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Our Insights

What’s Special

Huge array of courses and activities, top-notch instruction all-around

The Downside

Far from the nearest subway station

One of the most sought-after schools in the city, Townsend Harris High School combines rigorous academics with a well-rounded high school experience. The school is housed in a spacious building on the campus of Queens College, where all seniors take courses and can eat in the college cafeteria. Though located far from the nearest subway, the school draws students from all over Queens and other boroughs who are eager to benefit from the challenging work and nice array of courses and activities.

The schools vibe is friendly and calm. Classical music pipes into the hallways during change of classes. Students seem at ease chatting with teachers and staff who open their offices, classrooms and labs to kids eager to spend their free time working on projects, research or getting extra help. The school takes pride in promoting civic duty. Students must complete community service each year; incoming students recite the Ephebic Oath, a pledge borrowed from ancient Greece to leave their city greater than they found it.

Though known for its strength in the humanities, math and science instruction at Townsend Harris is also top-notch. It goes well beyond the standard Regents curriculum. "We teach biology, not living environment, here," an assistant principal said, referencing the inclusion of extra chemistry and other topics not covered in a typical 9th-grade science class.

Upper-grade students may choose from a nice range of Advanced Placement courses and elective classes such as robotics, organic chemistry, forensics and anatomy. We met a senior interested in bioengineering who was taking a demanding load of courses including AP physics and calculus, organic chemistry and a class in discrete mathematics at Queens College. Dedicated research classes groom students for competitions such as Siemens and the Regeneron Science Talent Search. Students in all grades may participate in the Science Olympiad program and take advanced classes in a range of scientific areas.

In the humanities, English, history and social sciences opportunities abound. In classes, students read challenging books, engage in lively discussions and are expected to write a lot. An impressive range of elective and advanced classes cover topics such as creative expression, constitutional law, criminal law, psychology of fairy tales, adapting novels for film, forensics, the Holocaust and social science research. All freshmen take a year-long writing course in addition to their regular English class.

Students take two years of either Greek or Latin and at least one year of Spanish, French or Japanese.

Queens College professors conduct monthly lectures at the school and help develop the curriculum for some high school classes. Students from the Aaron Copland School of Music provide private and small group music instruction. Each fall, the entire school is immersed in an election simulation, a program designed by the Queens College faculty. Students study and role-play candidates and members of special interest groups; they stay in character during the school day, campaign for votes and participate in debates. Broadcast news-style interviews with candidates are filmed in the school's professional-grade television production facilities.

Students who do best here find ways to manage the heavy workload while taking advantage of all the extras the school has to offer. There are over 30 PSAL sports teams, many student-run clubs and several bands. Academic teams include model UN, mock trial, math, robotics and Science Olympiad. Students have full editorial control over The Classic, the school's award-winning newspaper.

Principal Anthony Barbetta left the school in 2016. His successor, interim-acting principal Rosemarie Jahoda lasted only one year after not being appointed as principal. Jahoda clashed with students and staff over her management of the school. The Classic was awarded the 2017 Courage in Student Journalism Award from the national Student Press Law Center for its extensive investigative reporting on Jahoda's troubled tenure.

Brian Condon was appointed principal in May 2017. Prior to his arrival at Townsend Harris, Condon was principal of the the School for Tourism and Hospitality in the Bronx.

Virtually all graduates go on to four-year colleges. In addition to CUNY and SUNY schools, many recent graduates have attended Ivy League and other highly competitive colleges.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: There are few students with special needs requiring services under an IEP (individualized education program). Students receive supports such as testing accommodations, but there are no ICT or self-contained classes. (Laura Zingmond, October 2014; updated November 2017)

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Academics

School
Citywide
How many students graduate in 4 years?
 
100%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
100%
Average daily attendance
 
96%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
9%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
100%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
100%
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide and 2020-21 NYC School Survey

Students

1323
Number of students
Citywide Average is 599

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
57%
Students with disabilities
 
14%
Multilingual learners
 
1%
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
0%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
96%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
12%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
9%
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey and 2019-20 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
75%
5.4
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
305
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 157

Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity


How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
91%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey, 2021-22 School Quality Guide, 2019-20 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2021 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Advanced Courses

Which students have access to advanced courses at this school? Learn more

Calculus

 
33%

Computer Science

 
8%

Physics

 
29%

Advanced Foreign Language

 
9%

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
100%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
50%

Music

 
29%
From unpublished, anonymized data from the 2021-22 school year provided by the New York State Education Department, brought to you by

College Readiness

School
Citywide
How many students graduate with test scores high enough to enroll at CUNY without remedial help?
 
100%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
100%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
99%
From the 2020-21 and 2021-22 School Quality Guide
How many students filled out a FAFSA form by the end of their senior year?
 
90%
From the 2022-23 FAFSA data released by Federal Student Aid, brought you by
For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Programs & Admissions

From the 2024 High School Directory

Intensive Academic Humanities (Q37J)

Admissions Method: Screened With Assessment

Requirements:

  • Average Course Grades - 40%
  • Humanities Writing - 20%
  • STEM Writing - 20%
  • Video - 20%

Program Description:

Intensive Academic Humanities A humanities-based approach to excellence in all subjects, achieved through extensive literature & writing courses, advanced courses in all subjects including, modern & classical languages, computer science, research, & a required Queens College Humanities Seminar. Special Education THHS offers an inclusive program for eligible students with disabilities. IEP supports for qualified students in a rigorous academic environment where all courses are AP & honors level.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

French, Greek, Japanese, Latin, Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Art History, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP French Language and Culture, AP Japanese Language and Culture, AP Macroeconomics, AP Physics 1, AP Psychology, AP Research, AP Seminar, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Spanish Literature and Culture, AP Statistics, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Calculus (Advanced Math), Chemistry (Advanced Science), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Physics (Advanced Science), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Fencing, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling

Girls PSAL teams

Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Fencing, Flag Football, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball

Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

149-11 Melbourne Avenue
Queens NY 11367

Buses: Q17, Q20A, Q20B, Q25, Q34, Q44-SBS, Q64, Q88, QM4, QM44


Contact

Principal: Brian Condon

Parent Coordinator: Dafne Amstutz Manhart

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? No

This school is in its own building.

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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