Academics

An International Baccalaureate World School

Since the day of its inception, Hillsboro has focused on academic excellence. We feel our programs are comparable to or better than any other programs in the county. The following includes detailed information about our various academic departments.

Skip to section on:  Advanced Placement | International Baccalaureate | Language Arts | Math | Foreign Language | Performing Arts | Science | Social Studies | Visual Arts | ELL/Exceptional Learner | Vocational Education | Physical Education and Sports

Hillsboro is an International Baccalaureate World School

An International Baccalaureate World School
United States School of Excellence
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Newsweek's Top 1000 Public High Schools, # 496 (over 27,000 schools nationwide)
Fifth-ranked Public High School in Tennessee
11 Advanced Placement, 20 International Baccalaureate Courses, 2005-2006

Click here to see information on Hillsboro's IB program! You can learn what you need to enter the program, what courses we offer, which teachers are teaching the IB classes, and more! Useful International Baccalaureate documents can be found there.

Textbooks Online

Did you know some of your child’s newer textbooks are now available on line at the MNPS website?   To view the textbooks simply follow the steps below.

1. On the MNPS website (www.mnps.org) go to the Teaching and Learning Tab.
2. Open the High School Program of Studies.
3. Open the academic area you are interested in reviewing.
4. Click on the box around the course name to bring up the Course Outline.
5. The textbook links are at the end of the course outlines.

6. Enter the code given to students upon the issuance of their textbook.

HILLSBORO’S ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES AND THE SCHOLARS PROGRAM  

  • The Metro Nashville School system reimburses the cost of the advanced placement test for each student who scores a 3 or higher.
  • Honors and AP classes are available to all students regardless of whether they are in the scholars program or not.  The honors classes are more demanding, move at a faster pace and cover the content in more depth. All scholar graduates who maintain an 85% average are ranked above all other seniors. 
  • Hillsboro’s students won the state championship at the “We the People” Bill of Rights competitions advancing to the national competition for 8 of the last 10 years.  In 6 of the last 10 years, Hillsboro students placed first in the southeast region. 
  • Hillsboro students not only take advanced placement courses, they are very successful!
  • Hillsboro has clubs specifically designed for academically focused students.  They include Academic Olympics, Science Olympiad, Forensics, Quiz Bowl, Math Team, Bill of Rights, and Model U.N. 

2004 AP Statistics

  • 303 AP exams given
  • 13 Student AP scholars (3 or higher on 3 or more AP exams)
  • 2 Student AP Scholar with Honors (average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP exams with 3+ on 4 or more exams)
  • 4 Students AP Scholars with Distinction (average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP exams and 3+ on 5 or more exams) 

HILLSBORO’S LANGUAGE ARTS CLASSES

 

  • Students compete in and win Writers’ Showcase and other writing contests.  They also contribute to the Hillsboro Reaction, the school newspaper, and to The Hillsboro, the school yearbook. 
  • Creative writing, critical thinking, yearbook journalism, speech, theater and mass media classes are available.  These courses offer enhanced hands-on educational opportunities using state-of-the-art computer technology.
  • Hillsboro is one of the few Metro schools where students write, produce and direct an in-house television program. 
  • The Language Arts Department offers numerous multifaceted opportunities for curriculum enrichment through field trips to TPAC, Cheekwood, local colleges and universities, career workshops, the Parthenon, art galleries, state fairs and festivals.  Outside speakers and performers also enhance the curriculum. 

HILLSBORO’S MATH CLASSES

 

    • Algebra I (standard and honors)
    • Algebra II (standard and honors)
    • Geometry (standard and honors)
    • Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry
    • Advanced Placement Calculus (AB & BC)
    • Advanced Placement Statistics
    • (IB Classes) Math Studies, Math Methods, Mathematics Higher Level  
  • Students have opportunities to compete in a variety of math contests at the regional, state and national levels. 
  • Calculator usage is strongly encouraged in all classes.  Graphing calculators are required in Honors Algebra II classes and above. 
  • Hillsboro High School math teachers share their expertise by speaking at local, state, regional and national conferences.  Our math faculty have served as trainers for the State Gateway Testing, mentors for new teachers, served on the state math curriculum committee and taught classes at local colleges.  They are hard working, award-winning teachers who stay on the cutting edge of current trends in education.  Their efforts include successful grant writing, collaboration on various projects with the science department, attendance at numerous workshops and conferences and participation in several professional organizations. 

HILLSBORO’S FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES 

 

  • The college preparatory path at Hillsboro requires two Carnegie units in the same language for graduation. 
  • The Board of Regents requires a minimum of two Carnegie units in the same language for student admission to colleges and universities nationwide. 
  • Due to an ever-growing awareness of the importance of bi-lingualism or multi-lingualism in our society, an increasing number of universities are requiring 3 Carnegie units in the same language for admission. 
  • Scores on standardized tests of reading, language arts and mathematics are higher for children who have studied a foreign language than for children who have not. 

