Skip to main content

Townsend Harris High School

An extremely competitive high school focused on humanities in Flushing, Queens, and is labeled as one of the "top high schools" in the city. It's got high SAT scores by students, a 100% graduation rate most years, and near perfect passing rates of state tests.

It's difficult to get in; an incoming student needs excellent grades. It's difficult to even BE in the school, as the workload is insane. A student's classes are all honors and APs, and additional projects called "collaterals" are added to the curriculum. The physical education program is also rigorous.

The most common complaint by attending students is stress from overwork. Another complaint is a suffering social life, or perceived lack thereof.

It is said that a 90 in THHS is worth a 95 in most public schools. Is that supposed to make us happy?
Child: I wanna go to Townsend Harris High School! I'm going to study like fuck!

Harrisite: How bout you just enjoy your youth?
Urban Dictionary Merch
Your favorite words on things you can wear, drink from, read, or give to a friend.
The Urban Dictionary Store sells gifts you’ll have to explain.

Townsend Harris High School

A public school located in Flushing that has an emphasis on the Humanities. There are about 1,100 students enrolled in this selective school. Girls make up the majority of the population. Students are "Harrisites".

All of the classes are honors level, so only APs are weighted. Every year, students are assigned special "collateral" projects in each subject. Collaterals can be research papers, presentations, poems, or even art projects.

Since THHS is part of CUNY Queens College, students must take college classes, free of charge, during senior year. They are also allowed to use qc facilities, including the library and gym, all four years.

THHS is a short bus ride away from Main Street, Flushing where there's a variety of Asian restaurants, cafes, and shops.

It's an extremely safe school with a small atmosphere. In 2010, the US News and World report ranked THHS #33 out of "America's Best Public Schools".
1) Townsend Harris High School, originally founded in 1904, is named after the first United States Consul General to Japan.

townsend harris high school

A high school in Flushing, NY. Although it is a known as a "smart" school, (you need over a 90 average to get in, supposedly) you'd be surprised by how many idiots there are present. The school is relatively small, having just over 1100 students. It is notorious for giving a huge amount of workload, although with proper time management the homework is possible to accomplish. Despite its amount of morons, the school does have its fair share of smart people, and no gangs. Go here if you are terrified of Bloods and Crips.
1. You go to Townsend Harris High School? You fucking geek!

2. I applied for Townsend Harris High school, but I doubt I'll get in.

townsend harris high school

"man, those townsend kids look like in-shape zombies"
"yeah, i hear some of them grow horns from being in the building too long."
"whoa man! that's bad. It's a good thing we go to a normal high school..and not.. TOWNSEND HARRIS HIGH SCHOOL.."

casual chuckle.
More from Urban Dictionary
When your wife’s boyfriend let you sleep past 8pm 😎😎
Wife’s boyfriend: You have 5 more minutes
Me: Poggers!
Poggers by Just_Charles April 14, 2020
Word of the Day on October 26, 2026

Oblication 

A vacation, feeling more like an obligation, that involves visiting or staying with family.
So Joe where are you taking the kids for spring break vacation? We are going on an oblication to Boca to visit my mother-in-law.
Oblication by kimmerr May 5, 2011
Word of the Day on October 25, 2026

Surf Dracula Syndrome 

A phenomenon in film/television series, most notably streaming series, where the main premise is drawn out to such a point that it takes an entire season or more to get the parts of the series the audience is actually interested in seeing.

For example, if a series is titled "Surf Dracula," a majority of viewers would tune in expecting to see Dracula surfing by the first or second episode. However, the entire first season would instead be tedious padding and backstory before finally ending with Dracula surfing in the last five minutes of the season finale.
I watched "Smallville" on Netflix the other day. Dude, it was ten seasons of filler before he finally flew! Major Surf Dracula Syndrome!
Word of the Day on October 24, 2026
Load more