DREAM Program

Update:

The DREAM-Specialized High School Institute (DREAM-SHSI) is happy to announce that we will be continuing our remote learning program into the summer! All DREAM-SHSI students who began the program live in February are encouraged to re-join for the summer, even if they did not participate remotely in the spring.

DREAM-SHSI instruction will occur Monday-Thursday, 9am-1:00pm from July 6th-August 6th, with a combination of live instruction and self-guided assignments.

To continue DREAM now, or to start in the summer, current DREAM students should first register for your NYC DOE Google Classroom account. All students, both district and charter, can register for this account. Once you have registered, you can log into your DOE Google Classroom using your DOE account information, and will be provided information directly in the Google Classroom. Don’t forget to log out of all other Google accounts to sign into Google Classroom with your DOE account! 

If you have any questions or challenges getting onto your DREAM Google Classroom, contact SHSI@schools.nyc.gov with the DREAM student's name and OSIS number.

DREAM stands for:

  • Determination
  • Resiliency
  • Enthusiasm
  • Ambition, and
  • Motivation

DREAM is a Saturday and summer academic program that prepares eligible seventh-grade New York City public school students to take the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) in the eighth grade.

Offer letters and waitlist letters for students who applied to DREAM in November and December 2019 were sent to schools on Friday, January 17th. Classes will start on Saturday, February 1st, with all necessary details included in the offer letter. For questions about offer and waitlist letters please reach out to your child’s school or email SHSI@schools.nyc.gov.

DREAM in the 2019-20 School Year

As of 2019, DREAM’s two programs, the DREAM-Specialized High School Institute, and the DREAM-Summer/Fall Intensive, will merge into one program, DREAM-SHSI. The program will begin in February of a student’s seventh grade year.

If a student is accepted, they must commit to participate in the entire program.

This program runs:

  • February–June of seventh grade, Saturdays only
  • July and August after seventh grade, Monday–Thursday for five weeks
  • September–October of eighth grade, Saturdays only

DREAM-SHSI Application and Enrollment Process

  • Letters to eligible students will be sent to their homes and schools in November, with instructions on how to apply. Applications must be completed by December 13.
  • Families apply by following the enrollment instructions in their letters.
  • If there are more applications than available seats, a random selection will be conducted, and a waitlist will be created.
  • Offer letters will be mailed to families and schools in December or early January.
  • Classes will start on Saturday, February 1, 2020.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for DREAM-SHSI students must meet all of the criteria in Part A, and one of the criteria in Part B:

Part A

Students must:

  • Be a current NYC resident
  • Be enrolled in the seventh grade in a DOE public or charter school
  • Score a minimum of:
    • 3.2 on the 2019 grade six English Language Arts, and
    • 4.0 on the 2019 grade six Mathematics NY State tests

Part B

Students must EITHER:

  • Meet income requirements based on federal guidelines, as informed by the family income inquiry form, regardless of district of residence.

OR

  • Live or attend school in NYC school district 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, or 32.

For questions, please email SHSI@schools.nyc.gov.