About the school
Stuyvesant High School
Manhattan · SHSAT required
Stuyvesant High School sits in Battery Park City and admits students solely on the SHSAT composite score. In 2026 admissions its lowest qualifying score for 9th grade was 561, the highest of the eight test-based specialized high schools and 22 points above the next one, HSMSE at City College.
The school is known for a rigorous STEM-heavy curriculum, a deep bench of post-AP electives in mathematics and the sciences, and a long roster of alumni in research, technology, and public service. Acceptance rates hover in the low single digits relative to the testing pool, so margin-of-error is small: a few points on the composite often decide whether a student is admitted to Stuyvesant or to a school with a lower cutoff.
The numbers behind that reputation are public: Stuyvesant averaged 1497 on the SAT in 2024, the highest total of any New York City public high school and 518 points above the citywide average of 979. We put the full eight-year Stuyvesant SAT series on one page, straight from the Department of Education’s own release, so you can see whether the school is climbing or holding.
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 Stuyvesant 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 Stuyvesant prep
Three things our prep does that generic test prep does not, tied to Stuyvesant's admissions specifics.
Built for the top of the curve
Stuyvesant's cutoff sits well above other specialized high schools, which means accuracy on the hardest math problems and densest reading passages is what decides admission. Our prep emphasizes the upper tier of question difficulty.
Pacing for an unforgiving format
There is no scheduled break across the 180-minute test. We drill section pacing relentlessly so students learn when to skip, when to commit, and when to come back — the habits that protect the last 15 questions from rushed mistakes.
Real practice tests, scored honestly
Every 3-4 weeks your child sits a full-length timed SHSAT and we report the projected composite against Stuyvesant's historic cutoff range. No guesswork, no false reassurance.
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.
Stuyvesant FAQ
Common questions about Stuyvesant prep
What is the SHSAT cutoff for Stuyvesant?+
In 2026 admissions, the lowest SHSAT score that received a 9th grade offer at Stuyvesant was 561 (10th grade entry: 562): the highest of the eight testing specialized high schools, 22 points above the next one, HSMSE at City College (539). 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 my child start Stuyvesant SHSAT prep?+
For Stuyvesant we recommend at least 9 months of prep, which typically means starting in the spring of 7th grade or early summer before the fall test. Students aiming for the top cutoff need time to push accuracy on the hardest math content and to build stamina for the 180-minute format. Earlier starts also leave room for a second practice test cycle if the first round of scores comes in below target.
How is Stuyvesant prep different from general SHSAT prep?+
The test is the same, but the margin is not. In 2026 admissions the lowest score offered a seat at Brooklyn Tech was 506 and at Stuyvesant 561: a score that cleared Brooklyn Tech could still fall 55 points short of Stuyvesant. Our Stuyvesant track spends more time on the upper-difficulty math (number theory, advanced algebra, geometry proofs) and on dense reading passages, since these are where the highest cutoffs are decided.
Do you teach in person near Stuyvesant?+
Sessions run from our Flatiron office at 928 Broadway, a short subway ride from the Stuyvesant campus in Battery Park City. We also offer fully online sessions for students whose schedules require it, with the same diagnostic and progress-tracking workflow.
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Ready to start Stuyvesant prep?
Begin with a diagnostic. We'll evaluate your child's current level, set a target, and build a written prep plan tied to Stuyvesant's admissions specifics.