Northwestern High School (Hyattsville, Maryland)

For schools of the same name, see Northwestern High School (disambiguation).

Northwestern High School
File:Northwestern Logo.png
Address
7000 Adelphi Road Hyattsville , Maryland 20782 United States
Coordinates	38.974745°N 76.954717°W / 38.974745; -76.954717
Information
School type	Public Comprehensive Secondary School
Established	1951, Replaced: 2000
School district	Prince George's County Public Schools
Oversight	Maryland State Department of Education
Principal	Mr. Jerome Thomas
Faculty	193+ FTE teachers and staff
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	approx. 2,556 (Fall 2009)
Campus	Co-Educational, Suburban
Color(s)	Navy Blue and White
Mascot	Wildcats
Accreditation	Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Newspaper	The Paw Print
Yearbook	The Compass
Communities served	Adelphi, Avondale, Brentwood, Chillum, College Park, Hyattsville, Lewisdale, Mount Rainier, North Brentwood, University Park
Feeder schools	Hyattsville Middle School Nicholas Orem Middle School
Rival Schools	DeMatha Catholic High School High Point High School
Architect	SHW Group LLP
School Hours	9:30am - 4:10pm
Phone	+1 301 985-1820
Athletic Conference(s)	Prince George's Athletic Conference North Division
Website	Northwestern's Official Website
File:Northwestern HS Seal.jpg

Northwestern High School (est.1951) is a public comprehensive secondary school located in Hyattsville, Maryland in Prince George's County, less than a mile from the internationally known University of Maryland, College Park. It is part of the Prince George's County Public Schools system. Two middle schools (Hyattsville Middle School and Nicholas Orem Middle School) feed into Northwestern, as well as twelve elementary schools, which are part of the Northwestern Cluster of Schools.

Completed in August 2000, at 386,000 sq ft (35,900 m²) and a capacity of 2,700-students, the new Northwestern is the second largest high school in the state of Maryland when measured by total square footage, and it became the first of the county's current high schools to be replaced with a new facility. The 2010-11 school year, marks the ten year anniversary of the new facility.

In December 2009, Northwestern was recognized as a Silver Medal School amongst "America's Best High Schools" by U.S. News & World Report. Northwestern is accredited by the Commission on Secondary Schools which is a division of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Jim Henson, famed television writer, producer, and creator of "The Muppets", graduated from Northwestern in 1954. On October 5, 2002, during an official building dedication ceremony attended by Jane and Heather Henson, as well as representatives from The Jim Henson Legacy, Inc., Northwestern was given permission to rename the D/E/F-Wing at Northwestern, in honor of the late Jim Henson. According to the Henson family, Northwestern is the only school in the nation that has ever been given the rights to use Mr. Henson's name.

About Northwestern

Mr. Jerome Thomas, is the current principal at Northwestern. He succeeded former principal, William T. Ritter, who was formerly the schools Dean of Students, until 2000, when then principal, Kevin M. Maxwell, left the Prince George's County Public Schools system to head Walter Johnson High School, in Montgomery County. He is now the current superintendent of schools in the Anne Arundel County Public Schools system, also in Maryland. William Ritter, himself, was appointed head of the Region 5 District in 2004 (and later, head of the school systems FIRST-Financial Incentive Rewards for Supervisors & Teachers program), where Jerome Thomas—who was a long time vice-principal at Northwestern—took his position. Northwestern houses a branch of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington and operates an Evening High School for the Northern half of the county, as well as a Saturday High School program. Northwestern hosts a very popular Saturday-run "ISP Flea Market" that is sponsored by the school's International Studies Program (ISP). Northwestern is also an official county site for conducting the nationally administered SAT college assessment exams.

Northwestern is home to the county-wide COLOURS Performing Arts Program and, for several years, severed as host to the annual county-wide High School Chorus Festival and Band Festival, that showcases school choirs and bands in the PGCPS, who are then adjudicated by renowned music directors from around the country. Northwestern also served as host school for Gateway Music Festival's Washington, DC national choir competition, in 2003, and hosted the 2004 Maryland All-State Band Festival.

Building and facilities

School history

File:Original Northwestern HS Hyattsville.jpg

The original 1951 Northwestern High School building.

Northwestern Senior High School was founded in 1951 as a public secondary school. Northwestern High School was the consolidation of three schools: Hyattsville High School, Greenbelt High School, and Mount Rainier High School. Beginning in the 1960s, several additions were added to the original school in different stages, including what was called the "new" art wing. By the year 2000, Northwestern consisted of a long "main wing" with three "wings" branching out like fingers attached to it. These wings were referred to as the A-wing, B-wing, and C-wing. The cafeteria was located at the rear of the school on the second floor and attached to the C-wing.

The boys gymnasium, girls gymnasium, and band, orchestra, and chorus rooms were all located at the rear of the building as well. The C-wing was accessible to the B-wing by a long suspended enclosed bridge that could only be reached from the second floor. A large field of space was located between wings B & C and was dubbed, "The Senior Courtyard". Originally reserved exclusively for seniors to provide their own special area to converge during their assigned lunch, the Senior Courtyard was eventually opened to the entire student body. Northwestern was one of the few schools to allow students outside during lunch, as most schools didn't have the proper accommodations to allow this. The Justice Memorial Auditorium was another add-on and was part of the A-wing, which was the final addition to the original building. The A-wing was the only section of the old facility that had air conditioning. Northwestern was converted from a grades 10-12 "senior high school" to a grades 9-12 "high school" configuration, in 1981.

The new building

File:Northwestern High School campus aerial view, Hyattsville, Maryland.jpg

Aerial photograph of the Northwestern High school campus.

By the mid-1990s, Northwestern was beginning to show its age. A plan to replace the structure with a brand new $45 million dollar facility was proposed. Prince George's County Public Schools contracted the SHW Group LLP to design and build the new Northwestern. Construction of the new school began in late summer of 1998, the new facility located directly behind the old building. Students attended classes in the old building while construction of the new facility took place only yards away from the rear of the old school. In fact, the new school was physically connected to the old building at the rear (stage area) of the auditorium. The new building officially opened to students and staff in August 2000, just in time for the new school year, thus becoming the first new high school constructed in Prince George's County since Eleanor Roosevelt High School was completed, back in 1978. While it took two years to construct the new facility, the building was not actually fully completed until midway through the 2001-02 school year. Classes commenced at the new Northwestern before the former facility had been torn down. The large bus lot, which is located directly in front of the new building, and the expansive main parking lot, had yet to be paved prior to the opening of the new building because the old facility stood where these new areas were to be made. In addition, there were a few exterior portions of the new facility which weren't finally constructed to finalize the building, until 2002. Except for the auditorium, which was retained from the old building and completely overhauled and transformed into Building D of the new school, the old Northwestern was razed while classes were ongoing in the new building. The main parking lot for the new school lies where the former facility once stood.

