks inside the testing room during the test
SHSAT test date FAQs
When is the SHSAT 2026?
The SHSAT for 9th-grade entry in Fall 2026 is administered in October 2025, typically over a two-week window. The exact date assigned to your child is provided when registration is complete, through the MySchools portal.
When does SHSAT registration open and close?
Registration typically opens in September and closes approximately 3 weeks before the test window. The deadline is firm — there are no exceptions. Registration is done through myschools.nyc.gov.
What happens if you miss the SHSAT registration deadline?
There is no late registration for the SHSAT. If your child misses the deadline, the next opportunity is to test as a 9th grader for 10th-grade entry in the following year. Some families in this situation pursue private school admissions instead. Contact your school's guidance counselor immediately if you miss the deadline — occasionally the DOE may have administrative solutions for extenuating circumstances.
When do SHSAT scores come out?
SHSAT scores and specialized high school offers are released in February or March following the October test. Results are posted in MySchools and families receive an email notification. There is no phone line to check results early.
Can you retake the SHSAT?
Yes — students can take the SHSAT twice: once in 8th grade for 9th-grade entry, and once in 9th grade for 10th-grade entry. You cannot retake within the same grade. If your child tests as an 8th grader in October 2025 and doesn't receive an offer, they can retake as a 9th grader in October 2026.
Is the SHSAT the only way to get into specialized high schools?
For 7 of the 8 specialized high schools, yes — the SHSAT score is the sole admissions criterion. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts uses an audition/portfolio process instead. Additionally, the SHSAT Discovery Program provides an alternative pathway for income-eligible students who score just below the cutoff.
Registration is open — is your child ready?
Take the free practice test now to get a baseline score and a personalized study plan before the October test date.