What Score Do You Need to Get Into Bronx Science in 2026?
Based on the most recent 2025 admissions cycle, the Bronx High School of Science cutoff was a 518 composite SHSAT score. That places Bronx Science in the middle of the eight specialized high schools, well below Stuyvesant's 556 but well above Brooklyn Tech's 505. For the 2026 cycle, plan to score in the 528 to 538 range to be safely above the cutoff.
This guide covers what 518 means in raw score terms, how the cutoff has moved over the past six years, and what makes Bronx Science a different school from Stuyvesant despite the 38-point gap.
The Short Answer
- 2025 cutoff: 518 composite
- 2026 target range: 528 to 538 (10 to 20 points above last year's cutoff)
- What 518 means in practice: approximately 82 to 84% of the 114 scored questions correct
- Offers in 2025: 738 out of 25,933 testers
- Approximate seats: ~748
- SHSAT format in 2026: computer-adaptive (CAT)
If you are currently scoring in the high 400s to low 500s in practice tests, Bronx Science is a realistic target with disciplined prep. The school's middle-of-the-pack cutoff also means your score will likely qualify you for other schools on your preference list.
2025 Cutoff at a Glance
| Metric | Bronx Science 2025 |
|---|---|
| Composite cutoff | 518 |
| Offers extended | 738 |
| Approximate seats | ~748 |
| Raw questions correct (estimated) | ~93 to 96 of 114 |
| Estimated accuracy needed | ~82 to 84% |
For the full picture of where 518 sits, here is the 2025 cutoff table for all eight specialized high schools:
| School | 2025 Cutoff |
|---|---|
| Stuyvesant | 556 |
| Staten Island Tech | 527 |
| HSMSE at CCNY | 526 |
| Bronx Science | 518 |
| Queens Science at York | 518 |
| Brooklyn Tech | 505 |
| American Studies at Lehman | 504 |
| Brooklyn Latin | 496 |
See our complete 2026 SHSAT cutoff analysis for the full historical data and our specialized high schools comparison guide for what makes each school different.
How Bronx Science's Cutoff Has Moved (2020 to 2025)
Bronx Science's cutoff has been more volatile than Stuyvesant's, swinging between 517 and 531 in the past six years. Here is the year-by-year picture:
| Year | Bronx Science Cutoff |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 531 |
| 2021 | 517 |
| 2022 | 524 |
| 2023 | 521 |
| 2024 | 526 |
| 2025 | 518 |
The 2021 dip is the COVID year. Since then, the cutoff has oscillated in a 518 to 526 band. The 2025 reading of 518 is the lowest in that window, possibly reflecting slightly easier scaling or preference shifts toward Stuyvesant and HSMSE.
The practical takeaway: 518 is on the lower end of the recent range. A 530 score gives you a comfortable margin against the kind of fluctuation we have seen in the past.
What "Competitive" Means for Bronx Science
Cutoffs are floors. The student who scores exactly 518 in 2026 has qualified, but they have not built in any margin. Cutoffs move 3 to 10 points year to year, sometimes more.
Our recommended targeting framework for 2026:
- Bare minimum to qualify: 518 (last year's cutoff)
- Comfortable competitive score: 528 to 535 (10 to 17 points above)
- Comfortable with safety margin: 545+ (20+ points above)
If you are currently scoring in the high 400s in practice, the path to 530+ is a 30 to 40 point improvement, achievable over 6 months of focused prep. If you are already in the 510s, you are close.
How SHSAT Scoring Actually Works
The score the DOE reports is a composite of two scaled section scores: ELA and Math. Here is the path from your answer sheet to 518:
- Raw score. Count of correct answers per section (out of 57). Wrong and blank answers both count as zero, so guess on every question.
- Scaled score. The DOE applies a nonlinear transformation per section. The curve is steeper in the middle and steeper still at the top, which means a strong performance in one section can compensate for a weaker one.
- Composite score. Scaled ELA plus scaled Math. The maximum is around 700.
The scaling matters for Bronx Science because 518 sits in a range where one or two extra correct questions can move your scaled score meaningfully. Our SHSAT scoring strategy guide walks through the math.
For Fall 2026, the test becomes computer-adaptive. The DOE has said scores will remain comparable to prior years. See our 2026 adaptive test guide for what is changing.
