screened group cut offs

The DOE posted cut offs for screened groups for this season. The numbers are slightly higher than last year. You can find more info here and below: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/high-school/screened-admissions

From the DOE website:

Minimum Grade Requirements:

Students must meet minimum averages to qualify for each group:

  • Group 1: 90 or higher

  • Group 2: 80 or higher

  • Group 3: 75 or higher

  • Group 4: 65 or higher

Even if a student ranks in the top percentage at their school, they cannot be placed in a group if their average is below these minimums.

How Seats Are Filled

If all Group 1 applicants can be accommodated, Group 2 applicants are considered next, and so on. When there are more applicants than seats in a group, offers are made randomly within that group.

Additional Details 

  • Charter and Non-NYC Public School Applicants: Charter school students are eligible for a group based on the citywide averages. If a charter school provides grades for all students, charter school students could also be eligible based on their school average. Non-NYC Public School students qualify based on citywide averages only.

  • Viewing Your Group: When the high school application is open, families can see their child's group in MySchools(Open external link)under “Edit profile.”

  • Tenth-Grade Seats: Ninth-grade applicants for tenth-grade seats are grouped based on their final eighth-grade course grades.

How are offers made to screened programs that participate in Diversity in Admissions (DIA) and do not require an assessment?

At screened programs with DIA and no assessment, offers for DIA seats are made in group order:

  • Students in Group 1 who are DIA-eligible are considered first for DIA seats.

  • If seats remain, DIA-eligible students in Group 2 are considered next, and so on until all DIA seats are filled.

Where can I find out if a screened program requires an additional assessment?

A small portion of high schools may also require applicants to complete a school-based assessment, such as an essay. A list of these schools is available at our Assessments for Screened Schools webpage. 

How does screening work for Students with Disabilities (SWD)?

Each screened high school program reserves a portion of seats for students with disabilities (SWD). These seats are filled in group order: SWD applicants in Group 1 are considered first, then Group 2, and so on.

Why aren’t screened admissions groups calculated separately for SWD students?

Admissions groups are based on academic performance, not on whether a student is in general education (GE) or has SWD status. Students in the top 15% of their school or city qualify for Group 1, regardless of GE or SWD status.

This means higher-performing SWD students are placed into reserved SWD seats first. Once all SWD applicants in a group have been accommodated, the next group is considered.

Using the same scale for all students ensures consistency and flexibility. If a student’s IEP status changes during the process, their admissions group remains the same.


TOURING: Beacon, Manhattan Center for Science and Math, Richard R. Green

Beacon is hosting a bunch of in person tours. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.beaconschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=604582&type=d

Tues, October 27:

Thur, October 29

Mon, November 2:

Thur, November 5:

Manhattan Center for Science and Math is hosting a host of in person open houses. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.mcsm.net/live_feeds/13363033

Sat, 10/10, 10/24, 11/7, 11/14, 11/21 from 11am-12:45pm

Weekdays from 5-6:45pm: Tues 10/6, Wed 10/14, Thur 10/22, Wed 11/4, Tues 11/10, Wed 11/18, Mon 11/23

Richard R. Green is hosting in person tours. To RSVP: rsvp @lmorales2@schools.nyc.gov or 646-826-8174 x 1631

Click here for more info: https://www.rrghst.org/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=1033731&id=0

Tues, 10/6, 2026 at 3:15 pm

Tues, 10/27 at 3:15 pm

Thur, 11/5 at 3:15 pm

Tues, 11/24 at 3:15pm

TOURING: Central Park East, Columbia Secondary

Central Park East is hosting several in person open houses. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.centralparkeasths.org/copy-of-admissions-criteria

Thur, 10/15: 9-10:30am 

Tues, 10/27: 9-10:30am

Thur, 11/5: 9-10:30am 

Thur, 11/12: 9-10:30am 

Tues, 11/17: 6-8pm

Columbia Secondary is hosting 3 in person open houses. Click here for more info. No registration necessary: https://www.columbiasecondary.org/admissions/applying-to-high-school

