Cut Offs for screened admission groups (For 2026-2027 school year) aka tiers
For Fall 2026 admissions (but used in 2025 cycle if that makes sense), screened programs will admit the top-performing applicants from across each middle school and citywide. Students are placed into screened admissions groups based on the average of their final seventh-grade core course grades (English Language Arts, math, science, and social studies). To be in a group, a student’s average must fall within the top percentage of students citywide or at their NYC Public school.
Applicants are admitted in group order, starting with Group 1. If there are more applicants in a group than available seats, offers within that group are determined by a random number(Open external link) assigned to each application.
Citywide Grade Averages for Fall 2026
To learn what average grades are needed to fall into a group at your child’s NYC public school*, please contact their current school after the application period begins. To fall into the top percentage citywide, students need at least::
To fall into the top __% of applicants citywide…An applicant needs average core course grades of at least:
Top 15% (Group 1)
94.33
Top 30% (Group 2)
90.25
Top 50% (Group 3)
83.33
Top 70% (Group 4)
76.67
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.Tuesday, Oct 7th, 2025 → High School Application Opens in MySchools. * (note from Carolyn)You need to speak with your Guidance Counselor ASAP if your child is 90 or higher and you think it’s possible at their school that is the top 15%, your GC will know.
