Applying to High School
WHO CAN APPLY?
To apply to high school, you must be both of the following:
A NYC resident
A current eighth grade or first-time ninth grade student
During the application period, all of the following students are welcome to apply: Current public district and charter school students, private or parochial school students, students with disabilities, students with accessibility needs, students learning English, students from immigrant families, students in temporary housing, LGBTQ and gender nonconforming students, and students with children.
The high school admissions guide in English can be found HERE. For additional languages, please see the DOE website HERE.
New York City offers more than 700 programs at over 400 high schools. There are two paths to high school admissions.
High School. During the application period, apply to 12 high school programs with your high school application. Submit your application online or through a school counselor.
Specialized High Schools. These schools use a separate admissions process. Students test or audition to apply. Read the updated digital version of the NYC High School and Specialized High Schools Admissions Guide to learn how to participate. At schools.nyc.gov/SHS, you'll also find SHSAT practice tests and other test preparatory materials.
Charter Schools. Charter schools have a separate admissions process. Contact charter schools directly to learn how to apply.
TYPES OF HIGH SCHOOLS
Career and technical education schools and programs
New York City offers over 300 Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to choose from at over 135 high schools, including some of our Specialized High Schools! These programs connect students to a wide range of industry options leading to more than 79 specific postsecondary options, career pathways.
All CTE programs fall into one of 16 categories:
Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
Architecture & Construction Human Services
Arts, A/V Technology & Communications Information Technology
Business Management Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
Education & Training Manufacturing
Finance Marketing
Government & Public Administration
Health Science Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
Hospitality & Tourism
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
Career and Technical (CTE) programs offer you:
The opportunity to earn college credits, advancing standing, or reduced tuition in a related college/university program upon graduation
Opportunities to earn stackable industry-recognized certifications that can help you prepare for internships, college, and in-demand careers
Opportunities to participate in work-based learning experiences like career mentoring, workplace tours, job shadowing, and paid internships
Empowerment to master 21st century skills such as planning for success, collaboration, problem solving, social awareness, and professional attitude
A CTE Endorsement on your high school diploma
Community schools
Community schools help students find their passion by integrating academics, health, youth development, expanded learning (such as after school and summer programs), and family engagement. By bringing schools, families, and community partners together to create new opportunities, community schools foster collaboration within a community so that students are ready and able to learn, and graduate high school prepared for college and success.
Early college
Early college high schools blend a rigorous college-prep curriculum with the opportunity to earn up to two years of college credit toward a liberal arts Associate's degree while in grades 9-12 at the high school level at no cost to students. These schools maintain a partnership with a college to provide academic and social supports to help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in college. Find more information on a school’s early college degree course offerings on its MySchools page, or contact the school directly.
Early college and career schools grades 9-14
Early college and career schools, also called NYC P-TECH Grades 9-14 schools (Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools), offer a six-year program where students can earn a high school diploma and a no-cost, career-specific Associate’s degree (or up to two years of transferable college credits), plus gain valuable workplace skills.
As both an early college and a Career and Technical Education (CTE) school, each school has a specific science, technology, engineering, or math-based career theme for its rigorous academic and CTE program. Students participate in career exploration activities with the school’s lead industry partners, including work-based projects and internships. Students may also begin taking tuition-free college classes as early as tenth grade at the partnering college and have until the fourteenth grade to complete the college credits towards an Associate degree. Through these partnerships, graduates are prepared to begin their careers and continue their postsecondary education.
Performance assessment schools
Instead of requiring that students pass certain Regents exams, these schools’ graduation requirements include performance assessments in major subject areas. Assessments involve extensive research projects, presentations, and defense of your work. These schools have a waiver from the New York State Education Department permitting them to award diplomas to students who pass all required courses and performance assessments, in addition to the following:
New York Performance Standards Consortium schools require you to pass the English Language Arts Regents and complete performance assessments in science, social studies, and math.
Other performance assessment schools require you to pass the ELA and math Regents.
Schools for new arrivals
Schools for newly arrived students serve students who are new to the country. All have requirements regarding home language, English proficiency, and/or the amount of time a student has lived in the United States.