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Technical problems disrupt NYC specialized high school admissions test

Technical problems disrupt NYC specialized high school admissions test

Rule Changes New York, NY local

Students unable to finish the SHSAT will be rescheduled, the Department of Education says

Today: Technical problems disrupt the SHSAT

Overview

Updated 2 hours ago

Students taking New York City's Specialized High Schools Admissions Test ran into technical problems on Nov. 14. The Department of Education said those who could not finish would be automatically rescheduled.

The test is the sole admissions criterion for eight of the city's nine specialized high schools, including Stuyvesant. The disruption hits a system where a few points can decide who gets one of roughly 4,000 to 5,000 seats.

Why it matters

A glitch in a high-stakes exam can alter who gets one of roughly 4,000 to 5,000 seats at New York City's elite public high schools.

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Key Indicators

8
Specialized high schools using the SHSAT
Eight of the city's nine specialized high schools admit students by test score.
9
Specialized high schools total
LaGuardia High School does not use the SHSAT.
4,000–5,000
Seats available each year
Approximate number of seats across the eight test-based schools.
25,000–30,000
Annual test takers
Approximate number of students who sit for the SHSAT each year.
3%
Black students' share of offers
Share of specialized high school offers to Black students in recent data.
6%
Latino students' share of offers
Share of offers to Latino students in recent data.
57%
Asian students' share of offers
Share of offers to Asian students in recent data.

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People Involved

DB
David Banks
Former New York City schools chancellor
Spoke at October 2026 town hall on specialized school disparities
 John Liu
John Liu
New York State Senator
State senator; opposes blaming the test for disparities

Organizations Involved

New York City Department of Education
New York City Department of Education
City school district agency
Administers the SHSAT; said affected students would be rescheduled

The city agency that runs New York City's public schools and administers the specialized high school admissions test.
Stuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School
Public specialized high school
One of eight schools that use the SHSAT

New York City's oldest specialized high school and one of the most competitive.

Timeline

June 2018 November 2026

4 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Technical problems disrupt the SHSAT

    Today Testing disruption

    Students taking the specialized high school admissions test ran into technical problems. The Department of Education said those unable to finish would be automatically rescheduled.

  2. Harlem town hall debates specialized school disparities

    Public forum

    Former Chancellor David Banks and State Sen. John Liu discussed racial gaps in offers and whether to change the admissions process.

  3. Admissions data shows persistent racial gaps

    Data release

    New York City data showed Black students received about 3 percent of specialized high school offers and Latino students about 6 percent.

  4. De Blasio proposes replacing the SHSAT

    Policy proposal

    Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed admitting the top 7 percent of students from each middle school instead of using the test. State legislators did not pass the change.

Scenarios

1

DOE Reschedules Affected Students Without Further Problems

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: NYC Department of Education statement reported by Gothamist

The department said students who could not finish the Nov. 14 test would be automatically rescheduled. If make-up sessions run without new problems, the glitch stays an administrative issue.

2

Affected Families File a Lawsuit Over the Test Failure

Possible Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: Not yet reported; a standard response to high-stakes testing failures

A family or advocacy group could argue the technical failure denied students a fair chance at admission. A lawsuit would force the city to preserve records and explain what went wrong. No such suit has been reported.

3

State Lawmakers Revisit SHSAT Admissions Rules

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Former Chancellor David Banks and State Sen. John Liu at October 2026 town hall

The disruption lands amid a renewed debate over racial gaps in specialized school offers. Changing admissions for Stuyvesant, Bronx Science and Brooklyn Tech requires state law, and past proposals have stalled.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

June 2018

De Blasio's SHSAT repeal proposal (2018)

Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed replacing the SHSAT with a plan to admit the top 7 percent of students from each middle school. He argued the test kept Black and Latino students out of specialized schools. State legislators did not pass the change.

Then

The proposal faced backlash from Asian American parent groups and stalled in Albany.

Now

The SHSAT remains the sole admissions criterion for eight specialized schools.

Why this matters now

The current disruption lands in a debate that has been unresolved for years.

July-October 2026

2026 specialized school admissions data (2026)

New York City data showed Black students received about 3 percent of specialized high school offers and Latino students about 6 percent. Asian students received about 57 percent. A Harlem town hall in October debated the gap.

Then

Former Chancellor David Banks said he regretted not changing admissions criteria for city-controlled schools.

Now

No policy change has been enacted.

Why this matters now

The technical problems come as the city is again debating whether the test should remain the sole criterion.

Sources

(3)
Gothamist NY1 Center for New York City Affairs