Campus

At 386,000 sq ft (35,900 m²), Northwestern High School has a capacity of 2,700 students with a Fall 2009 enrollment of approximately 2,556 students. Northwestern's largest student enrollment was reached during the 2006-2007 school year, in which over 3,000 students were registered. Northwestern had over twenty portable classrooms, to accommodate the over-enrollment. Northwestern had never had portable trailers until, ironically, after the new facility was built. Until 2006, Northwestern was officially the largest high school in Maryland when measured by square footage, a distinction that has since been given up to the brand new 434,600 sq ft (40,380 m²). Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School, located in Southern Prince George's County. There was controversy for a time for the distinction of, what was then, the "largest high school in Maryland", between Northwestern and neighboring Montgomery Blair High School in Montgomery County, over which of the two schools was physically larger—in square footage—over the other. Both schools were designed by the same architectural firm (SHW Group), both schools were constructed around the same time (Blair in 1998 and Northwestern in 2000), both schools share a very similar design both internally and externally, and both schools are of similar size. Blair was constructed for 372,000 sq ft (34,600 m²) originally and Northwestern for 386,000 sq ft (35,900 m²). Through certain technicalities, Blair's total square footage was upped to around 386,000 sq ft (35,900 m²). But, it was decided that Northwestern—with the addition of its greenhouse to the second floor of the A-Wing in 2001—retains its slightly larger physical size over Blair, despite Blair having a larger maximum student capacity.

On the exterior, Northwestern's campus features three courtyards, all of which are located between the four wings of the building. The school has a total of five parking lots: the large main parking lot (located in front of the facility and in place of where the former facility once stood) which is designated for staff, students, and vistors; another parking lot adjacent to the main parking lot and located in front of the auditorium, which is reserved for staff and visitors; two smaller parking lots located at the rear of the facility, both of which are reserved for staff or visitors attending athletic events; and a large bus bay capable of accommodating forty-four school buses, which is located directly in front of the facility and also doubles as another parking lot for staff and visitors, during and after the regular school day. The school has six tennis courts located just outside the auditorium to the east of the building and it has several basketball courts located at the rear of the building outside the food court, which have been decommissioned and now serves as an area which houses several of the schools portable classrooms. There are a total of three athletic fields, all located in the rear of the building: the football/soccer stadium which also encompasses the running track which surrounds the football/soccer field; a softball field, and a baseball field.

Northwestern is divided into four distinct "sub-schools" referred to as: the A-Wing, B/G-Wing, C-Wing (also known as the "Core Building"), and D/E/F-Wing. Each sub-school can house between 600 to 700 students. The original plan for Northwestern, was to physically divide the school into four smaller schools, hence the design theme of the building. Sub-School A was intended to be the "School of Fine, Creative, and Performing Arts"; Sub-School B was to be the "School of Career and Consumer Education"; Sub-School C was to be a general facility that housed mainly elective courses, in addition the schools main offices, security office, and health center; and Sub-School D was to be "The School of Intensive and Specialized Instruction", which would house the schools honors and advanced placement program as well as the schools ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) program and Vocational Development (Special Education) program. Students were not to be permitted to interact with students from other sub-schools, and students from each sub-school were to be isolated within their sub-school, for the majority of the school day. Due to scheduling conflicts and feasibility issues with this type of sub-school concept, the idea for restrictive sub-schools was dropped before the new building ever opened, while the idea of smaller learning communities was retained and revised to become less restrictive and isolating.

The sub-schools are connected by a large, uniquely architectural main hallway called, The Skywalk, which features a tiered three-story design. A student looking over the third floor Skywalk can see straight down to the first floor main hallway. The building features an artistic, colorful design theme using multiple variations of the colors: blue, purple, teal, gray, and white. The colors were inspired largely by the official school colors which are navy blue and white. The four main academic sections of the building house specialized programs as part of Northwestern's initiative to provide smaller learning environments in which students can specialize in specific areas of study, similar to a college. Across the main hallway from the sub-buildings are other facilities encompassing the H, J, & K-Wings (there is no "I-Wing"), which includes the main gymnasium, auxiliary gymnasium, main cafeteria/food court (H-Wing), NJROTC unit and Child Development wing (K-Wing), and library/media center. The H, J, and K-Wings aren't separate buildings like Wings A-F. Another unique design feature of Northwestern, is its three satellite cafeterias or commissary's, which supplement the main food court. There is a commissary in Wings A, B/G, and D/E/F. These commissary's were generally intended for seniors, only, but students for all grade levels use the facilities. Northwestern features three "lecture halls" with stadium seating which resemble classrooms typically found at large universities. These lecture halls can seat 30-50 students. The auditorium—which comprises the entire portion of the building referred to as the D-Wing—has a maximum capacity of 1,100 spectators. Northwestern also has two high capacity elevators that are restricted for personnel use, only. Northwestern in a technologically advanced school and has over six computer labs, in addition to the media center. Northwestern currently has over 1,100 computers, one of the largest of any high school in Maryland. Each classroom at Northwestern has a bank of at least five computers, all of which have internet access. All of the lavatories at Northwestern feature automatic flush toilets, automatic on/off sinks, and automatic hand dryers. As an energy conservation effort, the lighting in the hallways have an auto-on/off feature, where sensors will automatically shutoff the lights if people movement is not detected within a certain period of time, and conversely will turn-on the lights when people movement is detected.

Northwestern image gallery

• 
  Northwestern's main entrance located in the C-Wing
• 
  Landscape photo of Northwestern High School looking towards the main entrance of the C-Wing, with the B/G-Wing and A-Wing, in the background
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  View of Northwestern looking West from the A-Wing towards the D/E/F-Wing
• 
  Front view showing all of the main entrances to each of the four wings
• 
  Main entrance to the auditorium at Northwestern
• 
  View of Northwestern's auditorium: This is the only section of the original 1951 building that was retained, renovated, and integrated into the new facility.
• 
  Up-close view of the front facade of the renovated auditorium
• 
  Westward view of the entrance to the D/E/F-Wing and the main entrance to Northwestern, in the C-Wing, seen in the foreground
• 
  The B/G-Wing at Northwestern
• 
  The B/G-Wing at Northwestern High School: The large glass "wall" area on the side of the building is one of three "satellite cafeterias".
• 
  The greenhouse located in the A-Wing, 3rd floor
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  The athletics stadium
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  Three of the six tennis courts
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  Auditorium main entrance and lobby area
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  Interior of the renovated 1,100-seat auditorum
• 
  A display case for Jim Henson, creator of "The Muppets", at the Jim Henson School of Arts, Media, and Communications
• Tribute display case in the Jim Henson School of Arts, Media, and Communications
  Tribute display case in the Jim Henson School of Arts, Media, and Communications
• 
  The 1st floor main hallway
• A mural painted by Northwestern's award-winning Fine Arts department located near the C-Wing
  A mural painted by Northwestern's award-winning Fine Arts department located near the C-Wing
• 
  The 2nd floor "skywalk" at Northwestern
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  The 2nd floor "skywalk" at Northwestern, overlooking the main "food court"
• 
  The C-Wing (core building). This is an interior hallway in the core facility that is adjacent to the "skywalk"
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  The second floor "skywalk" in front of the C-Wing looking towards the D/E/F performing arts wing
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  The main staircase to the skywalk
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  The 3rd floor "skywalk" looking towards the core facility and D/E/F-Wing
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  The food court
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  The entrance/exit to the media center
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  The gymnasium entrance (left) and athletics department trophy cases
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  The E/F-Wing commissary, one of three satellite cafeterias, located in the building
• 
  A 3rd floor hallway in the A-Wing
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  2nd floor hallway in the F-Wing.
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  Digital information display outside the main entrance

Panoramic photo of the Northwestern High School campus.