Estimated Raw Score for 518
The SHSAT scoring formula is not public, but based on historical scaling patterns, a 518 composite typically requires:
- Around 93 to 96 correct out of 114 scored questions, or roughly 82 to 84% accuracy
- A balanced ELA and Math performance is the most reliable path, though the nonlinear scaling rewards a strong one-sided performance
These are estimates, not guarantees. The conversion shifts slightly year to year, and 10 of the 114 questions are unscored field-test items. Treat every question as if it counts.
What Makes Bronx Science Different
Bronx Science is the only specialized high school that has produced 8 Nobel laureates, more than any other secondary school in the world. That stat alone tells you something about the school's research DNA.
The school offers an extensive research program where students work with university professors and publish actual scientific papers. For students interested in pursuing science in college and beyond, the mentorship networks at Bronx Science are hard to replicate.
Compared to Stuyvesant, the culture at Bronx Science is often described as slightly more collaborative. The academic standards are still exceptionally high, but the student experience tilts more toward intellectual curiosity than pure competition. Students at the 2025 admit profile broke down to 422 Asian, 155 White, 85 multiracial, 55 Hispanic, and 21 Black students.
The school offers 37 of 38 AP courses, plus post-AP genetics and organic chemistry. The debate team is nationally ranked. For students considering other schools, see our guides for Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, and HSMSE.
How to Actually Hit 528+ in 2026
If you want to score 528 to 538 and get into Bronx Science, the work starts now. The Fall 2026 SHSAT is in late October or early November, which gives you a real prep window if you begin between March and June 2026. Here is what a serious 12-week plan looks like, modeled on our SHSAT study plan guide.
A Sample 12-Week Weekly Plan
This is the structure that consistently produces 30 to 50 point score improvements. Adapt it to your starting point: a 3-month timeline is fine if you are already in the 500s; stretch to 6 months if you are starting in the high 400s.
| Day | Focus | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Math practice (weakest subtopic) | 60-90 min |
| Tuesday | ELA: reading comprehension passages | 60-90 min |
| Wednesday | Math practice (second weakest subtopic) | 60-90 min |
| Thursday | ELA: revising/editing + grammar | 60-90 min |
| Friday | Mixed review or digital question types | 45-60 min |
| Saturday | Full mock exam under timed conditions | 2.5-3 hours |
| Sunday | Review every wrong answer from the week | 45-60 min |
Difficulty progression: start with medium-difficulty questions for the first 4 weeks, shift to hard for weeks 5 to 8, then take one full mock exam every Saturday in weeks 9 to 12. You should be scoring 80%+ on hard-difficulty questions in your strongest subtopics by the final month.
Start Prepping Now
The fastest way to fall behind on the SHSAT is to wait until September. Students who begin in March or April arrive at the November test with content mastery, test-day stamina, and digital-format fluency. Students who start in September arrive anxious and underprepared. The 6-month head start is the single biggest predictor of score improvement.
For the full week-by-week schedules (3-month, 6-month, and 12-month timelines), see our SHSAT study plan guide. It includes monthly milestones, mock exam protocol, and a difficulty-progression chart.
What SHSPrep Gives You
To hit the 528+ range for Bronx Science, you need practice that mirrors the real test. SHSPrep is built for exactly this:
- 3,100+ SHSAT-aligned practice questions across 42 subtopics (22 math, 20 ELA), calibrated to the actual digital format
- 10 full-length mock exams with the 12 digital question types built in, including drag-and-drop, multi-select, and grid-in
- Adaptive practice that matches the new Fall 2026 computer-adaptive format, so you build the no-going-back discipline the real test demands
- Per-subtopic progress tracking that shows exactly where you are strong, where you are losing points, and what to focus on next
Start with a free mock exam on SHSPrep to see where you stand today. Most students are surprised by how much room there is to improve in just the first 4 to 6 weeks of focused practice.
Keep Reading
- SHSAT Study Plan: Week-by-Week for 3, 6, 12 Months
- What Score Do You Need to Get Into Stuyvesant?
- 2026 SHSAT Cutoff Scores for Every Specialized High School
- Specialized High Schools Comparison Guide
Ready to start practicing? Try SHSPrep free: 3,100+ practice questions, 10 mock exams, and detailed analytics.
For the quick-reference version (cutoff, seats, what the school is known for), see the Bronx Science school profile.
