- Townsend Harris High School is a public magnet high school for the humanities in the borough of Queens in New York City. Students and alumni often refer to themselves as "Harrisites." Townsend Harris consistently ranks as among the top 100 High Schools in the United States. It currently operates as #71 out of 100 according to U.S. News and World Report.
- History
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The school is named for Townsend Harris, who besides his many diplomatic accomplishments had helped found the Free Academy of the City of New York, later to become City College, and was a strong proponent of free education. The Free Academy's introductory year gradually evolved and in 1904 became a full fledged, 3-year high school, housed on three floors of what is now Baruch College This original incarnation, known as Townsend Harris Hall, survived until 1942 when it was closed by mayor Fiorello La Guardia. La Guardia's officially stated reason was budgetary concerns, but it has been suggested that he had ulterior motives.[1]
- Townsend Harris High School was refounded in 1984 thanks largely to the efforts of alumni of the original school, who had begun the process in 1980. The first principal was Dr. Malcolm Largmann, a former high school English teacher with a strong belief in a classically styled education who also handpicked the school's original faculty. The new school began life in a small building on Parsons Boulevard, originally intended as a temporary home until a permanent facility could be realized. In early 1995, the school moved into a new building located on the campus of Queens College.
- Admissions
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Originally entrance to the school was based on competitive examination. Today high grades are required.
- Today, well over 5,000 students compete for approximately 300 seats in the freshman class each year based on their middle school grades, standardized test scores and even attendance records. Admission is available to all New York City residents in 8th grade. A minimum grade point average of 90 is required of all applicants to be considered for admission. Minimum standardized reading and math scores at the 90th percentile are also required.
- Some seats are available for 9th graders wishing to start Townsend as sophomores, though as the number depends on the number of students who decide to leave the school during freshman year the number varies significantly from year to year; in 2006, only 5 were available.
- Initially, the admissions process included an interview and a writing component, but this was eliminated by 1988. Upon matriculation, students take a writing and math exam.
- Academics
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The curriculum of the school is significantly enhanced from that of the standard New York City public high school. Classes are generally considered to be markedly more difficult and are at the "honors" level across the board. In addition to the standard three year Regents English program, all students take a "fifth year" of English as freshman in the form of classes in linguistics and writing processes. In addition to the standard modern language requirement which may be fulfilled with classes in Spanish, French or Japanese, students must have a two year classical language requirement which can be fulfilled by classes in Latin or classical Greek (in addition, Hebrew is offered as an elective course). There is also a rigorous physical education requirement, especially freshman gym, and a senior project required of students. A variety of electives and AP classes are also offered to students. As of 2004, AP World History became a mandatory subject and replaced the Regents-level course. Every subject requires students to execute at least one major project a year, with history classes requiring one per semester and English several per semester. These projects are referred to as "collaterals."
- In the 2008-2009 school year, Townsend Harris is offering the following Advanced Placement (AP) classes: World History, United States History, United States Government, Economics, Environmental Science, Psychology, Calculus AB/BC, Computer Science, Japanese Language and Culture, Vergil, Statistics, French Language, Art History, and Spanish Language.
- The most notable feature of the school's curriculum is the senior "bridge year" program. Students in good standing may take up to 12 credits at Queens College at no cost to themselves. This includes a required humanities seminar co-taught by Harris teachers and Queens College faculty. Though the class is offered by the college, it is open exclusively to Harris students. The curriculum and format is fairly similar to the Great Books seminars required of liberal arts freshman at colleges around the world.
- Recently, a number of other New York City public high schools have been established that have similar "bridge year" programs. These include the High School of American Studies at Lehman College, Queens High School for the Sciences at York College, and Bard High School Early College.
- Student body
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In sharp contrast with the original school which was open to male students only, the new school has been dominated by female students from its inception, today comprising approximately 70% of the student population.