Athletic facilities

Northwestern was planned with enhanced emphasis on athletics. The football stadium (previously known as the Prince George's County Memorial Stadium) can accommodate the entire student population and features a modern, air-conditioned press box. There are also two softball/baseball fields (one at either side of the football field) and six tennis courts. The new baseball field was dedicated to long time baseball coach, football coach, gym teacher, athletic director and alumnus Martin "Marty" Gallagher. This honor was organized by Coach Gallagher's former athletes from the 60's, 70's and 80's. The gymnasium is currently the second largest gymnasium in Prince George's County; the facility is able to seat over half the school's population. When the bleachers are retracted, the gymnasium is able to provide three full-sized basketball courts for practice and play. It was widely rumored that the new school was to feature, amongst other things, an indoor swimming pool, but it did not come to fruition for various reasons.

Northwestern Health & Wellness Center

The Health & Wellness Center is a joint venture between Northwestern High School and the Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly, Maryland. When the original Health & Wellness Center was founded back in the mid-90s in the old building, it was the first of its kind in PGCPS. Two other centers have since been established, more recently, in other area schools.

The Health Center is located across from the Main Administrative Offices (Room C207) and combines the Health and Wellness Center and the Health Suite in one location. The Health and Wellness Center provides basic health, counseling, education and prevention services in support of Northwestern students' academic and social success. Services include physical examinations, tests and treatment for infections and transmittable diseases, immunizations and well-baby care, mental health counseling and health behavior education. All students and infant/toddlers of teen parents enrolled in the Adolescent Teen Parenting Program are eligible to receive confidential primary health care services and treatment. The emphasis is on health promotion, disease prevention and self-care.

Services are provided at no direct charge to students or parents/guardians, except when appropriate to bill enrollees insurance company or medical assistance.

The student body

Northwestern students come from a wide array of ethnic backgrounds. Here, choir members, students, staff, and parents, partake in the choirs' annual Fiesta Latino.

Enrollment

As of Fall 2009, Northwestern High School has an enrollment of approximately 2,556 students. The demographics of the student body is 96.5% minority, of which 44.2% are African-American/Black including those from African or Caribbean nations; 45.04% Hispanic; 6.8% Asian; and 3.4 Caucasian. Of these students, 1270 are male and 1183 are female. About 400 students are "Limited English Proficient" (LEP) or ESOL and over 200 are in Special Education. More than half of Northwestern’s students qualify for Free and Reduced Meal (FARM) status.

Feeder patterns and admissions

Admissions

There is no admissions process (i.e. pre-entrance examination) for students to attend Northwestern. Students must live in the designated zoned attendance area for NHS. In 8th grade, middle school students who will be attending Northwestern freshman year must complete a form which reflects which of the ten academy programs they will be interested in enrolling in. Certain academies have specific requirements that students need to satisfy in order to apply for that program.

Communities served by Northwestern

Northwestern High School serves students from almost all of the city of Hyattsville and all of the city of Mount Rainier, the towns of Avondale, Brentwood, North Brentwood, and University Park, and the communities of Lewisdale and West Hyattsville.

Students from portions of the city of College Park, Langley Park, Landover, Riverdale Park, and some areas considered to be Adelphi, also attend Northwestern.

It was not until 1965 that Northwestern received its first multi-cultural students who were bussed in from an adjacent area (Bladensburg).

Northwestern feeder schools

Hyattsville is fed directly by 14 schools — 12 elementary and 2 middle schools (see below).

• Northwestern High School | Hyattsville | Grades 9-12
  • Hyattsville Middle School | Hyattsville | Grades 7-8 (Creative & Performing Arts Magnet School)
    • César Chávez Elementary School | Hyattsville | Grades K-6 (Shared with Nicholas Orem Middle School)
    • Hyattsville Elementary School | Hyattsville | Grades K-6
    • Mount Rainier Elementary School | Mt. Rainier | Grades K-6
    • Riverdale Elementary School | Riverdale | Grades PreK-6
    • Thomas S. Stone Elementary School | Mt. Rainier | Grades K-6
    • University Park Elementary School | Hyattsville | Grades K-6
  • Nicholas Orem Middle School | Hyattsville | Grades 6-8
    • Carole Highlands Elementary School | Takoma Park | Grades PreK-6
    • César Chávez Elementary School | Hyattsville | Grades K-6 (Shared with Hyattsville Middle School)
    • Chillum Elementary School | Hyattsville | Grades K-6
    • Lewisdale Elementary School | Hyattsville | Grades PreK-5
    • Rosa L. Parks Elementary School | Hyattsville | Grades PreK-6
    • Ridgecrest Elementary School | Hyattsville | Grades PreK-6
    • University Park Elementary School | Hyattsville | Grades K-6
    • New Elementary School | Hyattsville (opening SY2011/2012 appx)

Dress code

School uniforms

In 2005, Northwestern was the first high school in Prince George's County to implement a mandatory school uniform policy. By the beginning of the 2010-11 school year, the majority of the county high schools have implemented a mandatory school uniform policy, following Northwestern's successful uniform implementation. All students at Northwestern are required to comply with a single Mandatory School uniform — white shirts, navy blue slacks or skirts and all blue, black or white shoes.

Academics

Sub-schools and academy programs

As part of adopting a "smaller learning communities" program of instruction, Northwestern High School offers several specialized programs in addition to the core curriculum mandated by the Prince George's County Public Schools system. A career academy operates as a "school-within-a-school" model, that provides a college preparatory curriculum with a career-related theme. The curriculum organizes instruction in academic subjects around an industry or career theme and enables students to fulfill requirements for college entrance in addition to acquiring work-related knowledge and skill.

All students are provided a core set or curricula and experiences in the ninth and tenth grades. Ninth graders will become a part of the Ninth Grade Academy to provide greater structure and focus with the goal of enhancing basic skills and preparing them for more intensive study after their selection of a career academy by the end of sophomore year. During the eleventh and twelfth grades, students will be exposed to more specific or specialized instruction and participate in various work-based learning experiences. Since all students take a "core foundation" of academic courses, career pathways overlap enough to allow the flexibility to change academies, if interests change or new knowledge and skills are acquired.

