Hillsborough High School (New Jersey)


Hillsborough High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Hillsborough Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States, operating as the lone secondary school of the Hillsborough Township School District. Students from Millstone also attend the school, after Millstone was integrated into the Hillsborough district, prior to which they had attended as part of a sending/receiving relationship.
As of the 2017-18 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,327 students and 184.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.6:1. There were 135 students eligible for free lunch and 41 eligible for reduced-cost lunch.

Awards, recognition and rankings

The school was the 74th-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 106th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 81st in 2010 out of 322 schools listed. The magazine ranked the school 84th in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 100th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state. Schooldigger.com ranked the school 69th out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics and language arts literacy components of the High School Proficiency Assessment.
In its listing of "America's Best High Schools 2016", the school was ranked 217th out of 500 best high schools in the country; it was ranked 34th among all high schools in New Jersey and 17th among the state's non-magnet schools.
In its 2013 report on "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast ranked the school 740th in the nation among participating public high schools and 57th among schools in New Jersey.

Clubs

Hillsborough High School has 74 different clubs and activities. Students can make a new club with a faculty member and administration approval.

Marching Band - "The Pride of Hillsborough"

Under the direction of Jules Haran and Nicholas Clipperton, HHS Raider Marching Band took the title of 2018 Mid-Atlantic Regional Champions with a score of 98.125, 2017 Group V Open State Champions, 2015 Group V Open State Champions, 2014 Group V Open State Champions, 2011 Group V Open State Champions, 2010 Group V Open Northern State Champion with a score of 97.175 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. In 2006, at the USSBA National Championships at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, Hillsborough High School was recognized as Best Color Guard National Championship title in Class IV. Also in 2006. at the USSBA-hosted state championships at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, Hillsborough High School took the title of Group IV Open state champions for the fourth consecutive year.

Debate club

One of the most popular and successful clubs at the school is Model United Nations and Model Congress, collectively known as HHS Debate. HHS Debate regularly wins delegation awards and many individual awards at conferences all across the country. In 2008, HHS Debate picked up the Best Delegation Award from Duke Model United Nations, with every individual member of the team winning an individual award. In 2009, the team won Best Delegation at Virginia Model United Nations. At Hillsborough's flagship conference, Rutgers Model Congress, the team has won a first or second place delegation award for nine out of ten years.

Robotics

In 2007, the robotics team of Hillsborough High school helped pass legislation through the New Jersey Senate recognizing FIRST. This dedicated the week of February 26 through March 3 of 2007 to FIRST in an effort to support science, technology, as well as all the participants at FIRST. The robotics team, known formally as Team 75, has continuously worked with NJ legislature to support recognition for science and technology, and is the oldest active FIRST team in New Jersey. The team also won the 2007 Chesapeake Regional and the 2007 Chairman's Award at the NJ Regional.

Athletics

The Hillsborough High School Raiders competes in the Skyland Conference, which includes public and parochial high schools covering Hunterdon County, Somerset County and Warren County in west Central Jersey, operating under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. With 1,693 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2015-16 school year as Central Jersey, Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,082 to 2,349 students in that grade range.
The field hockey team won the Central Jersey Group III state sectional title in 1977-1979 and 1981-1983; the team was Group III co-champion in 1983 with Montville Township High School.
The girls' soccer team was Group III co-champion in 1992 with Northern Highlands High School.
The football team won the Central Jersey Group III state sectional championship in 1980 and the Central Jersey Group IV title in 2000.
The baseball team won the Group IV state championship in 2005, defeating Watchung Hills Regional High School in the tournament final.
The boys' swimming team won the 2007 Central - A state championship with a 103-67 win against Montgomery High School.
The boys' track team was Group IV indoor relay co-champion in 2008 with Trenton Central High School.
The boys' baseball team won the Somerset County Championship, the Central Jersey Group IV Sectional Final, and the Group 4 Finals in 2005.
In 2008, Mary Kate Lynch was honored at the NJSIAA Annual Scholar Athlete Luncheon representing Hillsborough High School.
In 2009, David Wilson broke his own school record for the 50 freestyle to win the individual state championship and claim the title of "fastest man in the state." At the Meet of Champions, Wilson earned All-American status for the butterfly 200 medley relay.
In 2009, Steven Wu won the singles title at the Somerset County Boys Tennis Tournament.
The rugby team participates in a competitive league with schools such as Delbarton School, Xavier High School, and Darien High School.
In 2009, the girls' cross country team won overall state champion by defeating Randolph High School by a single point to win the Meet of Champions in Holmdel. In 2010, the team won the Group IV state title and was the overall State Champion again by winning the Meet of Champions by a wide margin over Voorhees, earning the team recognition by The Star-Ledger as its team of the year.

Graduation requirements

New Jersey State law requires that every student pass the High School Proficiency Assessment and successfully complete the following courses:
DepartmentMinimum Credits
Language Arts20
Mathematics15
Science15
Social Studies15
Physical Education, Health, or JROTC20
Visual and Performing Arts5
World Language5
Career Education or Life Skills5
Electives20
Total Minimum Credits120

All students must carry at least 30 credits to be promoted to the next grade level. These graduation requirements only apply to students currently in 10th-12th grade.

New graduation requirements

Beginning with the graduating class of 2012, graduation requirements are Language Arts Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Economics, Physical Education, Health, or JROTC, Visual and Performing Arts, World Language, Career Education or Life Skills and Electives.

Administration

Core members of the school's administration are: