Your Guide To High School: Applications and More

High school applications are a challenging topic. Have you been saying to yourself "It is so difficult trying to figure out where you want to go". As an 8th grade, I too must navigate through this strenuous time.

Before we start, you need to ask yourself two questions:

1. What do you want to do in life? Go into the medical field? Maybe work in law? What about a writer? T

2. What do you look for in a high school? Do you want a bunch of AP classes? A dual enrollment program? A sports team?

After reading this article, I hope you will finalize which high schools you are considering.

Let’s begin with the process.

The high school applications opened October 7th. For the SHSAT, admissions close on October 31st. For public schools and screening programs, admissions close December 3rd.

To apply, you must have a MySchools account. There, you can see what group you’re in. Group 1 means you have an average above 94.33% in all your core subjects (social studies, science, ELA, and math). Group 2 means you have above 90.25%. Group 3 means you have above 83.33%. Group 4 means you have above 76.67%. Your group is important because screened high schools admit group 1 students, and if not enough spots are filled, then they admit from group 2 and so on. 

For the SHSAT, you also apply through MySchools. Additionally, there is something called a random number. According to NYC Public Schools (.gov) “Random numbers are used in admissions to determine the order in which students are matched to schools during admissions. These numbers are sorted in numeric and then alphabetical order like this: 0, 1, 2 ... 9, A, B, C, D, E, F”. It is used when a “tie” between students happens when applying for ANY high schools, not only SHSAT based high schools. It is based on the grades you got in 7th grade. According to Chalkbeat, “ A random number beginning with 0 means an applicant will have a relatively high priority when decisions are made based on the number.” 

Here is a list of some of the SHSAT based high schools (which you do not need good grades for. You simply take the SHSAT on November 12th, 2025, and if you get a high enough score, you get into ONE and only ONE specialized high school. There are many specialized high schools, but here are just some of the top picks. Go check out Eshal Imam’s article ALL ABOUT THE SHSAT to learn more):

1. Stuyvesant (Manhattan)- 

   1. Cutoff SHSAT score in 2024 for 8th graders- 556

   2. 27+ AP classes including things like Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Art History, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry

   3. Offers 40+ sports teams including football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, cricket, and so much more

   4. 200+ clubs/extracurriculars!

2. Bronx Science (Bronx)- 

   1. Cutoff SHSAT score in 2024 for 8th graders- 518

   2. 100+ clubs/extracurriculars

   3. Over 43 sports teams

   4. 28+ AP courses

3. Brooklyn Tech (Brooklyn)

   1. Cutoff SHSAT score in 2024 for 8th graders- 505

   2. 150+ extracurriculars/clubs

   3. 40+ sports teams

   4. Around 30 AP classes offered

4. York (Queens)

   1. Cutoff SHSAT score in 2024 for 8th graders- 518

   2. 22+ extracurriculars/clubs

   3. 7 varsity sports teams

   4. 17 AP classes

Even though these are not the only SHSAT based high schools, I hope the list helped in deciding between just some of them. When researching other high schools, you can follow this format: Cutoff score (if SHSAT based/TACHS based), amount of extracurriculars/clubs, amount of sport teams, amount of AP classes, and anything else you want in a high school. 

Here is a list of 4 popular screened high schools/public schools/TACHS based schools people consider:

1. Townsend Harris (screened)

   1. 50+ clubs

   2. 20+ sports

   3. 15+ AP courses

   4. Dual enrollment program, meaning you can take college courses in high scool instead of in the future

2. NEST (screened)

   1. 18+ sports

   2. 50+ extracurriculars/clubs

   3. 17+ AP courses

   4. Dual enrollment

3. Bard High School (screened)

   1. 30+ extracurriculars/clubs

   2. Around 10-15 AP courses

   3. 17+ sports

   4. Dual enrollment

4. Cardozo (public)

   1. 45+ clubs/extracurriculars 

   2. 19 AP courses

   3. 32+ sports teams

5. St. Francis Prep (TACHS based)

   1. 60+ extracurriculars/clubs 

   2. 29+ sports teams

   3. 16+ AP courses

If you are considering applying to a dance/band/chorus/art based high school, please talk to Mrs. Shector (band teacher), Mrs. Carlucci (dance teacher), Mr. Gordon (art teacher), or Mrs. Allen (chorus teacher). They know about all of the good programs, deadlines, and more.

Figuring out where you want to go to high school is a tough decision. But if you research well, study, and have a general direction you want to go in life, you’ll be completely fine.

Remember, we’re all in this together, and we are still kids, so we don’t have to have everything figured out by now. Not getting into the high school you wanted is not the end of the world.

You just have to work hard where you end up going, and you will strive better than you can imagine. High school is one step closer to college and inevitably your career, but I promise where you go can’t affect you much unless you let it define you. Remember, rank the schools in preference order and have a great year!