Northwestern has identified seven career clusters, which are organized around broad career fields. Of the seven career clusters, Northwestern has implemented four sub-schools. Each wing at Northwestern hosts at least one sub-school and one or more "academy programs". The various programs are:

• The Jim Henson School of Arts, Media, and Communications
  • Academy of Visual Arts
  • Academy of Vocal Music
  • Academy of Instrumental Music
  • Academy of Arts & Humanities
• School of Business and Finance
  • National Academy of Finance
• School of Public Service
  • International Studies Program (ISP)
  • Naval Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Academy
• School of Manufacturing, Engineering, and Technology
  • Project Lead the Way Pre-Engineering Academy

Northwestern also features the America's Choice School Design Signature Program, a whole-school program which promotes reading and the language arts.

Academy of Arts, Media & Communications

Choir members practice on the risers in the 250-seat choir room in the F-Wing at Northwestern.

The Jim Henson School of Arts, Media, and Communications offers academies in three arts disciplines: Arts & Humanities, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts. The school was granted the exclusive rights to use Jim Henson's name, by the family of Mr. Henson. The school is the largest sub-school at Northwestern. The school is headed by Northwestern's choral music director, Ms. Leona Lowery. Students enrolled in the Jim Henson School, receive extensive instruction in either: vocal music, instrumental music, general music, drama, journalism, dance, fine arts, and television production, or a combination of the arts disciplines. The vocal and instrumental music programs at Northwestern, as well as the Advanced Placement Art program, have collectively received numerous awards throughout the years for their work.

Project Lead the Way Academy of Engineering (PLTW/AOE)

File:Academy of Engineering logo.jpg

The Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Academy of Engineering (AOE) offers students an array of advantages, from career readiness and hands-on experience to college preparatory–level classes, labs, and creative exercises. The program is designed to appeal to all students, from those already interested in STEM-related fields, to those whose experience in the sciences and math has been less comprehensive or who find themselves uninterested in traditional STEM curricula.

PLTW classes are hands-on, based in real-world experience, and fun for students and teachers. They set the highest standards for rigorous, focused, and engaging study, and develop students’ innovative, collaborative, cooperative, and problem-solving skills.

The program is a four-year sequence of courses which, when combined with traditional mathematics and science courses in high school, introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of engineering prior to entering college. However, those not intending to pursue further formal education will benefit greatly from the knowledge and logical thought processes that result from taking some or all of the courses provided in the curriculum. Foundation Courses include: Principles of Engineering; Introduction to Engineering Design; and Digital Electronics. Specialization Courses include: Computer Integrated Manufacturing; Biotechnical Engineering; Civil Engineering and Architecture; Aerospace Engineering; and Capstone Course: Engineering Design and Development.

Academy of Finance (AOF)

File:NAF logo.jpg

The National Academy of Finance (AOF) is an academy program geared towards students who enjoy competition and influencing the opinions of others; like working with facts, numbers and data; enjoy detail-oriented task and speaking and writing accurately; initiating and organizing events and groups of people; and who are comfortable following rules and directions of others and like contacts with all kinds of people and have a mind for business.

The Academy of Finance is a program that prepares students for a career in the Financial Services Industry. The AOF is a national program that was established to develop students with the skills and knowledge to succeed in this fast-paced growth area of business. The goals of the School of Business and Finance are to prepare students for the demands of high tech jobs in the 21st century global workplace by ensuring that they have a strong academic foundation and the ability to think critically and to make sound business decisions. The program provide students with a broad understanding of business so that they can adapt to the ever-changing world of business and finance and expose students to current business practices. The program also impart to students the importance of staying in the forefront of technological changes and other factors that may impact their career choice; and create life-long learners who are not afraid to stretch their knowledge to become business leaders as well as business owners.

International Studies Academy

The International Studies Academy (also known as The International Studies Program) at Northwestern High School is an interdisciplinary honors program which affords students the opportunity to choose a curriculum offering a focus in global education and technology. ISP students are strongly encouraged to participate in international travel, as there is no more powerful educational experience within international studies than a field trip to another country. This component of the ISP greatly enhances participating students’ understanding of their world and enriches their ability to interact successfully with a broad range of peoples and regions. Similarly, the experiences offered within ISP reinforce students’ capacity for viewing career paths in technology-related professions, as well as in foreign policy, international affairs and foreign exchange.

International Studies Program Course Sequence

Subject	Grade 9	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
ENGLISH	Honors English 9	Honors English 10	Honors English 11 or AP English/Language 11	English 12 or AP English/Literature 12
MATHEMATICS	Honors Geometry	Honors Algebra 2-Trigonometry	Precalculus	AP Calculus AB/BC
SCIENCE	Honors Biology	Honors Chemistry	Honors Physics or AP Science elective with AP Lab	Human Anatomy/Physiology or AP Science elective with AP Lab
SOCIAL STUDIES	Honors U.S. History	Honors L/S/N Government	Honors World History	International Culture and Cuisine or AP Social Studies elective
FOREIGN LANGUAGE	Either... Spanish 1 Latin 1 Italian 1 French 1 German 1 Japanese 1	Either... Spanish 2 Latin 2 Italian 2 French 2 German 2 Japanese 2	Either... Spanish 3 Latin 3 Italian 3 French 3 German 3 Japanese 3	Either... Spanish 4 Latin 4 Italian 4 French 4 German 4 Japanese 4
ELECTIVES 1	Physical Education Health Issues	Keyboarding	Computer Software Applications Web Page Design	any AP Elective
ELECTIVES 2	Introduction to Technology any Elective	Honors Art 1 Economic & International Issues Research Seminar	AP Human Geography	any AP Elective

The NJROTC Academy

The National Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) Academy provides secondary school students the opportunity to become informed, responsible citizens prepared for high school graduation. Program highlight include: a focus on academics including United States military history; exploration of national security issues; the study of meteorology and astronomy; communications and advanced technologies employed by the Armed Services; navigation and survival skills; healthy lifestyles and physical fitness; organizational skills and financial management; career exploration in a wide variety of fields (both military and nonmilitary) and the foundations of responsible leadership. Cadets learn and continue to develop leadership skills and application of military courtesies and customs as they complete each year of their NJROTC programs. The curriculum is structured for success in high school and beyond. Through the demonstration of discipline, honor, self-respect, and commitment cadets gain increasing responsibilities within their programs. NJROTC cadets and units must complete civic action projects and community service. The program also provides field trips to historical military sites and institutions; visits to colleges/universities and military academies to increase awareness and opportunities; and participation on one of the various Drill Teams could include travels to neighboring counties, states, and possibly to competitions held nationwide. The programs provide college scholarships and Military Academy appointment opportunities for qualified cadets. With the completion of specific requirements several courses within the NJROTC curriculum can earn cadets college credits through the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Students who successfully complete a minimum of three years of the NJROTC program and qualify to enter the active duty military service receive pay/rank increases of two grades above non-NJROTC recruits.

Course offerings

Northwestern offers a large array of courses which meets the needs of all its students. Below is a partial list of those courses.