Wed, 10/28 @ 6PM - CSS Auditorium - ENGLISH

Thur, 11/5 @ 6:PM - CSS Auditorium - ENGLISH

Sabado 7 de noviembre @ 11AM - Biblioteca del 3rd piso de CSS - ESPANOL 


TOURING: Fort Hamilton, Harbor School, Brooklyn Latin, Brooklyn Tech

Fort Hamilton is hosting an in person info night. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.fthhs.org/apps/news/article/2237759

Mon, 10/26, last name A-K from 5:30-7pm, last name L-Z from 7:30-9pm

Urban Assembly NY Harbor School is hosting 2 in person open houses. Click on the open house registration link on the right side of the page to register: https://www.newyorkharborschool.org/admission

Tues, 10/20, 3-5pm

Tues, 10/27, 3-5pm

SPECIALIZED

Brooklyn Latin is hosting in person tours. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.brooklynlatin.org/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=1032576&id=0

Fri, 10/9 from 10:45am-12pm

Fri, 10/16 from 10:45am-12pm

Fri, 10/23 from 10:45am-12pm

Fri, 10/30 from 10:45am-12pm

Fri, 11/6 from 10:45am-12pm

Brooklyn Tech is hosting one in person open house. Click here for more info/to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeji8NPGDrsPj7XTO2BeOa2unkuMemy-s6ovs2DHalcfgq7OQ/viewform

Wed, 10/21 session 1 from 5:30-7:15pm, session 2 from 6:15-8pm

DOE virtual info sessions

The DOE is hosting a bunch of virtual info sessions. They do a solid job of covering the basics and sometimes you can get answers to specific questions in a sidebar chat.  For more info: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/high-school

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Fall General Information Session

Thursday, October 8, 2026 Fall General Information Session

Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Fall General Information Session

Thursday, October 15, 2026 Fall General Information Session for Students with Disabilities (SWD)

Thursday, October 22, 2026 Fall General Information Session in Spanish Stand-Alone

Tuesday, November 10, 2026 Fall General Information Session in Mandarin Stand-Alone

Monday, November 23, 2026 Fall General Information Session

TOURING: Academy for Software Engineering, HS for Environmental Studies

Academy for Software Engineering is hosting a bunch of in person open houses. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.afsenyc.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1219644&type=d&pREC_ID=1455035

Thur, 10/1, 5PM

Thur, 10/8, 5PM

Tues, 10/13, 5PM

Wed, 11/4, 5PM

Mon, 11/16, 5PM

Mon, 11/30, 5PM

High School for Environmental Studies is hosting in person and online open houses. Click here for more info/to register: https://cdn1.educationalnetworks.net/en/buckets/TYjaBQET/jqWrjahn/IHXKJvTv/huhwA44T/HSES%20Open%20House%20Flyer%20(1).pdf

in person

Sat, 10/17,10AM

Mon, 10/19, 5:30 PM

virtual

Wed, 11/4, 5:30PM

some more SHSAT logistical info

Dates for everyone taking the SHSAT have been released by the DOE:

Tuesday, October 6: High School Application, LaGuardia Application, and Specialized High Schools Admissions open.

Friday, October 30 – SHSAT registration closes.

Wednesday, November 18 – SHSAT School Day

Saturday/Sunday, November 14/15: SHSAT Weekend Administration (new info)

Saturday, November 21: Last SHSAT Weekend Test Date

Public school students take the exam in their schools. The DOE still has to release information about where private school students will take theirs. 

Here is the DOE’s guide to this year’s SHSAT: https://pwsblobprd.schools.nyc/prd-pws/docs/default-source/default-document-library/fa25-shb-webtag-final-1.pdf?sfvrsn=33b75e60_2

NOTE: This is year 2 of being digital and the first time they are using computer adaptive testing. 

