High School Application/Placement

Know the Paths to High School

For most students in New York City, there are two paths to DOE public high schools. You can take both paths or just one:

  • Applying to high school by submitting a high school application. All eighth-grade students should apply.

  • Applying to the Specialized High Schools by auditioning and/or taking the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT). This is optional.

Happening Next

Admissions Updates

  • Geographic (location-based) admissions priorities for high schools will be phased out over the next two years. This means that, after next year, the location of a student’s home cannot alone determine their chances of getting into a certain school.

  • Screened high school programs can use the following criteria this year to rank applicants: a combination previous years' grades, and/or other measures. You can find any program's academic screening criteria on their MySchools page, in the Admissions Factors section.

8th Grade High School Checklist HS Application Checklist

How to Apply

During the application period, this is how to apply:

  • Use MySchools to explore high school options, and talk with your school counselor to decide which 12 programs to include on your application. Applying to 12 programs, all of which you'd be happy to attend, makes it more likely that you'll get an offer to a program of your choice!

  • Submit your high school application online with MySchools.

  • Need language support? You can apply in English, Spanish, Chinese, Bengali, Russian, Arabic, Urdu, Haitian Creole, Korean, or French in MySchools

What Are The Specialized High Schools?

The nine specialized high schools are one way that New York City supports the educational needs of students who excel academically and/or artistically, including English Language Learners and students with an IEP or 504 Plan.

Who Can Apply?

Everyone eligible to apply to high school is also eligible to apply to the specialized high schools. When you register to audition and/or schedule the SHSAT and to get your audition or test results, you must be both of the following:

  • A current NYC resident

  • A current eighth grade student or first-time (not repeating the grade) ninth grade student

One Audition High School—Audition to Apply

You can apply to Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts by submitting a portfolio and auditioning in a talent area for up to six different studios:

  • Fine & Visual Art

  • Vocal Music

  • Instrumental Music

  • Dance

  • Drama

  • Technical Theater

LaGuardia High School also considers students' academic records.

Eight Testing High Schools—Take the SHSAT to Apply

You can apply to the other eight specialized high schools by taking the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT). These schools are:

  • The Bronx High School of Science

  • The Brooklyn Latin School

  • Brooklyn Technical High School

  • High School for Mathematics, Science and Engineering at 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

Use MySchools to learn more about each of the specialized high schools, as well as other public high school options. Search for schools by interest, location, and more from your desktop or mobile device.

The Specialized High Schools registration period is now open! Here's how to participate:

For the one audition Specialized High School, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, apply by registering to audition, then submitting audition materials. Please note that the SHSAT is not used for admission to LaGuardia.

  • Step 1. Register to audition Log in to your MySchools account and click "Get Started.” Then click the “LaGuardia” tab. Here, indicate which programs your child wants to audition for. There are six programs at LaGuardia High School, and students can audition for just one program, all six, or anything in between. Submit your registration to audition.

  • Step 2. Submit your audition All high school auditions this year—including for LaGuardia High School—will take place virtually. Applicants will submit audition files through a new Virtual Audition Submission Tool; this tool is not yet open, and we will notify schools and families when you can access it. 

  • Step 3. Visit HS Virtual Events Flier March 2023_ Family Events

Need Any Guidance?

Feel free to reach out to the guidance counselor for your assigned House:

Arts & Tech House (Grades 6, 7, & 8)

Math & Science House (Grades 7 & 8)

Law & Government House (Grades 7 & 8)