• Advanced Accounting
• Advanced Band
• Advanced Choir
• Advanced Orchestra
• Aerospace Engineering
• African American Studies
• African Area Studies
• Algebra Concepts
• Algebra 1
• Algebra 2
• Anatomy and Physiology
• AP Art History
• AP Biology with AP Biology Lab
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Chemistry with AP Chemistry Lab
• AP Computer Graphics
• AP English Language and Composition 11
• AP English Literature and Composition 12
• AP Environmental Science with AP Environmental Science Lab
• AP French Language 5
• AP Human Geography
• AP Italian Language & Culture 5
• AP Japanese Language 5
• AP Music Theory
• AP Physics B with AP Physics Lab
• AP Psychology
• AP Spanish Language 5
• AP Spanish Literature 6
• AP Statistics
• AP Studio Art
• AP United States Government and Politics
• AP World History
• Art 1
• Art 2
• Art History
• Banking and Credit
• Basic Orchestra
• Basic Printmaking
• Biology
• Biotechnical Engineering
• Business Law
• Business Organization and Management
• Calculus 2-Differential Equations
• Capstone Course: Engineering Design and Development
• Ceramics 1
• Ceramics 2
• Chemistry
• Child Development/Parenthood Education for Adolescent Parents 1
• Child Development/Parenthood Education for Adolescent Parents 2
• Child Growth and Development/Parenthood Education 1
• Child Growth and Development/Parenthood Education 2
• Child Growth and Development/Parenthood Education 3
• Civil Engineering and Architecture
• College Accounting
• Computer Graphics/Graphic Design
• Computer Graphics 1
• Computer Graphics 2
• Computer Integrated Manufacturing
• Computer Software Applications
• Dance 1
• Dance 2
• Digital Electronics
• Drama 1
• Drama 2
• Drama 3
• Drawing and Painting 1
• Earth & Space Systems Science
• Economics and the World of Finance
• Engineering Design and Development
• English 9
• English 10
• English 11
• English 12
• Entrepreneurship
• Environmental Science
• Family Living
• Fashion 1
• Fashion 2
• Fashion in Your Future
• Financial Planning
• First Year Accounting
• Food Trends and Technology 1
• Foods and Nutrition 1
• Forensic Lab Science 1
• Forensic Lab Science 2
• French 1
• French 2
• French 3
• French 4
• Geometry
• Health Issues
• Honors Algebra 1
• Honors Algebra 2-Trigonometry
• Honors Art Studio 1
• Honors Biology
• Honors Chemistry
• Honors English 9 with Critical Reading
• Honors English 10 with Advanced Critical Reading/Critical Analysis
• Honors English 11
• Honors French 2
• Honors Geometry
• Honors Local, State, & National Government
• Honors Physics
• Honors Spanish 2
• Honors Spanish 3
• Honors United States History
• Honors World History
• Interior Design
• Intermediate Band
• Intermediate Chorus (Concert Choir)
• Intermediate Orchestra
• International Culture and Cuisine
• International Finance
• International Issues
• Introduction to Engineering Design
• Introduction to Environmental Relationships and Problems
• Introduction to Financial Services 1
• Introduction to Financial Services 2
• Italian 1
• Italian 2
• Italian 3
• Italian 4
• Japanese 1
• Japanese 2
• Japanese 3
• Japanese 4
• Job Search Techniques and Career Planning
• Journalism 1
• Journalism 2-Newspaper
• Journalism 2-Yearbook
• Keyboarding and Business Applications
• Latin 1
• Latin 2
• Lifetime Sports 1
• Lifetime Sports 2
• Local, State, and National Government
• Marketing and Education - Semester 1
• Marketing and Education - Semester 2
• Microbiology
• Music Survey
• Music Theory 1A/B
• Music Theory 2A/B
• Naval Science 1 (NJROTC 1)
• Naval Science 2 (NJROTC 2)
• Naval Science 3 (NJROTC 3)
• Naval Science 4 (NJROTC 4)
• Physical Training
• Physics
• Piano Laboratory
• Practical Law
• Precalculus
• Principles of Engineering
• Psychology
• SAT Preparation
• Sculpture 1
• Sculpture 2
• Securities and Insurance
• Seminar in AP Calculus
• Seminar in AP English Language and Composition
• Seminar in AP English Literature and Composition
• Seminar in AP Human Geography
• Seminar in AP Psychology
• Seminar in AP Statistics
• Seminar in AP United States Government
• Seminar in AP World History
• Social Studies Research Seminar
• Sociology
• Spanish 1
• Spanish 2
• Spanish 3
• Spanish 4
• Spanish for Native Speakers 1
• Spanish for Native Speakers 2
• Spanish for Native Speakers 3
• Spanish for Native Speakers 4
• Special Instrumental Ensemble
• Student Government
• Team Sports 1
• Team Sports 2
• Technology Foundations A/B
• Television Production 1
• Television Production 2
• Television Production 3
• Trigonometry/Analysis
• United States History
• Vocal Ensemble
• Web Page Design
• Word Processing
• World History
• Your Personal Fitness 1
• Your Personal Fitness 2

English

Students are state-required to complete 4 years of English, which include English 9 through English 12. Talented & Gifted students are required to take Honors English 9 (in Grade 9), Honors English 10 (in Grade 10), Honors English 11 or AP English Language & Composition 11 (in Grade 11), and AP English Literature & Composition 12 (in Grade 12). There are a variety of elective English courses for the more ambitious student including Journalism/Newspaper, Journalism/Yearbook, and Drama.

General NHS English/Language Arts Sequence

Grade	Standard Sequence	Honors Sequence 1	Honors Sequence 2
Grade 9	English 9	Honors English 9	Honors English 9
Grade 10	English 10	Honors English 10	Honors English 10
Grade 11	English 11	Honors English 11	AP English/Language 11
Grade 12	English 12	AP English/Literature 12	AP English/Literature 12

Mathematics

Maryland mandates students complete 3 credits of mathematics. Most students come to Northwestern having taken at least Algebra 1. From there students can take (in sequence) Geometry, Algebra 2, and Trigonometry/Analysis. For the advanced student, Honors Geometry is usually taken freshman year (if not completed in middle school), followed by Honors Algebra 2-Trigonometry, Precalculus, and AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC. The more mathematically gifted student can also elect to take the ever challenging, Calculus 2-Differential Equations course. AP Computer Science was offered until 2001.

General NHS Mathematics Sequence

Grade	Standard Sequence 1	Standard Sequence 2	Honors Sequence 1	Honors Sequence 2
Grade 9	Algebra 1	Geometry	Honors Geometry	Honors Algebra 2-Trigonometry
Grade 10	Geometry	Algebra 2	Honors Algebra 2-Trigonometry	Precalculus
Grade 11	Algebra 2	Not Required or Trigonometry/Analysis	Precalculus	AP Calculus AB/BC
Grade 12	Not Required	Not Required	AP Calculus AB/BC	Calculus 2-Differential Equations

Science

Students are required to take 3 years of science. Most follow the course pattern of Earth & Space Science or Biology (in Grade 9), Biology or Conceptual Physics (in Grade 10), and Chemistry (in Grade 11), with a 4th year science elective (usually Physics) highly recommended. Honors students usually take Honors Earth & Space Science and Honors Biology in Grade 9, Honors Chemistry in Grade 10, Anatomy/Physiology and Microbiology or Honors Physics or AP Science Elective with Lab in Grade 11, with a 4th year advanced or AP science Elective with Lab, strongly recommended. AP science courses offered are AP Biology with Lab, AP Chemistry with Lab, AP Environmental Science with Lab, and AP Physics with Lab.