TOURING: Brooklyn Arts, East Side Community, Edward R. Murrow, James Madison, School of the Future, HSMSE

Brooklyn Arts is hosting a bunch of in person tours. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.brooklynartshs.nyc/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=1031520&id=0

9:15am on: 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/4, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/1

East Side Community is hosting 2 in person tours. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.eschs.org/admissions

Mon, 11/9 at 5:30pm

Thur, 11/12 at 10am

Edward R. Murrow is hosting in person and online open houses. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.ermurrowhs.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=2088515&type=d&pREC_ID=2136537

in person

Mon, 10/19, 5:30-8pm

online (screened programs info)

Wed, 10/28 at 6pm

James Madison is hosting an in person open house. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.madisonhs.org/apps/news/article/1817203?categoryId=19066

Mon, 11/2 at 6pm

School of the Future added in person open houses. Click here for more info/to register: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NCYHBbuclUlauZktP4c03todq3pKTa2oievGBql0JHE/edit?tab=t.0

in person

Wed, 10/14 from 4:30-6pm

Sat, 10/17 from 12:30-2pm

virtual

Mon, 11/9 at 6pm

SPECIALIZED

High School for Math, Science, and Engineering is hosting one in person open house. More info to come: https://www.hsmse.org/apps/events/2026/10/?id=0

Tues, 10/20 time to come

breaking down how random numbers are used

Want to make sure everyone is clear about the different admissions methods and how random numbers are involved, in big and small ways. Keep in mind you can find each school’s admissions method in MySchools and for the schools I track, on the seats and admissions methods spreadsheet on the HS411 website.

Admissions methods

Open/Lottery

  • At these schools nothing is considered beyond your random number.

ED OPT - educational option

  • There are 3 tiers: low, middle, and high based on 7th grade end of year grades.

  • You’ll see your ED OPT group in Myschools.

  • Each group is filled with one third of students.

  • Random number ranks kids within their group.

Screen schools

  • There are 5 screened school admission groups

  • You’ll see your group in Myschools.

  • Top group cut off is 94.25.

  • Once in a group you are ranked by random number.

  • Schools consider all students in group one before moving on to the next group.

  • So, someone with a weak random number in group one will be considered before someone with a group number in group two.

Screened schools with additional materials

  • The complete list: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/high-school/assessments-for-screened-schools

  • Different schools have different asks and different rubrics. Some materials are submitted at MySchools, some at individual school websites. This info is all available at the link above and also in MySchools.

  • For schools that consider “grades” as part of their rubric, each group has an assigned point number: 100 points for group 1, 90 for group 2. 

  • A student’s final score the weighed average of the grade they get on their admissions materials and the points assigned based on their screened group. 

  • Random number is tie breaker when kids have the same final score.

Audition based

  • Ranking is based totally on audition/portfolio submission.

  • Random number is tie breaker when kids have the same score.

LaGuardia

  • Everyone over minimum gpa is considered equal. Last season it was 65.

  • Random number is tie breaker when kids have the same audition/portfolio score.

Specialized

  • ONLY the SHSAT is used for ranking students.

  • This is the ONLY scenario where random numbers aren’t considered.





TOURING: Landmark, Park East

Landmark is hosting an open house. Info is up at MySchools. You can register there: https://www.myschools.nyc/en/calendar/event/21117/?occurence_id=50336

Thurs, 10/1 from 5-6pm


Park East is hosting both in person and online touring opportunities. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.parkeasths.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4428137&type=d&pREC_ID=2738985

In-person:

Thursdays, 10/1, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, and 11/19 – all at 10:30 am

Tues, 11/10 at 6 pm

Self-Guided Tour, Sat, 1/14 10am-12pm

 

virtual:

Tues, 10/6

Wed, 10/14

Thur, 11/12

Tues, 12/1 – all at 10:30 am

No registration needed for these

TOURING: NYC iSchools

Things are popping up fast. These will fill up so wanted to make sure you got the info.

NYC iSchoolis hosting a bunch of in person and zoom open houses. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.nycischool.org/nyc-ischool-open-house-reservations

ON ZOOM: Tuesday, October 13th from 6:30-7:30 PM

ON ZOOM: Wednesday, October 21st from 6:30-7:30 PM

IN PERSON: Saturday, October 24th from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM

IN PERSON: Saturday, October 24th from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM

IN PERSON: Saturday, October 24th from 12:00 PM-1:00 PM

IN PERSON: Saturday, October 24th from 1:00 PM-2:00 PM

ON ZOOM: Tuesday, November 10th from 6:30-7:30 PM

Bard assessment info

The Bards host in person assessments - another thing to add to your calendar if you’re considering any of the 4 Bards. Keep in mind you can do the assessment at any Bard and it will count for all the Bards you put on your application. 

