CRITERIA TO APPLY

Candidates for the January 2025 Hunter College High School (HCHS) Entrance Exam will need to meet the three criteria listed below.

1. Candidates must be currently enrolled in 6th grade.
2. Candidates must have their primary residence in one of the five boroughs of New York City at the time of application submission. (Property ownership does not constitute residency.)
3. Candidates must have earned the minimum qualifying score -- as described below and on the sample score reports to the right --  from one of the standardized exams listed below.

Parents/guardians will be required to upload a score report from one of the qualifying exams listed below -- with scores that meet the minimum requirement -- in order to complete and submit the standard high school application. Students may not submit the standard application without having earned the minimum score.

List of 3 items.

  • NYS ELA & Math Exams

    A qualifying score is needed on the 2024 5th grade NYS English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics exams. Minimum scores are required for both exams.+

    The minimum qualifying scores needed to apply to Hunter and sit for the HCHS January 2025 Entrance Exam are as follows:
    • SP 24, ELA English Language Arts =  474
    • SP 24, STM State Math = 496

    +Copies of official score reports OR a screenshot from the
    www.schoolsaccount.nyc must be uploaded in order to complete and submit the application. Student name, grade, scores and year of the exam must be visible.
  • Other Standardized Exams

    Candidates who have never taken the NYS exams, but have taken another standardized exam in 5th grade, must fall into ONE of the three categories listed below.**

    1. Earned a score in the 90th (national) percentile -- in certain Reading and Math subtests (see sample score reports to the right) -- from any of the following standardized 5th grade exams. This option is for those who DID NOT take the NYS 5th grade ELA and NYS 5th grade mathematics exams.
      * ERB Comprehensive Testing Program 5 (CTP 5)
      * Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS)
      * NWEA Map
      * Stanford 10 Achievement Test
      * TerraNova3
    2. Earned a minimum stanine score of 8 on both Reading Comprehension and Mathematics Achievement on the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE).
    3. Earned a score in the 90th (national) percentile -- in certain Reading and Math subtests -- on another 5th grade standardized exam. Other exams must be approved by Hunter admissions.
    **Scores must be attached to the application via an official score report for the corresponding exam. This is a required upload for the application to be completed. Student name, grade, scores and year of the exam must be visible on the report. Score reports should not be emailed to the admissions office - reports sent via email will not be accepted.
  • Candidates Without Exams

    Candidates who have not taken 5th grade NYS or any other (accepted) standardized exam listed above (in 5th grade) may be eligible to take an exam in Fall 2024 at an approved testing environment and have the scores submitted to Hunter. Candidates must obtain approval from Hunter admissions in advance, after following steps #1 and #2 below. To qualify for this process, the candidate must do the following once the HCHS application opens:
    1.  Select "No Scores" on the application if the student has never tested in grade 5.
    2. Upload a letter on school stationery from the candidate’s school principal or counselor that confirms the student did not take the NYS or any other 5th grade standardized exams.
    3. Obtain Hunter approval to take any of the exams listed in the Other Standardized Exams section at the candidate's school or at a local testing center* by Friday, December 20. Scores must be sent directly to HCCS Admissions from the center by Monday, December 23, 2024. Candidates must take an exam level that is appropriate for entry into grade 7. Students may not take an exam for 5th graders in Fall 2024.
    4. Score in the 90th [national] percentile on the reading and math subtests of that exam. ISEE test takers must take the Middle Level exam and submit a minimum stanine score of 8 for consideration.

    Testing center options include, but are not limited to those listed below:
    Testing
    Center:
    ERBKweller PrepLead EducationPrometric
    Locations:NYNY, QUNYBK, NY, QU
    Tests:ISEEStanford 10th EditionISEE, SSATSSAT
    Contact:www.erblearn.org
    800-446-0320
    www.kwellerprep.com
    800-631-1757
    www.leadeducationla.com
    hello@leadeducationla.com
    www.ssat.org
    info@ssat.org

    * Candidates who qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch may have testing costs waived at select locations. Contact HCCS Admissions for assistance with fee waiver registration. Students are considered eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch if their family receives public assistance or food stamps, or earns less than the income requirements LISTED IN THIS TABLE.
Hunter College Campus Schools
71 East 94th Street 
New York, NY 10128

Elementary School: 212-860-1292
High School: 212-860-1267
Professional Photography © Laura Dwight