General NHS Science Sequence

Grade	Standard Sequence	Honors Sequence
Grade 9	Earth & Space Systems Science or Biology	Honors Earth & Space Systems Science and Honors Biology
Grade 10	Biology or Conceptual Physics	Honors Chemistry or Honors Physics
Grade 11	Conceptual Physics or Chemistry	Honors Physics or Anatomy/Physiology and Microbiology or AP Science elective with AP Science Lab
Grade 12	Not Required	AP Science elective with AP Science Lab

Social Studies

There is a 3 year requirement in Social Studies. Students generally start off in 9th grade with United States History, continue sophomore year with LSN Government (Local, State, & National Government), and conclude with World History in 11th grade. Students can also elect to substitute select courses with AP U.S. Government, AP Comparative Government, AP Human Geography, AP World History, and the ever challenging AP U.S. History. The highly popular AP Psychology is also available.

Foreign Language

Students must satisfy a 2 year foreign language requirement in order to receive a state diploma. Northwestern offers one of the most expansive foreign language programs of any high school in Prince George's County. Students can take courses in Spanish, Latin, French, Japanese, German, and Italian. Currently, AP level courses are available only in Spanish and French.

Arts

One Art credit is required for graduation; students may satisfy this requirement with a Fine and Visual Arts or Performing Arts class. In Fine & Visual Arts, students can take courses such as Art 1-4, Computer Graphics 1 & 2, and Television Production. Advanced-level courses include Honors Art 1 & 2, AP Studio Art, AP Art History, and AP Computer Graphics. Non-performance based music courses include AP Music Theory, Musicianship, and Music Survey.

Other Courses

Students must take one half credit each of P.E. and Health Issues. Other various elective course offers in Family & Consumer Sciences, Health Education, Business Education (including Computer Science, and Physical Education are offered. Students can take classes such as Food Trends & Technology, Food & Nutrition, Keyboarding, and Dance. The NFTE Entrepreneurship program has flourished at the school under teacher, Beverly Jackson.

NJROTC

Northwestern also has an NJROTC (Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) program. The NJROTC program provide secondary school students the opportunity to become informed, responsible citizens through a military environment. Sixty percent of the curriculum focuses on development of academic areas including United States military history, national security, meteorology, astronomy, aerospace vehicles and environment (aircraft, rocketry satellite, and spacecraft), management, communications, survival, navigation, and physical fitness. Forty percent of class time is spent in developing leadership skills and military courtesies and customs. Enrichment activities include before or after school color guard and drill practice, summer leadership school, camps, and naval cruises. The program also provides college scholarship opportunities and Military Academy appointments for qualified individuals. Students who successfully complete three years of the JROTC program and qualify to enter the active duty military service may be paid two grades above non-JROTC recruits.

Performing arts

The Northwestern High School Percussion Ensemble at the 2010 Spring Concert.

Northwestern's expansive performing arts programs have prospered strongly throughout the last twenty years. The vocal and instrumental performing groups are under the direction of Ms. Leona Lowery and Mr. Anthony Townes, respectively. Current vocal music groups include Concert Choir, Advanced Choir, and Gospel Choir. The instrumental music groups include Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra, Jazz Band, Steel Band, Marching Band, and numerous other small ensembles.

Band

Under the direction of Mr. Anthony Townes, who's joined the Northwestern family in 2000, the Northwestern High School Instrumental Music Program has been rated superior and received first place, as well as grand championship rankings, at local, state, and national levels.

Choir

Under the direction of Ms. Leona Lowery, who has been with Northwestern since 1997 after former choir director, Mrs. Cynthia Daniels, left Northwestern for personal reasons — the current vocal music program has become a nationally and internationally recognized program, that consists of three performing ensembles which include: the Concert Choir (Full Chorus), Advanced Choir, and Gospel Choir. A Womens Choir will most likely be offered for the next academic year, as Ms. Lowery has expressed interest in forming a womens ensemble once scheduling conflicts can be sorted out. The Concert, Advanced, and Gospel Choirs have all received numerous superior ratings at the local and state level, as well as national and international venues. The largest choir has typically been the Concert Choir. Enrollment in this Choir has been as high as 130-members in the past. More recently, enrollment in the Concert Choir ranged from 85 to 110-students. The vocal music program at Northwestern is not considered extra-curricular. All Choirs at Northwestern are offered as credit courses during the academic school day. All Choir members are expected to occasionally participate in special after-school rehearsals, which can meet for as long as two-hours after the normal school day, but more commonly for approximately 80-minutes. Each summer, a special week-long Summer Choir, has been held in early August for all new and returning choir members. This summer choir provides a chance for students to get a head start on repertoire for the upcoming performance season and also allows for new students to become acclimated to the choir and to veteran members of the choir.

The Concert Choir at their annual Fiesta Latino fundraising concert in the schools' food court.

The Concert Choir is the main vocal performing group at Northwestern, and all choristers are members of the ensemble. There is an open-enrollment for the Concert Choir. Enrollment varies, but has ranged from around 85-students to over 135-students, in grades nine through twelve. Students sing many genres of music such as: classical, spiritual, international, secular, sacred, jazz, and show tunes. Level Six repertoire, which is the most challenging level of music on the music rating system, is performed by the Concert Choir. The Choir has performed classical works from Mozart and Schubert to challenging spirituals from William L. Dawson and Moses Hogan. The Choir has been rated Superior from local to international venues. The Advanced Choir is a select choir of approximately 50-students, and members are either hand-selected or auditioned from the main Concert Choir, for participation. The Advanced Choir was formed in 1999 as a Chamber Choir, which was an extra-curricular ensemble that met after-school, only. Due to higher participation in the Chamber Choir, over the years, the group was eventually turned into a credit-earning ensemble that now meets during the regular school day, and the groups name was changed to Advanced Choir, as the group no longer met the criterion for a chamber choir due to its growing enrollment. The Advanced Choir meets regularly as a credit-earning course, and is completely separate from the main Concert Choir. The Advanced Choir performs music of the same genre, as the main Concert Choir, but the music tends to be more challenging, including more foreign language repertoire. The Advanced Choir has also been rated Superior at choral competitions, both at home and abroad. More recently, the Advanced Choir placed 1st at the national iSing Music Challenge held at Reid Temple A.M.E. Church in Lanham, Maryland. The Choir was awarded a $5,000 prize. The Gospel Choir comprises most of the members from the Concert Choir. The repertoire for the Gospel Choir is usually taught in tandem with music for the Concert Choir, however, since members of the Northwestern Choir come from all backgrounds and practice many religions, participation in the Gospel Choir is not mandatory. The Gospel Choir has performed gospel music works from contemporary gospel greats such as Kirk Franklin, Hezekiah Walker, and Donnie McClurkin. The Gospel Choir consistently ranks Superior at home, as well as nationally and internationally.

