Dear 8th Grade Parents,
If your child is interested in attending a Specialized High School in NYS please look over this information
regarding the Specialized High School Admission Tests (SHSAT). The tests will be held on Saturday and
Sunday, October 24 & 25 2015.
There are nine Specialized High Schools in New York City that serve the needs of academically and
artistically gifted students. For eight of these schools, admission is based solely on the score attained on
the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT). For Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music
& Art and Performing Arts (LaGuardia High School), and Frank Sinatra School of the Arts
acceptance is based on an audition and a review of a student's academic records. Please see the 20152016 Specialized High Schools Student Handbook for further information.
2015 Fall Specialized High School Open House Dates
School Name
The Bronx High School of Science
The Brooklyn Latin School
Brooklyn Technical High School
High School for Mathematics,
Science and Engineering at the
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
Address
75 West 205 Street
Bronx, NY 10468
223 Graham Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11206
29 Fort Greene Place
Brooklyn, NY 11217
240 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031
Contact
Wednesday, October 21
5 – 7 PM
Thursday, October 22
5 – 7 PM
Tuesday, October 20
6 – 8:30 PM
Wednesday, October 14
5 – 8 PM
Lehman College Performing Arts
Center 2925 Goulden Avenue
Bronx, NY 10468
York College Center for the
Performing Arts 94-20 Guy R
Brewer Blvd
Jamaica, NY 11451
485 Clawson Street
Staten Island, NY 10306
345 Chambers Street
New York, NY 10007
Thursday, October 15
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Wednesday, October 7
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Thursday, October 8
6 – 8 PM
Monday, October 5 (For families
that reside in Manhattan &
Brooklyn)
5 – 7 PM
Tuesday, October 6 (For families
that reside in Queens, Bronx, &
Staten Island)
5 – 7 PM
No Fall Open House
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School 100 Amsterdam Avenue
of Music & Art and Performing
New York, NY 10023
Arts
Frank Sinatra School of the Arts
35-12 35th Ave, Long Island City, Tuesday, Oct 13- 6pm & Oct 15NY 11101
6pm
Specialized High School Fall 2015 Dates
Event
Register for the SHSAT and LaGuardia High
School auditions at school or a Family Welcome
Center
Date
September 10 October 15
Test/audition tickets available for distribution
Wednesday, October 21
SHSAT testing for all current 8th grade students
Saturday & Sunday, October 24 & 25
LaGuardia High School Auditions begin
Saturday, October 31
SHSAT:
All current 9th grade students 8th and 9th grade
students who are English Language Learners or
students with disabilities who have Individualized
Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 Plans
Make-up test requests
LaGuardia High School: Auditions begin by
Borough
Saturday, November 7 and
Sunday, November 15
LaGuardia High School Auditions end
Sunday, November 22
Round 1 results distributed (Inclusive of
specialized results)
Early March
Frank Sinatra Auditions
November 7,8,21,22
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Who can take the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) and/or audition for the
programs/studios at LaGuardia High School?
A: All 8th graders and first-time 9th graders who are
New York City residents are eligible to take the SHSAT and/or audition. In September of the 8th or 9th
grade, you should inform your guidance counselor of your decision so that an admission ticket can be
issued for the appropriate test and/or audition(s). This is true even for students who attend
private/parochial schools.
Q: How can I apply to a Specialized High School? A: For eight of the Specialized High Schools, you are
required to take the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT). The SHSAT is the only
requirement for admission. The score required for acceptance to a specialized school varies year to year
and depends upon the school. Unlike all the other Specialized Schools, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School
of Music & Art and Performing Arts requires you to audition for each of the programs/studios you are
interested in. You do not need to take the SHSAT to apply to LaGuardia.
Q: What is the content of the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT)? The Specialized
High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is a written test consisting of two sections: Verbal and Math,
including:
• Scrambled Paragraphs: students are asked to arrange five sentences in logical order to create the best
paragraph
• Logical Reasoning
• Reading: students analyze and interpret passages by answering questions
• Mathematical word problems and computational questions
• Problems in arithmetic, algebra, probability, statistics and geometry
Q: How can I prepare for the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT)? You should ask
your guidance counselor for a copy of the Specialized Schools Handbook which includes two sample tests.
In addition, the Handbook describes audition requirements for LaGuardia’s six studios. You may also
access the Specialized Handbook online. When you are an 8th or 9th grader, your guidance counselor will
provide more specific information about the SHSAT. In the meantime, use the following suggestions to
help prepare for the test:
• Keep up with schoolwork. It is the best possible preparation.
• Continue reading books and articles because reading helps increase vocabulary, comprehension, and
general knowledge.
• Practice taking the sample tests that are in the Specialized High Schools Student Handbook.
• Check your answers and read the explanations of the correct answers in the Handbook.
• Research study guides, test preparation services, and tutoring opportunities.
• Discuss additional opportunities for test preparation with your school guidance counselor.
• If you are in 6th grade, consider applying for the DREAM-SHSI preparation program (see details here)
Q: My SHSAT test date and LaGuardia High School audition are on the same day. What do I do?
Students taking the SHSAT who have a conflict with the audition schedule are to report for their
audition(s) on the weekend assigned to their borough on the Saturday or Sunday for which there is not a
conflict with the SHSAT. If you have an approved audition exception, please have your guidance
counselor contact the LaGuardia Admissions Office for rescheduling an audition.