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Northwestern High School is a s which are part of the Northwestern cluster of schools. 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). NHS is 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 serves 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 adjudicated by renowned music directors throughout 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. Northwestern is also home to famed television writer and producer and creator of " The Muppets ", Jim Henson . THE STUDENT BODY As of 2007 , enrollment by Ethnicity is 56.7% African-American/Black ; 35.3% Hispanic ; 5% Caucasian ; and 3% Asian . There were 857 freshman, 661 sophomores, 584 juniors, and 507 seniors enrolled at NHS. Of those, 1350 were male and 1334 female. About 13.5% of the students were Limited English Proficient and over 11.6% of the students received some form of direct Special Education services. Northwestern has affiliated with High Schools That Work (HSTW) to promote the ten key practices for accelerating student achievement. SCHOOL UNIFORMS In 2005, Northwestern was the first high school in Prince George's County to implement a mandatory School Uniform policy. {Link without Title} . By the beginning of the 2006 school year, there were 13 high schools (or 55% of all PGCPS high schools) which had mandatory school uniform policies in effect. Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, all students grades 9-12, will be required to comply with a single Mandatory School uniform -- (white shirts, navy blue slacks or skirts and black or brown shoes and belts). FACILITIES School History Northwestern Senior High School was founded in 1951 as a public secondary school. Beginning in the 1960s, several additions were added to the original school in different stages. By the year 2000, Northwestern comprised 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/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. It should also be noted that the A-wing was the only section of the old facility that was air conditioned. Northwestern was converted from a grades 10-12 "senior high school" to a grades 9-12 "high school" configuration, in 1981. The New Building 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. Construction of the new school began in late summer of 1998, the new facility located directly behind the old building, thus becoming the first new high school constructed in Prince George's County since Eleanor Roosevelt High School was completed back in 1978. Two years later in August 2000, the new Northwestern High School was completed. Except for the auditorium, which was completely overhauled and transformed into Building D of the new school, the old building was razed. Northwestern As Of 2007 At 386,000 sq. ft., Northwestern High School has a capacity of 2,400 students, while current enrollment approaches 2,700. 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 ''Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School'', a new high school located in Southern Prince George's County. Northwestern is divided into four distinct "sub-buildings" connected by a main hallway and a "Skywalk" which features a tiered three-story design. The four main academic sections 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, including the gymnasium, main cafeteria, and library. The school is currently has over 1,100 computers, more than any high school in Maryland. The Sub-Buildings
Food Service Northwestern features one main "open-air" food court and three "satellite" cafeterias, one located in Building A, B/G, and D/E/F, each serving a variety of foods such as nachos, (cheese)burgers, hot dogs, hot fries, chicken patties, ham sandwiches, and salads. The building currently has a three lunch system designated A, B, or C Lunch. Northwestern is a closed-lunch school. Athletic Facilities In addition to the football stadium, which can accommodate the entire student population, there are also two softball/baseball fields (one at either side of the football field) and a large tennis court. The gymnasium is currently the second largest gynmasium 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 enrollee's insurance company or medical assistance. ACADEMICS Northwestern offers a large array of courses which meets the needs of all its students. ; (in Grade 11), and English 12-Pacesetter or AP English Literature & Composition 12 (in Grade 12). There are a variety of elective English courses for the more ambitious student including Journalism 1/ Newspaper , Journalism 2/Yearbook , and Drama . ; 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, Pre-Calculus , and AP Calculus AB . 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. ; 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, Microbiology / Physiology or Honors Physics or AP Science Elective in Grade 11, with a 4th year advanced or AP science elective strongly recommended. AP science courses offered are AP Biology , AP Chemistry , AP Environmental Science , and AP Physics . ; , 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 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 . AP level courses are available in Spanish, French, and Latin. ; Art s : One Arts credit is required for graduation; students may satisfy this requirement with a Fine and Visual Arts or Performing Arts class.
; 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. Sub-Schools & 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 curriculim mandated by the Prince George's County Public Schools system. Each building at Northwestern host at least one sub-school and one or more "academy programs". Northwestern offers more academies than any other high school in Prince George's County. The various programs are:
Block Schedule Under Principal Kevin Maxwell, Northwestern was the first high school in the region to adopt a modified " 4x4 Block Scheduling System " in the mid-90s. 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 NHS received five years of high school education! In 2004 Northwestern, along with the other Prince George's County public high schools, adopted the "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 Period 1-4 and B-days consist of Period 5-8. Other schools offer periods 1, 3, 5, 7 on A-days and 2, 4, 5, 8 on B-days. All lunches take place during periods 2 through 6. As of September 2006, the very controversial and much disliked "Alternating Block" has been dropped and reverted back to the more popular "4x4 Block" that Northwestern originally adopted. International Studies Program (ISP) The International Studies Program (ISP) 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. Advanced Placement Program Honors Northwestern High School was cited in The Washington Post for its achievements in its Advanced Placement (AP) program. Northwestern is now ranked second in the county (out of 22 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 ranks Northwestern only behind the county's leading, Eleanor Roosevelt High School, which has consistently ranked first in the county due largely in part to its specialized, Science and Technology Center magnet program. This is the first time that Northwestern has achieved this honor. Northwestern offers one of the largest AP programs in Prince George's County, offering courses such as 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. Visual and Performing Arts Center In 2003, Northwestern was slated (by former school district Superintendent Iris T. Metts) to become a "Visual and Performing Arts Center" (VPA) Magnet School in Fall 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. 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 and county championships. A number of student-athletes have also won numerous individual state championships in sports such as track & field and wrestling. The most recent team state championship came in 2004 for boys' basketball, led by current Georgetown University starter Jeff Green . Northwestern has also produced other well known athletes, including Len Bias . State Championships
Northwestern offers a wide variety of Varsity and Junior Varsity sports programs. Boys Varsity Sports
Girls Varsity Sports
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 Brentwood , North Brentwood , and University Park , and the communities of Lewisdale and West Hyattsville. Students from portions of the city of College Park , a portion of the town of Riverdale Park , and some areas considered to be Adelphi also attend Northwestern. FEEDER PATTERNS AND ADMISSIONS Hyattsville is fed directly by the Northwestern Cluster of Schools (see below). 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. Northwestern Cluster of Schools
NOTABLE ALUMNI
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