The Northwestern High School Concert Choir at the 2010 Spring Concert.

The Northwestern High School Gospel Choir.

The Choirs participate yearly in nationwide and international choral competitions, consistently bringing home multiple 1st place/Superior honors for eight of the last twelve years. The Choir most recently traveled to Walt Disney World, where they partook in a massive nation-wide competition. In prior years, the Choirs have placed 1st and received grand championship honors (awarded to the best overall choir regardless of school size or ensemble classification) at competitions in: Chicago, IL (1999); Myrtle Beach, SC (2001); New Orleans, LA (2002); Baltimore, MD (2003); Atlanta, GA (2004); New York City, NY (2005); Williamsburg, VA (2006), and Toronto, Canada (2008). The Choirs have received superior-ratings at the annual all-county chorus festival, by Mr. Samuel Bonds and Mrs. Linda Hall, vocal music directors of the world renowned choirs at The Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Baltimore City College, respectively. The choirs have also been eligible to participate in the Maryland All-State Chorus Festival, held at different locations throughout the state each year. The Choirs have been ranked Excellent or higher, at the event.

Outside of festivals and competitions, the Choirs perform extensively throughout the Washington-area, as well as putting on two annual shows for the school and community, a Winter Concert and a Spring Concert. The holiday-themed winter concert, held in December, generally draws larger crowds between the two annual concerts, and the winter concert typically features Christmas-oriented music with some non-holiday themed pieces. The spring concert, held in May, is usually more formal, and features music that has been taken to local and international festivals, as well as other challenging pieces that have been learned during the second semester of the school year. Three other yearly events are sponsored by the choir, two of them being fund raising events: "Fiesta Latino", "Henson Night", and "The Soul Cafe".

Performance-based ensembles

• Concert Choir
• Advanced Choir
• Gospel Choir
• Concert Band
• Marching Band
• Jazz Ensemble
• Percussion Ensemble
• Wind Ensemble
• Flute Choir
• Full Orchestra
• String Orchestra
• String Ensemble

Release-time/work study program

Northwestern has three groups of 12th grade students that have an abbreviated class schedule. Most of these students take two classes per day before leaving school. These groups include:

• Released Time students
• Marketing Work Study students
• COE/Government Connection Work Study students.

Released Time students are allowed to leave school prior to the end of the normal school day to pursue a noncredit program of activities approved but not sponsored or supervised by the school. Most of these students leave after their 2nd period class. While released time students have school privileges, such as participation in athletic and other extracurricular activities, they must exit the school building at the conclusion of their normal day and return at the time their scheduled activity begins. The Guidance Counselors discuss the terms of release time with students, and the students and their parents must complete the necessary paperwork for students to be on released time.

Marketing Work Study students are seniors participating in the Marketing Completer program. These students take their scheduled classes and, in most cases, are dismissed from school at the end of 2nd period. All Marketing Work Study students should have a label on the back of their student IDs that identifies them as participants in the Marketing Work Study program. These students are also not to leave school before the conclusion of second period class. While these students have jobs, their work schedules should not conflict with their normal school day.

The Cooperative Office Experience (COE)/Government Connection Work Study students participate in a school sponsored work-based learning experience in partnership with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, DC. Students must report to their work site by a specified time. Prince George's County school buses transport these students to the Prince George's Plaza Metro Station. COE students can be identified by their student identification and FCC work identification badges.

Advanced Placement program honors

Northwestern High School was cited in The Washington Post for its achievements in its Advanced Placement (AP) program, for 2005. Northwestern was ranked second in the county (out of 24 high schools) for students scoring highest on the nationally administered Advanced Placement Tests, by College Board, the association which governs AP programs and its related courses throughout the country.

In January 2006, the College Board reported that 17.9% of Northwestern's 2005 graduates earned a passing score of 3 or higher (the highest being a 5) which is above the national average of 14.1%. This achievement ranked Northwestern behind only the county's leading high school, Eleanor Roosevelt, which has consistently ranked first in the county due largely in part to its specialized, Science and Technology Center magnet program. This was the first time that Northwestern had achieved this distinction.

Northwestern offers one of the largest AP programs in Prince George's County, offering courses such as AP Calculus, AP Physics, AP U.S. History, AP English Literature, AP Studio Art, and AP Spanish, just to name a few. Northwestern's rating of 17.9% surpasses the national average of 14.1%. Northwestern's closest contender in the county is academically notable, Bowie High School, which received a rating of 13.2%.

Magnet program (former)

In the mid-1990s Northwestern housed the University of Maryland Collaborative Project continuation magnet program for students who were enrolled in the Science, Mathematics, and Technology Magnet Program at Nicholas Orem Middle School. The program allowed the University of Maryland, College Park to share resources with NHS and for students in the program to work interdependently with the University of Maryland's flagship College Park campus, which is only about a mile away from NHS. Due to the court-ordered restructuring of PGCPS magnet programs, several magnets were eliminated in 2003 including Northwestern's and Nicholas Orem's.

Center for the Visual and Performing Arts

In 2003, Northwestern was slated (by former school district superintendent Iris T. Metts) to become a "Center for the Visual and Performing Arts" (VPA) Magnet School in the Fall of 2004, for the northern area of the county. This decision was based largely on (1) the new building and its huge fine/performing arts wing, (2) the tremendous successes of NHS's award-winning choirs, bands, and orchestra, and (3) feeder school Hyattsville Middle becoming a "Creative and Performing Arts" Magnet that same year. This announcement was made during the official naming ceremony for the schools D/E/F Building in honor of Jim Henson. Northwestern would have joined Suitland High School in the Southern part of the county as a VPA Magnet School.

However, the addition of the VPA Magnet at Northwestern has been delayed indefinitely. This delay was partly due to severe budget constraints on the school system. Further, the system under Metts' successor, Dr. Andre J. Hornsby, faced increasing pressure from the state to overhaul the county's hallmark magnet programs, which were created in the 1980s by a court mandate to end racial segregation in Prince George's County schools, since racial segregation was ruled no longer an issue in the now predominantly African-American county.

Since 2004, Northwestern has still been actively pursing having a performing arts magnet program, implemented within the school. This has not been easy, largely due to the high turnover rates of the county's superintendents. Each time a new superintendent is brought into the school system, Northwestern has to essentially "sell its case of the magnet", to the new superintendent.

Block schedule

Under Principal Kevin Maxwell, Northwestern was the first high school in the Washington Metropolitan region, to adopt a "4x4 Block Scheduling system", in the mid-1990s. It allowed students to take four 90-minute long courses each semester, totaling eight courses a year. This was advantageous as it allowed students to earn a maximum of 32 courses to be taken over four years as opposed to schools that operated on a seven-period traditional schedule, which only usually allowed for around 28 courses to be taken. So essentially, students who attended Northwestern, received five years of high school education!

