The Specialized High School Admissions Test or SHSAT is a challenge to any eighth grader who wants to be admitted to a specialized high school in New York City. About 30,000 eighth graders and 3,000 ninth graders take the exam every year. Currently, there are 8 public high schools in NYC that require this standardized test. The SHSAT is also referred to as the Stuyvesant Test. There are qualifications for students to take the exam which include being a resident of NYC, be in the 8th or 9th grade, and being able to register for the SHSAT during the fall, and others.

There are many ways for students to be ready for taking the SHSAT. Students have the option to take a SHSAT course, hire a private tutor, take an academic enrichment course which can be offered free, always be attentive in class, take as many practice tests as you can, etc. For those who prefer to enroll in classes whether in-person or online, the following are the establishments offering the best SHSAT classes in Staten Island:

Best Staten Island SHSAT Prep Class

Caddell Prep

Caddell Prep specializes in test prep and tutoring from admission tests from high school to college. The establishment offers many methods for students to prepare for the admission tests which include tutoring, prep classes, and online test prep. It was founded by Glyn J Caddell, an engineer who originally wanted to help students understand math more by creating understandable connections between math concepts and real life. His engineering prowess is used on test prep strategies which he does by analyzing previous tests and categorizing questions into several topics and developing lessons based on them with the ultimate goal of maximizing the test scores. Caddell Prep focuses on test prep for SHSAT, SAT, TACHS, and Regents. For SHSAT alone, Caddell Prep offers tutoring, prep course, and prep classes. It also offers test prep packages.

Gold Key Academics

Gold Key Academics is a community of parents, students, and teachers to support and hone the skills of future thinkers and achievers. The students under the establishment are provided comprehensive guidance in their customized educational programs with personalized attention from professional teachers. Gold Key offers SHSAT, SAT, TACHS, ACT, and Regents prep. It also provides one-on-one tutoring. The establishment offers SHSAT test prep classes for October exam dates for eighth-graders and November for the ninth. Classes are composed of 6 to 8 students each. All materials and course work will be provided by Gold Key.

Academic Advantage

Academic Advantage has been focusing on test prep services primarily for SHSAT and TACHS exams. It offers classes both in-person and online at an affordable rate. Academic Advantage also offers test prep for SAT, Regents, and PSAT. For SHSAT prep, the establishment offers eight-grade summer bridge with SHSAT programs. The course curriculum followed in the classes is aligned with the new test formats. There are also full-length practice tests administered by the establishment. The instruction includes strategies in taking the test and content review on a per topic basis. All test prep classes are handled by certified teachers.

The Resource Room

The Resource Room is a comprehensive learning center located on Staten Island. It offers small-class sessions and private tutoring sessions that are handled only by licensed professional teachers. It also provides test prep and classroom instruction for all academic subjects taught in K-12 to college. Resource Room has partnered with Wagner College’s Department of Lifelong Learning to provide S.T.E.A.M programs to all students. For test prep, The Resource Room offers support for SAT, ACT, PSAT, OLSAT, SHSAT, TACHS, and Regents. The establishment will provide online tutoring for the summer. In partnership with Wagner College, the establishment offers a small-sized review class for SHSAT apart from the online tutoring for the summer.

When it comes to a life-changing exam, no student is an island. In one way or another, he or she needs support from the community and most of all from people in the academe.