Manhattan registration is going live on 9/22 : https://bhsec.bard.edu/manhattan/admission/assessment/ You can find info about the exam itself and Bard’s admissions process at this link as well. 

The other Bards haven't published assessment info yet. 


TOURING: Baruch, Frank Sinatra, Lab, Stuy, Laguardia

Baruch is hosting an in person open house. Click here for more info: https://www.bcchsnyc.net/apps/events2/event.jsp?eREC_ID=5848950&d=2026-10-21&id=0

Wed, 10/21 from 4-7pm


Frank Sinatrais hosting several in person touring options. Check their website for more info: https://www.franksinatraschoolofthearts.org/

open houses

Tues, 10/6 at 6pm

Wed, 10/14 at 6pm

self guided open houses

Fri, 10/9 from 4-6pm

Sat, 10/17 from 4-6pm

Lab is hosting a zoom open house. Click here for more info/to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-Lw7_jcYsj-FaNsbgBqZLQg6c7L_0JCMMjBnrppOEQPOyzw/viewform?usp=dialog

Thur, 10/8 from 6-7pm

SPECIALIZED

Stuyvesant is hosting 2 in person open houses (sorted by borough). Click here for more info: https://stuy.enschool.org/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=1030450&id=0

10/14 from 5-8pm for residents of Manhattan and Brooklyn

10/15  from 5-8pm for residents of Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island


Lauguardia is hosting one in person open house. Click here for more info: https://www.laguardiahs.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=582030&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=1119557&hideMenu=0

Tues,10/20 from 4:30pm-8pm

screened school with assessments

Most screened schools only look at that final composite end of 7th grade grades (4 core subjects average) plus random lottery numbers to rank students. Students are divided into screened groups 1 through 5 based on that number. We don’t know the cut off yet for each group. Last year the cut off for group 1 was 94.

Within screened schools admission (I’ll be sharing more info about all admissions methods), some schools ask for additional materials to take under consideration. Within this group, generally speaking, each school has its own ask: essay, interview, video, testing, etc. and their own admissions rubric. Some schools share the ask. All Bards use the same admissions set up and there are 4 schools that use the same consortium essay (Beacon used to be a part of that group as well until last season). 

You can find all the schools looking for additional materials here: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/high-school/assessments-for-screened-schools

Some additions materials are uploaded through MySchools, others are shared with schools directly. All that info is on this page as well as each school’s admissions rubric.

From the DOE website: how do schools combine grades and assessments: 

For schools that require an assessment, course grades and assessment scores are combined into a single weighted score. Each school decides how much weight to give each component, and this information is shown on the school’s MySchools profile and in the table above.

How It Works

1. Course Grades: Students are assigned a score on a 100-point scale based on their screened admissions group:

Admissions Group Grade MappingGroup 1100Group 290Group 380Group 475 Group 565

2. Assessment Score: Schools submit assessment scores on the same 100-point scale.

3. Weighted Average: The two scores are combined using the school’s chosen weights. Students are admitted in descending order of this combined score.

Example

If a school weights course grades at 20% and an essay at 80%, and a student in Group 1 scores 85 on the essay:

  • Grade mapping = 100

  • Essay score = 85

  • Combined score = (100 × 20%) + (85 × 80%) = 88
    The student’s final score is 88, and offers are made in descending order of these scores.


TOURING: Art and Design

Art and Design is hosting both in person and virtual open houses. Click on the box on their home page for more info/to register: https://www.artanddesignhs.org/

in person:

Tues, 10/6 • 5-8 pm

Sat, 10/17 • 9 am to 12 pm

Wed, 10/28 • 5-8 pm

virtual:

Tues, 11/24 • 6-8pm

Note: High School 411 tracks 50 plus schools (including all specialized) in terms of touring opportunities. For other schools you might be interested in, make sure you’re checking school websites, the MySchools calendar, and/or SIFT-NYC (most comprehensive option) for info.