In 2004, Northwestern, along with the other Prince George's County public high schools, adopted the modified "Alternating A/B Block Schedule". Unlike the former 4x4 block, the A/B block allows students to take four alternating, every-other-day classes, all year. A-Days consist of Periods 1A-4A and B-Days consist of Period 1B-4B. For the 2009-10 school year, Northwestern modified its bell schedule, once again, reducing its total lunches from three to only two, however, the length of those lunch periods will increase from just 30-minutes a piece, to 45-minutes each. According to the principal, this move was to reduce the excessive loitering in the hallways during the lunch shifts and also to combat the number of students skipping class and attending multiple lunches. This new bell schedule will be unique to any other high school in the PGCPS, and is very similar to the schedule used at most high schools, in neighboring Montgomery County.

Student life

Clubs and extracurricular activities

Members of the Northwestern High School Concert Choir.

File:The Paw Print - Northwestern High School.png

The May 2002 edition of The Paw Print which is Northwestern's monthly newspaper publication.

File:Northwestern Compass Yearbook.jpg

The 1999 Compass, Northwestern's annual yearbook.

• Alpha Stomp Omega (Men's and Women's Step Team)
• Band
• "N" Club
• Black Male Achievement
• Black Pursuits
• Cheerleading
• Chess Club
• Choir
• Environmental Club
• Forensics Team
• French Club
• International Club
• International Honors Council
• Leo Club
• Literary Magazine
• National Honors Society
• National Society of Black Engineers
• Newspaper
• Peer Mediation
• Pom Pons
• Renaissance Models
• Renaissance Theater
• Robotics Club
• Step Team (Co-Ed)
• Spanish Club
• SECME
• Student Government Association (SGA)
• Technology Honors Society
• Unified Believers
• Yearbook/Newspaper

Athletics

Northwestern High School sports teams are called the Wildcats. The Wildcats sports teams compete in the Prince George's Athletic Conference North Division, and are a part of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA). Northwestern is a class 4A school, which are those in the upper one-fourth of schools in the state by enrollment.

The Wildcats have a long and illustrious sports history. Over the years, Northwestern teams have produced 13 team state championships, as well as numerous regional, bi-county (soccer)and county championships. A number of student-athletes have also won numerous individual state championships in sports such as track & field and wrestling. One notable athlete was Mark Christian ("Captain Christian"), who won several individual state track titles and captained the Wildcats to the state basketball championship in 1967 as a 6'3" center. The most recent team state championship came in 2004 for boys' basketball, led by current Seattle Supersonics NBA player, Jeff Green. The Wildcats official flag was designed in 1965 via a competition judged by the art department in conjunction with the then principal and vice-principal. The winning artist was Adrienne Parks, Class of 1966.

Graduate Len Bias starred at the University of Maryland and was the number one pick of the Boston Celtics before his tragic death. Northwestern has also produced three other NBA players. During his senior year in 1968 at Northwestern, a classmate accidentally closed a door on the fingers of All-Metropolitan, Player-of-the-Year Harold Fox. Although his shooting and ball handling never fully recovered, Fox went on to play college basketball with Artis Gilmore at Jacksonville, and was drafted by the Buffalo Braves in 1972. Michael F. Morrison was drafted by the Phoenix Suns. Northwestern graduate Larry Michael Spriggs of North Brentwood, Md graduate of Howard University played 5 season with the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers 1981-86. In the NFL, Northwestern alumni Leigh Bodden is a defensive back with the New England Patriots, one of the best pro teams since 2001.

State Championships

• 1956: Boys Basketball
• 1957: Boys Track & Field
• 1958: Boys Track & Field
• 1967: Boys Basketball
• 1968: Boys Basketball
• 1973: Boys Cross Country
• 1973: Boys Soccer
• 1979: Girls Basketball
• 1987: Boys Basketball
• 1987: Girls Indoor Track
• 1995: Boys Soccer
• 1999: Boys Track & Field
• 2004: Boys Basketball

Fall sports

• Cheerleading (JV)
• Cheerleading (Varsity)
• Cross Country
• Football (JV)
• Football (Varsity)
• Pom-Pons
• Boys Soccer (JV)
• Boys Soccer (Varsity)
• Girls Soccer (JV)
• Girls Soccer (Varsity)
• Volleyball (JV)
• Volleyball (Varsity)

Winter sports

• Boys Basketball (JV)
• Boys Basketball (Varsity)
• Girls Basketball (JV)
• Girls Basketball (Varsity)
• Boys Indoor Track
• Girls Indoor Track
• Swimming
• Wrestling

Spring sports

• Baseball (JV)
• Baseball (Varsity)
• Boys Outdoor Track
• Softball (JV)
• Softball (Varsity)
• Co-Ed Tennis

Northwestern Alma Mater

To you our Alma Mater
Our praises we unite,
Standing like a beacon
In Navy Blue and White.
With wisdom ever flowing
Thru your spacious door,
Courage that will guide us,
Knowledge to explore.
Our hearts are here in Maryland
Where loyalty is King.
So to you, Northwestern High School
Let honor ever ring.

Northwestern Fight Song

Northwestern High School uses the fight song of Illinois' Northwestern University, "Go U Northwestern":

Go U Northwestern!

Break right through that line.

With our colors flying,

We will cheer you all the time,

U Rah! Rah!

Go! U Northwestern!

Fight for victory,

Spread far the fame of our fair name, and

Go! Northwestern win that game.

(Whistle) Go! Northwestern Go!

(Whistle) Go! Northwestern Go!

Hit 'em hard!

Hit 'em low!

Go! Northwestern Go!

Go U Northwestern!

Break right through that line.

With our colors flying,

We will cheer you all the time,

U Rah! Rah!

Go! U Northwestern!

Fight for victory,

Spread far the fame of our fair name, and

Go! Northwestern win that game.

Notable alumni

• Charles Booth (1984) — Has held the dead lift record for over 20 years.
• Steve Charnovitz — law professor
• Jaime Dermody (1964) — economics professor
• Daniel Epstein (1966) — poet and author
• John Fahey — guitarist
• Mohammad Haque — artist of Dark Horse Comics comicbook and webcomic AppleGeeks
• Jim Henson (1954) — creator of The Muppets
• Robert Patterson (1964) — actor and acting teacher
• DeAngelo Redman (2004) — featured on MTV's Making the Band 4; signed to Sean "Diddy" Combs Bad Boy Records music label
• Arnold Resnicoff (1964) — rabbi, Navy Chaplain, Special Assistant (Values and Vision) to the Secretary and Chief of Staff, United States Air Force
• Joel Resnicoff (1966) — artist and fashion illustrator.
• Steven Resnicoff (1970) — rabbi and law professor

Sports people

• Len Bias — famed college basketball player; drafted by the Boston Celtics
• William J. Boarman — Public Printer of the United States
• Leigh Bodden — NFL defensive back for the New England Patriots
• Jeff Green (2003) — NBA player: Oklahoma City Thunder
• Jo Kurino (1998) — BJ League & JBL Player, Mitsubishi Diamond Dolphins
• Chad Nkang (2003) — NFL player (Jacksonville Jaguars)
• Larry Michael Spriggs — NBA player: Los Angeles Lakers (1981–1986)
• Greg Toler — NFL defensive back for the Arizona Cardinals