High School Placement
In spring 2026, all students in our inaugural 8th Grade Class were admitted to their first-choice school, an extraordinary milestone for our first graduating class.
Focused preparation begins in Grade 7, while the underlying skills, including research, writing, public speaking, reflection, organization, and time management, develop throughout Middle School.
Yes. Beginning in Grade 7, students receive personalized high school admissions preparation based on the schools they are considering. Preparation is tailored to each student’s goals and may include ISEE tutoring and SHSAT support.
Students also take the Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP) assessment beginning in Grade 4, giving them experience with standardized testing well before the high school admissions process begins.
Students build strong writing skills throughout the curriculum. Grade 7 includes focused persuasive writing, and Grade 8 includes application essay work that helps students organize ideas, support them with evidence, and write in a clear individual voice.
Debates, discussions, presentations, and other public-speaking experiences build confidence over time. Each Grade 8 student also participates in two mock interviews during the fall application season.
Families receive guidance on school selection, application planning, admissions timelines, and communication with high schools through Pine Street School's Middle School team and its partnership with Smart City Kids. Support includes workshops, family sessions, coffee chats, and open office hours.
Yes. Pine Street School begins welcoming admissions representatives in the spring of Grade 6 and continues through Grade 7. In Grade 8, students hear directly from high schools, ask questions, compare programs, and build informed school lists.
The inaugural Grade 8 class received acceptances from a wide range of independent, specialized public, international, and other New York City high schools. The High School Placement page lists the schools represented in those results.
In spring 2026, all students in Pine Street School's inaugural Grade 8 class were admitted to their first-choice high school.
There is no formal feeder-school pathway into New York City’s eight testing Specialized High Schools. Admission is not based on attending a particular middle school; the SHSAT is the sole admissions criterion for those eight schools.
Families should instead consider whether a middle school provides strong academic preparation, effective study habits, and appropriate support for students who plan to take the SHSAT. At Pine Street School Middle School, focused high school admissions preparation begins in Grade 7 and may include SHSAT support based on each student’s goals.
Eight of New York City’s nine Specialized High Schools use the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test, or SHSAT, as the sole admissions criterion. Students take the SHSAT and rank the testing Specialized High Schools they would like to attend; offers are made based on SHSAT score and the student’s ranked preferences. Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School follows a separate audition-based admissions process.
Pine Street School supports students considering the Specialized High School pathway through personalized high school guidance. Preparation is tailored to each student’s goals and may include SHSAT support.
Yes. Eligible New York City students can take the SHSAT whether they attend a public, independent, private, parochial, charter, or other eligible school.
At Pine Street School, students can pursue both independent and public high school pathways. Students considering the testing Specialized High Schools receive personalized admissions guidance, and preparation may include SHSAT support based on their individual goals.