Hillsborough High School Share

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HHS is often recognized by independent organizations (U.S. News & World Report, NJ Monthly, Newsweek, and Washington Post), students earn National Merit accolades, and graduates earn local, college, and prestigious military scholarships. Students exemplify scholarship, commitment to excellence, dedication to community, and Raider pride. Many of the highly educated, accomplished staff members have been selected by professional organizations as presenters, award recipients, and leaders.

Learn more about Hillsborough High School.

The Hillsborough Township Public School District is committed to providing a superior education for all students so they will lead us successfully and responsibly into the future.

HHS, a comprehensive high school, offers a wide array of courses at multiple levels. The district's special education program is second to none. With college preparatory, honors, and 23 Advanced Placement courses, students have several pathways to pursue to challenge themselves. The gifted and talented internship program partners with local professionals, and concurrent enrollment classes with Raritan Valley Community College award high school and college credit upon completion.

Baseball (Boys), Basketball (Boys & Girls), Cheerleading (Girls), Cross Country (Boys & Girls), Field Hockey (Girls), Football (Boys), Golf (Boys & Girls), Gymnastics (Girls), Ice Hockey (Boys), Lacrosse (Boys & Girls), Soccer (Boys & Girls), Softball (Girls), Swimming (Boys & Girls), Tennis (Boys & Girls), Track and Field - Spring (Boys & Girls), Track and Field - Winter (Boys & Girls), Volleyball (Boys & Girls), Wrestling (Coed)

HHS offers nearly 80 clubs/activities that foster a positive connection to school. The philosophy is one of inclusivity, addressing an array of interests so every student can get involved in the school community outside of the school day. This is implemented by empowering students to create new clubs, resulting in groups such as Scrapbooking, Gaming, Gift of Life (which promotes organ donation to save lives), and Thirst Project (which raises money to bring clean drinking water to underdeveloped countries.)

Hillsborough offers several in-service days with professional development sessions geared to district, building, and department goals, centered around student learning. Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) meet regularly to focus on curriculum, common assessments, benchmarks for learning, and consistent expectations. Cohesiveness stems from summer institutes which provide training on ways that PLCs can work best. Outside PD is also highly regarded to support teachers in their learning.

Approximately 94% of HHS' graduates pursue post-secondary education (75% go to four-year and 19% to two-year institutions). The remaining 6% seek military careers, employment, or business/trade school. Last year, students applied to 393 unique institutions and were accepted to 305, including the country's most prestigious schools. Class of 2019 graduates attend 135 unique post-secondary institutions/military academies. There were 23 National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists, two finalists, and one National Merit Scholar.

HHS students are afforded a wide range of support services based upon individual needs. English Language Learners take ESL classes and get push-in support. Classified students work with teachers/Child Study Team members to meet their unique needs. The Intervention & Referral Services team assists non-classified students with learning, behavior, or health issues. Effective School Solutions is an in-house support to students with issues that may otherwise result in out-of-district placements.

HHS students are supported by three nurses and three student assistance counselors. The school offers a random drug testing program for any students involved in clubs/activities, athletics, and student parking. This is done as a deterrent to encourage students to live drug-free lives rather than risk losing eligibility for privileges they love.

HHS has a small but committed Home & School Association who works toward three main goals: open lines of communication with building administration, scholarships for seniors, and staff appreciation activities at the end of the school year. Hillsborough parents are passionately involved in the booster organizations for their children's activities and often dedicate as much time to the club/activity/sport as the students themselves. Home/school collaboration leads to student success.

Hillsborough High School opened in 1969 and has seen three additions leading to the building's current capacity. The school offers a Commons that can seat up to 800 students; an auditorium with seating for nearly 600; large and fully outfitted science labs; three gyms; two weight/conditioning rooms; and a turf stadium. Special care is taken to schedule students in ways that make a large school seem small, resulting in a very sincerely held belief that the school is home to the Hillsborough High School family.

To provide for student safety, the building is secured throughout the day. Visitors must sign in upon entry and will be stopped at various points throughout the building to check for visitors' passes. Students and staff are trained annually on the Standard Response Protocol for lockouts, lockdowns, evacuations, and shelter-in-place scenarios. Drills in these areas, as well as fire drills, are conducted monthly. The entire school population plays an active role in preserving the safety of the school community.

The high school is a full one-to-one technology environment for students, each of whom has a Chromebook that is as integral a learning tool as a pencil or notebook. Use of this technology is infused in classes throughout the school day in a wide variety of ways to increase collaboration, expand horizons, and develop personal organization skills. Technology courses include Computer Programming 1, 2, and AP; Business Presentations; Webpage Design; Digital and Graphic Arts; and Integrative STEM. There are several clubs, including the Computer Programming Club, Electrical Engineering Club, iSTEM Club, and others. Every classroom in the school is outfitted with a wireless projector and a sound field to support the ongoing use of technology as an integral support to the curriculum.

The Hillsborough Township School District utilizes a one-to-one technology initiative, which has put a Chromebook in all hands at the high school level. Classes make excellent use of the technology to enhance learning, quickly assess student understanding, and help students learn in asynchronous ways. This connectivity has also increased and improved students' ability to work collaboratively toward achieving common goals. Since the Next Generation Science Standards were developed, Hillsborough's science department has been at the forefront of implementation, which has noticeably strengthened students' ability to question, reason, and learn through discovery/inquiry. Similar approaches are happening in other departments, as well, as students are increasingly the ones taking ownership for their learning using a wide array of engaging, student-centered activities. Traditionally among the highest performing schools in a state that is among the highest performing states in the country, Hillsborough High School takes very seriously the critical role of preparing HHS students to be the successful denizens of tomorrow.