Northwestern High School (Hyattsville, Maryland)

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Northwestern High School
Established 1951
Type Public Comprehensive Secondary School
Principal Mr. Jerome Thomas
Faculty 165+ teachers and staff
Students approx. 2,700 (SY 2006-07)
Grades 9 - 12
Location 7000 Adelphi Road
Hyattsville, Maryland 20782 United States
District Prince George's County Public Schools
Oversight Maryland State Department of Education
Accreditation Middle States Assocation of Colleges and Schools
Campus Co-Educational
Colors Navy Blue and White
Mascot The Wildcat
Yearbook The Compass
Newspaper The Paw Print
Phone (301) 985-1820
Admission There are no admission requirements
Tuition fees None
Website [1]

Northwestern High School is a public comprehensive secondary school located in Hyattsville, Maryland in Prince George's County. 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 nine elementary schools 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 Middle/High School Chorus Festival and Band Festival that showcases school choirs and bands in the PGCPS. 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.

Contents

[edit] Student body

As of 2004, 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.

[edit] School uniforms

In 2005, Northwestern was the first high school in Prince George's County to implement a mandatory school uniform policy. [2]. 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.

Students may wear non-denim slacks or shorts colored khaki or navy blue. Students may wear polo shirts, oxford shirts, or turtlenecks colored white or sky blue.

[edit] Facilities

[edit] History

Northwestern was founded in 1951 as a public senior high 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.

[edit] 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.

The school is currently has over 1,100 computers, more than any high school in Maryland.


[edit] Northwestern as of 2006

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 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.

[edit] The Sub-Buildings

  • Building A. Houses mostly core subject classes; most Business Education courses are also found in this building.
  • Building B/G. Houses most Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors courses. Limited foreign language courses are also taught in this building.
  • Building C -- Core Facility. Houses most elective classes. Fine Arts, Health Education, and limited core subjects are found on the 1st floor, along with the College & Career Center. Most administrative offices are found on the 2nd floor, including the main entrance to Northwestern, the Health & Wellness Center [see below], the princpal's office, and the school's main office. are located on this floor as well. The 3rd floor houses most foreign language classes, keyboarding courses, and some core subject courses.
  • Building D/E/F -- Jim Henson School of Arts, Media, and Communications. This building is the largest sub-building at NHS. The school's state-of-the-art auditorium, with a capacity for 1,100 spectators on two levels, is labeled Building D. Directly behind the auditorium is Building E/F. While this building houses a few core course classes on the 3rd floor, the majority of the classes in this building are Fine and Performing Arts courses. This building has a 250-seat Choir Room, Band Room, private music practice rooms, a dance studio, an advanced, state-of-the-art television production studio, computer labs equipped with DELL equipment running Windows XP, and several specialized iMac-equipped computer graphics labs. In 2003, an official naming ceremony featuring Jim Henson's family, took place to rename and designate the D/E/F Building as the "Jim Henson School of Arts, Media, and Communication".

[edit] Food Service

Northwestern features one main "open-air" food court and three "satellite" cafeterias, one located in Building's A, B/G, and D/E/F, each serving a variety of foods such as nachos, (cheese)burgers, hot dogs, hot fries (not the chips, though they sell those too), chicken patties, and salads. The building currently has a three lunch system designated A, B, or C Lunch. Northwestern is a closed-lunch school.

[edit] Athletic services

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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Academics

Northwestern offers a large array of courses which meets the needs of all its students.

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 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.
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, Pre-Calculus, and AP Calculus AB/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.
Science 
Students are required to take 3 years of science. Most follow the course pattern of Earth 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. Talented & Gifted students usually take Honors Earth 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.
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 American Government, AP Comparative Government, AP World History, and 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.
Arts 
One Arts credit is required for graduation; students may satisfy this requirement with a Fine and Visual Arts or Performing Arts class.
  • Northwestern's expansive performing arts programs offers vocal music courses such as Concert Choir, Advanced Chorus/Chamber Choir, Gospel Choir, and Show Choir. The instrumental music program offers Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra, Jazz Band, Steel Band, Marching Band, and numerous small ensembles. Other non-performance based music courses include Music Theory, Musicianship, and Music Survey. Northwestern's Instrumental and Vocal music programs have prospered through the years. Under the direction of Mr. Townes, the Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Orchestra have consistently received Excellent and Superior ratings at local, state, and national adjudications. Under the direction of Mrs. Leona Lowery-Hawkins who has been with NHS since 1997, the choir program consists of a Concert Choir, Advanced Chorus/Chamber Choir, Gospel Choir, and Show Choir. The Concert, Advanced, and Gospel Choirs have all received numerous superior ratings at local, state, and national venues. The Choirs participate yearly in nationwide and international choral competitions, consistently bringing home multiple 1st place/Superior honors for seven of the last eight years. The Choir most recently particapated in the Heritage Festivals Willamsburg competition where the Choir took 1st Place in all categories including the coveted Grand Championship Trophy for Best Choral Music Program. The Choirs have received 1st Place honors in competitions in Chicago, IL (1999); Myrtle Beach, SC (2001); New Orleans, LA (2002); Baltimore, MD (2003); New York City, NY (2004); Atlanta, GA (2005); and Williamsburg, VA (2006). The Concert Choir was most recently featured on a televised production on NBC's Washington, DC station, Channel 4.
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.
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.

[edit] Sub-Schools & Academy Programs

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:

  • Jim Henson School of Arts, Media, and Communications
    • Academy of Visual Arts
    • Academy of Vocal Arts
    • Academy of Instrumental Music
    • Academy of Arts & Humanities
  • School of Business and Finance
    • National Academy of Finance
  • School of Health and BioScience
    • Academy of Medical Science
  • School of Human Resource Services
    • Criminal Justice Academy
    • International Studies Academy
    • NJROTC Academy
  • School of Technology and Manufacturing
    • Project Lead the Way Pre-Engineering Academy
  • School of Sales and Marketing (Future Academy)
    • Entreprenuership and Marketing Academy
  • School of Hospitality and Tourism (Future Academy)
    • Academy of Culinary Arts
    • Hospitality and Managemet Academy

[edit] 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 Goerge'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.

[edit] 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%.

[edit] 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 restructing of PGCPS magnet programs, several magnets were eliminated in 2003 including Northwestern's and Nicholas Orem's.

[edit] 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 contraints 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.

[edit] 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

  • 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

Northwestern offers a wide variety of varsity and junior varsity sports programs.

Boys Varsity Sports

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Indoor Track
  • Soccer
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track & Field
  • Wrestling

Girls Varsity Sports

  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Golf
  • Indoor Track
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track & Field
  • Volleyball

[edit] Communities served by Northwestern

Northwestern High School serves students from the cities of Hyattsville and Mount Rainier, the towns of Brentwood, North Brentwood, Riverdale, and University Park, and the communities of Lewisdale and West Hyattsville.

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

[edit] 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, however, that students need to satisfy in order to apply for that program.

[edit] Northwestern Cluster of Schools

  • Northwestern High School, Hyattsville -- Grades 9-12
    • Hyattsville Middle School, Hyattsville -- Grades 7-8 (Creative & Performing Arts Magnet School)
      • Hyattsville Elementary School, Hyattsville -- Grades K-6
      • Mount Rainier Elementary School, Mt. Rainier -- Grades K-6
      • Thomas S. Stone Elementary School, Mt. Rainier -- Grades K-6
      • University Park Elementary School, University Park -- Grades K-6
    • Nicholas Orem Middle School, Hyattsville -- Grades 6-8
      • César Chávez Elementary School, Hyattsville -- Grades K-6
      • 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

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

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[edit] External links

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