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United States · Admissions test

The DREAM program: SHSAT prep for NYC 7th graders

Before the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) in 8th grade, eligible 7th graders can join the DREAM program, SHSAT prep run by New York City Public Schools (NYCPS). DREAM stands for Determination, Resiliency, Enthusiasm, Ambition, Motivation, and the full name is DREAM-SHSI, for Specialized High School Institute.

  • Grade 7When students join
  • 3.3Minimum grade 6 state test score
  • 3Sessions: spring, summer and fall
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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

What the DREAM program covers

DREAM-SHSI gives test preparation for the SHSAT, help with the high school admissions process, including different high school pathways, and social-emotional learning. All sessions are in person, at a school in or near the student’s home district.

The 2026 schedule

  • Spring: Saturdays, March to May
  • Summer: Monday to Thursday, July 6 to August 6, 2026
  • Fall: Saturdays from September 2026 until the SHSAT. You must attend the summer session to join the fall one.

Who can join the DREAM program for SHSAT prep?

For 2026, students had to meet all three of these:

  • live in New York City
  • be in 7th grade at an NYC district or charter school
  • have scored 3.3 or above on both the grade 6 New York State English Language Arts test and the grade 6 Math test

They also had to live or go to school in districts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 27, 29 or 32. Students who both live and go to school in districts 1, 2, 3, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30 or 31 had to meet federal income guidelines instead.

How to apply to DREAM-SHSI

Eligible students hear about the DREAM program from their school and by letter. For the 2026 program, that started in mid-December 2025, when the application opened in MySchools. NYCPS takes questions at SHSI@schools.nyc.gov.

Sources: NYC Public Schools and 1 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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