The high school application window opened on January 27, 2022, and the deadline to apply has been extended to March 11, 2022. The best way to apply is online with MySchools.

If you need help with the application process, you can...

• call the MySchools help line at 718-935-2009, Monday through Friday, 8am-6pm
• email [email protected]
• contact a Family Welcome Center

NYC 2022 CRITERIA FOR SCREENED HIGH SCHOOLS

The following information was taken from the DOE’s Screened Admissions Page.

What student data will be used in screened admissions this year?

Students' highest grades in four courses—English, math, social studies, and science––will be used. To determine which grades to use, we will choose the highest grade in each of these courses, from the following:

• Final course grades from seventh grade
• Marking period or end-of-term grades from eighth grade, available by the high school application deadline

This means that a combination of student grades from two different school years may be used.

• For example, if an applicant received a 95 for their final seventh grade English grade, an 89 for their first marking period eighth-grade English grade, and an 81 for their second marking period eighth-grade English grade, then a 95 would be used for admissions.

Note: State test scores and attendance will not be used in admissions this year.

How are course grades converted and averaged?

Because a variety of grading scales are used across schools, each course grade being used for admissions will be converted to 100-400 points using the table below.

How Grading Scales Convert to Points

After each of an applicant’s course grades being used for admissions are converted to 100-400 points, these will be averaged to assign each applicant a point average.

Example

How will students' point averages be used in admissions?

1. All applicants are divided into four groups according to their point average. 

• • Students whose point average is between 350-400 will fall into Group 1
  • Students whose point average is between 250-349 will fall into Group 2
  • Students whose point average is between 150-249 will fall into Group 3
  • Students whose point average is 149 or below will fall into Group 4

Example: If a student’s point average is 325, this means this student is in Group 2.

2. For screened high school programs, applicants from Group 1 will be considered first for admissions:

• • If there are more applicants from Group 1 than available seats, students from Group 1 will be randomly selected until all seats are filled.
  • If there are enough seats for all applicants from Group 1, then students from Group 2 will be considered for remaining seats.
  • If there are more applicants from Group 2 than remaining seats, students from Group 2 will be randomly selected for remaining seats until all seats are filled. 

This will continue across groups until all seats are filled, or until all applicants have been placed.

DIVERSITY IN ADMISSIONS

We participate in the Diversity in Admissions Initiative.

• Applicants eligible for free or reduced price lunch will be considered first for 50% of seats.
• For the remaining 50% of seats, all students will be considered.

For the following admissions questions, please visit the DOE’s Screened Admissions Page.

• How can I see which of my child's grades are being used in admissions?
• When and how is random selection used in screened admissions?
• What if a student is missing a course grade?

Our Selection Criteria 2021

Admission to THHS Video

URL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nUCqMvj5QV-nXYVWKi2zd5gNET2Yxy3s/view?usp=sharing

Townsend Harris students are life-long achievers. Their dedication to personal development and academic discipline begins long before they reach our school and continues long after.

Students from all five boroughs of New York City are eligible to apply to Townsend Harris and are selected through a competitive screening process rather than by a single entrance exam. Admission for entering ninth-grade students is based on 6th-grade standardized-test scores, final report card grades, and 7th grade marking period grades. Admission for entering tenth-grade students is based on 7th-grade standardized-test scores, final report card grades, and 8th grade marking period grades.

All applicants will be ranked according to their composite rubric score, as follows:

Rank of 1 = 91 - 100%

Rank of 2 = 86 - 90%

Rank of 3 = 81 - 85%

Rank of 4 = 76 - 80%

Rank of 5 =  71 - 75%

Rank of 6 = 66 - 70%

Rank of 7 = Below 66%

Among all applicants with the same rank, starting with the rank of 1, low-income applicants (students who qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch) are considered equally and randomly for the first 50% of offers. 

Then, the remaining applicants with the same rank (both low-income and non-low-income) are considered equally and randomly for the remaining 50% of offers. This is done separately for general education students and students with IEPs.

How to Apply

Students apply to Townsend Harris through their home school, whether it is public or private. For more information on the admission process, see your current counselor and/or use this link: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/high-school/high-school-admissions-video-series

https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/high-school

NYCDOE Tip: For a more detailed look at how offers are made to screened and audition programs, watch the video "How Students Get Offers to Screened Schools and the Specialized High Schools" on our website.

Check out our Virtual Open House Page!