About the school
Bronx High School of Science
Bronx · SHSAT required
The Bronx High School of Science occupies a 9-acre campus near Lehman College and admits students through the SHSAT. In 2026 admissions its lowest qualifying score for 9th grade was 525, 4th of the eight test-based specialized high schools, against 561 at Stuyvesant.
The school is best known for its science research program, its long list of Nobel laureate and Pulitzer Prize alumni, and a curriculum that pushes students into independent research projects by junior year. Admission is determined by SHSAT composite alone, and a strong score in both ELA and Math is what gets students in.
Where that puts Bronx Science afterwards is a matter of public record: the class of 2024 averaged 1447 on the SAT, fourth among the 548 New York City public high schools that reported a figure, against a citywide average of 979. Our Bronx Science SAT profile graphs every year the Department of Education has published since 2017, next to the city line.
Where does your child stand? Type a practice score into our SHSAT score calculator to see it against the lowest score that got an offer at Bronx Science and the seven other schools. And to see how many students from your child’s own middle school sat the test and got an offer, look the school up in our SHSAT results by middle school.
Wondering if this school is a fit?
Why GeniusPrep
Built for Bronx Science prep
Three things our prep does that generic test prep does not, tied to Bronx Science's admissions specifics.
A clear cutoff target
Bronx Science's historical cutoff is high but reachable with structured prep. We map every session to a target composite that gives your child cushion above the band, not just a passing margin.
Math fluency that holds up under pressure
Bronx Science accepts students who know the math cold. We drill arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and word problems until the easy questions are reflex, then push into the medium-hard tier where points are gained or lost.
Reading comprehension on dense passages
The ELA section's reading passages reward students who can untangle complex argument structures fast. We teach passage mapping and answer-elimination so reading comp stops being the section that drags the composite down.
Methodology
Diagnostic, study plan, practice tests
Every student begins with a full-length diagnostic SHSAT under timed conditions. We score by section — Revising/Editing, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics — and surface the specific question types where points are being left on the table.
From the diagnostic we build a written study plan tied to a target composite score. Sessions alternate between concept teaching, drilled question sets at the right difficulty, and short timed sprints that build pacing for the 180-minute, 100-question adaptive format (50 per section).
Practice tests are scheduled every 3 to 4 weeks. We compare each result against the previous one, adjust the plan, and report progress to parents. By test day, students have completed multiple full-length practice sittings and know exactly what to expect.
Read more about our broader shsat prep program.
Bronx Science FAQ
Common questions about Bronx Science prep
What is the SHSAT cutoff for Bronx Science?+
In 2026 admissions, the lowest SHSAT score that received a 9th grade offer at Bronx Science was 525 (10th grade entry: 652): 4th of the eight testing specialized high schools, after Stuyvesant (561), HSMSE at City College (539) and Queens Sciences at York (531). That is the score of the last student offered a seat that year, as published by New York City Public Schools, not a cutoff set in advance or a prediction for next year: it moves with how many students test, how they score and how they rank the schools. We plan against that number with a margin above it, and our free SHSAT score calculator shows where a practice score would have landed against all eight.
When should we start Bronx Science SHSAT prep?+
We recommend starting 6 to 9 months before the test. For most students that means beginning in the spring of 7th grade or early summer before the fall SHSAT. Earlier starts allow for a steadier pace, two full practice-test cycles, and time to firm up math fundamentals before pushing into harder content.
Does Bronx Science have a separate admissions process?+
No. Bronx Science admits students through the SHSAT composite score alone, alongside seven other specialized high schools. There is no interview, no separate application, and no portfolio. Your child's test score is the entire admissions case, which is why structured prep matters.
Can my child apply to Bronx Science and Stuyvesant at the same time?+
Yes. The SHSAT is a single test, and students rank their preferred specialized high schools on one application. Most of our families list both Stuyvesant and Bronx Science (and often Brooklyn Tech) as preferences. Offers are then made in score order: the highest scorer gets their first choice, and so on down the list.
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Ready to start Bronx Science prep?
Begin with a diagnostic. We'll evaluate your child's current level, set a target, and build a written prep plan tied to Bronx Science's admissions specifics.