The school was the 222nd-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology. The school had been ranked 275th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 258th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed. The magazine ranked the school 262nd in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 240th in the magazine's 2008 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
Athletics
The Hamilton High School Hornets compete in the Colonial Valley Conference, which is composed of private and public high schools located in Mercer County and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. With 900 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2015-16 school year as Central Jersey, Group III for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 822 to 1,068 students in that grade range. The football team competes in the Valley Division of the 95-team West Jersey Football League superconference and was classified by the NJSIAA as Central Jersey Group III for football for 2017-18. The school participates in a joint ice hockey program with Hamilton High School as the host school / lead agency, under an agreement that expires at the end of the 2018-19 school year. The boys' soccer team won the Group IV state championship in 1962 and in 1976. The girls' basketball team won the Group IV state championship in 1983 against Plainfield High School. The boys' basketball team won the 2004 Group III state title, defeating Malcolm X Shabazz High School in the tournament final. Hamilton West competes in an annual Thanksgiving Day football game against Steinert High School, the only annual game played in Mercer County. With a 29-14 victory over Steinert in November 2010 at the 52nd meeting, Hamilton leads the series 32-19-1. The boys' wrestling team won the Central Jersey Group III state sectional championship in 1992. The boys' baseball team won the Group III state title, knocking off Cranford High School in the tournament final. The 2005-06 boys' basketball team won the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III state sectional title with a 58-49 win over Monroe Township High School.
Marching Band
The Hamilton High School West Marching Band is a division of the Hamilton West Bands, which comprises the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Saxophone Quartet, Brass Quintet and Jazz Ensembles. The Marching Band became competitive in the Fall of 2006, and competes in the Marching Band Circuit. The Instrumental Program at Hamilton West was in place on the first day of school, and the first Director of Bands was Harlan D. Darling. The band is known as "The Pride of Mercer County." The school's fight song is called "Loyalty", and their Alma Mater is the melody of "Far Above Cayuga's Waters", which is the Alma Mater for Cornell University, and is played by the Marching Band at the end of every home football game.
Administration
The school's principal is Brian Smith. His core administration team includes three assistant principals.
