The high school hunt: A guide to NYC’s complex admissions process
Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat’s valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. Applying to high school in New York City is daunting: Eighth graders can choose from 700 programs in 400 schools across the five boroughs. Last year, of roughly 68,000 eighth graders who submitted…
Applying to high school in New York City can seem overwhelming due to the vast number of options available. There are over 700 programs in 400 schools spread across the five boroughs. Last year, out of approximately 68,000 eighth graders who submitted applications, 58% were offered a seat in their top choice, and 82% received one of their top three choices. Applications are due on December 4, with offers expected to be sent out after 3 p.m. on March 3, 2027.
New York City high schools are categorized into roughly 20 large comprehensive schools that guarantee spots for students living within a certain geographic zone around their campuses. Another six schools prioritize students based on their zone. The city’s MySchools platform allows families to determine if they are zoned for any schools.
Most NYC schools are selective, with around 130 programs screening students based on their seventh-grade GPAs in core subjects. An additional 30 schools consider essays and interviews. Screened schools sort students into priority groups, with Group 1 being those with a GPA in the top 15% of their class or an average of 94.67 in core courses. More than 75 programs require auditions or art portfolios, and nearly 50 have specific language requirements.
Open enrollment schools, which have no priorities, use a lottery number to determine admissions. The vast majority of programs use the Education Option (Ed. Opt.) admissions method, which aims to create balanced classes by targeting a third of seats for students in the high, middle, and low categories based on their seventh-grade averages.
Eight schools base admissions solely on the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT), and the process for LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts is separate from the rest.
Each student is assigned a random number or lottery number by the Education Department, which can be found in the NYC MySchools account. The random number is a 32-character hexadecimal string that serves as a tiebreaker when there are more applicants per seat in a given priority group. Some schools within the city's "Diversity in Admissions" program set aside seats for students from low-income families, English language learners, and other underrepresented groups.
Students with disabilities are also considered in a separate pool, receiving additional priority points.
Written by urgent.news from Chalkbeat's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