- Tradition
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Fitting this classical standard of education all new students are required to recite the Ephebic Oath during the Founders' Day ceremony, celebrated each fall. Students recapitulate the oath at the commencement ceremony upon their graduation. The translation employed by the school is as follows:
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I shall never bring disgrace to my city, nor shall I ever desert my comrades in the ranks; but I, both alone and with my many comrades, shall fight for the ideals and sacred things of the city.
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I shall willingly pay heed to whoever renders judgment with wisdom and shall obey both the laws already established and whatever laws the people in their wisdom shall establish.
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I, alone and with my comrades, shall resist anyone who destroys the laws or disobeys them.
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I shall not leave my city any less but rather greater than I found it.
- Miscellaneous
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Discipline at the school is considered to be very strict by NYC Board of Education standards. The attendance rate is the highest in NYC. Scores on standardized examinations are also high when compared to other public high schools; in the year 2005-2006, Harrisites had average scores of 628 and 632 on the SAT verbal and math sections, respectively, compared to 551 and 565 for what the city deems "similar schools" and 444 and 467 for students citywide.[2] Townsend Harris has the highest percentage of students passing Regents exams in NYC.
- In 2000 Eileen F. Lebow published a history of the original school, The Bright Boys: A History of Townsend Harris High School (ISBN 0-313-31479-9).
- The school has a very prominent Alumni Association which is an active participant in the school. It organizes scholarship programs, participates in many school events, and helps preserve the rich traditions of the school. Currently, its Co-Presidents are Tanya M. Odom of the Class of 1988, an international educational and diversity consultant and Craig L. Slutzkin of the Class of 1991, a venture capital executive.
- Accomplishments
- The Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Foundation named Harris a 21st Century School of Distinction in June 2004.[3] In December of that year, the school was named a Lighthouse School by the same organization.[4]
- In 2005 and 2006, the school had the highest percentage of students passing Regents exams of any high school in the city.
- 2006-2007 Highest Percentage Passing AP World History Scores in the USA for a Large School
- Sports
- 23 years as Queens borough undefeated girls swimming champions
- 2004 PSAL "B" Baseball Champions played at Shea Stadium
- 2006 Girls Varsity Fencing City Champions
- 2005-2006, 2006-2007, and 2007-2008 City Girls Varsity Swim Champions
- 2005-2006 Boys Soccer Regular Season Undefeated Champions
- 2006-2007 Indoor Girls Track Champions
- 2006-2007 Boys Track Queens Champions
- 2005 PSAL Bowling Quarter Finalists 2006
- 2007 Girls Varsity Soccer Division A Champions
- 2008 PSAL Freshmen Boys City Champions
- Notable alumni
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Nobel Laureates
- Herbert Hauptman '33
- Julian Schwinger '33
- Kenneth Arrow '36
- Pulitzer Prize Winners
- Herman Wouk '30
- Ira Gershwin
- Lawrence Cremin '41
- Frank Loesser
- Sidney Kingsley
- Richard Rodgers
- Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Eugene Lang '34
- Jonas Salk '31
- Actors
- Edward G. Robinson '10
- Sam Jaffe
- Cornel Wilde
- Mason Adams
- Clifton Webb
- Bernie West
- Susan Stewart
- Paul Jannicola
- Members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame
- Ervin Drake '35 - also composed the school's Alma Mater
- Irving Caesar '10
- Yip Harburg
- Richard Rodgers
- Ira Gershwin
- Frank Loesser
- Politics
- Rudolph Halley
- Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
- Also
- Irwin Edman
- William Steig '22
- Army Archerd '37
- Samuel Menashe '42
- Leon Levy '42
- Maurice Paprin '36
- David Herszenhorn '90
- Ishle Yi Park '95
- External links
- Townsend Harris High School Official Website
- The American Enterprise: 14 Model Schools-Townsend Harris High School
- Townsend Harris Alumni Association
- PSAL School Profile
- Inside Schools' Profile of Townsend Harris
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- Source: Wikipedia; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.
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