Simply put, your Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) score is
everything.
The SHSAT is the only criterion for admissions to 8 of the 9 New York City Specialized High Schools. The only exception is the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, which requires an audition or portfolio for admission.
The SHSAT is administered by the New York City Department of Education and is only available to New York City residents in the 8th grade. That's a lot of students vying for a limited number of spots.
So, without a good score, students will not gain acceptance into these coveted schools.