HILLSBORO’S PERFORMING ARTS CLASSES

  • Our students are talented, excited and challenged.  Many receive college scholarships and many excel in individual competitions such as solo and ensemble festivals, Mid-State and All-State.  Most of them are actively involved in more than one arts’ area and most are in the honors program. 128 students are enrolled in our Art History Program.
  • Travel opportunities for our students have included international festivals, performance tours and special event performances in Europe, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and in major U. S. cities. 
  • Statistics cited in Profiles of SAT and Achievement Test Takers proved that performing arts students scored higher on their SAT tests.  There was also direct correlation between the improved scores and the length of time spent studying the arts. 
  • Research at the University of California, Irvine, has found that arts’ training prepares young brains for spatial and abstract reasoning.  These skills are crucial to engineers, scientists and mathematicians. 
  • The Hillsboro Players produce two major stage shows annually as well as sponsor a spring trip to New York City for auditions at northeastern universities (NYU, Yale, Columbia, Parson’s School of Design) 

HILLSBORO’S SCIENCE CLASSES

 

  • There are three advanced placement courses offered in science:  Chemistry, Biology and Environmental Science. 
  • The science students participate in regional, state and national competitions such as Science Bowl and Science Olympiad. 
  • We are one of the few schools that offer Ecology, and Honors Anatomy/Physiology. 
  • The science department has on line technology in all science classrooms. 
  • All teachers are certified in areas they teach 100% having masters degrees or above.  Biology and Honors Anatomy/Physiology are taught by a retired surgeon with 26 years experience in surgery and medical school instruction.  
  • Science students at Hillsboro participate in competitions at regional and national universities.  Participation in summer activities at major universities such as John Hopkins, Vanderbilt and St. Thomas hospitals are available.  They also participate in off-campus learning opportunities through field trips, seminars, and volunteer work.
  • One teacher is an author of two articles in The Journal of Biochemistry.
  • One teacher is Environmental Educator of the Year from the Tennessee Environmental Education Association.
  • Three teachers have college or university teaching experience.

HILLSBORO’S SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSES

 

  • The Social Studies Department has an award-winning faculty.  Ms. Mary Catherine Bradshaw received the American Teacher Award in Social Studies presented by Disney and she was the National Council for the Social Studies Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Christian Sawyer was selected Tennessee Social Studies teacher of the year and also the National Social Studies teacher of the year.  Seth Swihart has been elected President of the Tennessee Council for History Education.  
  • Social Studies use community resources - Nashville Bar, National Council, Metro Council, Pencil Partners, job shadowing, Kids Voting, Virtual School at Vanderbilt and student teachers from area schools. 
  • Hillsboro’s students are outstanding participants in Youth in Government Programs, Tennessee Youth Legislature, Model United Nations and Model Metro. 
  • Hillsboro’s students have held the elected positions of Youth Mayor for the last six years. 
  • Hillsboro’s American Studies students have defeated competition from both public and private schools in the state “We the People” Bill of Rights competition and advanced to the national competition in Washington, D. C. for eight of the last ten years. The team will compete again in Washington, DC in May 2004.
  • Hillsboro has many elective courses – Psychology/Sociology, World History, World Cultures and World Geography.  These courses are available for grades 9-12. 
  • Our AP test scores in European History, World History, Comparative Politics and American Government are outstanding. 
  • Hillsboro Social Studies classes raised over $11,000 this school year helping to send more than 40 children to school in Vietnam, through Saigon children’s Charity. See the SCC 2005-2006 Mid-Year Report

HILLSBORO’S VISUAL ARTS AND PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES

  • Hillsboro has two art teachers and a photography teacher who offer many opportunities for creative expression, including six Art I classes, two Art II classes, one Art III class, one Advanced Placement Art Studio, one Advanced Placement Art History, one Art Survey, four Photography I and an Advanced Photography class. 
  • Students have the opportunity to do a wide range of hands-on projects including drawing, painting, pen and ink, collage, sculpture, pottery and weaving.  Student art work can be seen in the art show held each spring at Hillsboro.
  • Each year Hillsboro students have award-winning entries in the regional Scholastics Art Competition at Cheekwood, Metro Golden Palette Art Exhibition and the Nashville Bill Board competition sponsored by 3M, Channel 5 and Cheekwood. 
  • The Art Institute of Chicago, The School of Visual Arts in New York, Atlanta Art Institute, Savannah College of Art and Design and other art colleges make regular classroom visits to show slides for proper portfolio preparation and to recruit promising young artists for scholarships and enrollment upon graduation from Hillsboro. 
  • A number of art and photography students go on to successful college careers and to participate in student activities at schools like New York University, Rhode Island School of Design, Memphis College of Art, The School of Visual Arts in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago. 
  • The photography lab includes digital processing.  Nearly $20,000 worth of new equipment has been added in the past two years. 
  • The visual arts program cooperates well with other areas of the curriculum, sharing slides, prints and artwork with English, social studies and international programs, in addition to such extracurricular activities as judging regional Latin art competitions and homecoming floats. 
  • The famous artist, Red Grooms, graduated from Hillsboro!

HILLSBORO’S ELL/EXCEPTIONAL LEARNER (CBIP, CDIM, LIFE SKILLS, MHM, MIP, RESOURCE, TC)

  • Transition classes prepare students for employment by exploring careers, teaching on-the-job skills and by giving students the opportunity to put those skills to use. 
  • The Life Skills Program at Hillsboro consists of three teachers and over thirty students.  This program addresses a wide range of disabilities.  Students coming from CD1-M, MHM, CBIP Programs in Metro are served through the Life Skills program. 
  • ELL (English Language Learner) is a specialized program in English grammar and reading for students whose first language is one other than English. 
  • The ELL program provides social and academic language skills in classes tailored to the student’s individual needs.  At least four levels of English, ranging from beginner to advanced, are currently offered. 
  • Approximately 43 countries (28 languages) are represented by Hillsboro’s ELL students.  The cosmopolitan character of our student body enriches campus life for all students. Translators/Tutors are available as needed in several languages for parents/students. 
  • The ELL program at Hillsboro is the oldest program of its kind in Nashville, but many new ELL centers have now been opened at schools throughout the community. 
  • The Total Communication Program at Hillsboro is the only one of its kind in Metro schools.  We assist students who have educationally significant hearing losses by providing sign language interpreting, self-contained classes conducted in sign language, tutoring, consulting, speech/language therapy, transition and audiological services.  If you have a child who might qualify for our services, contact the Total Communication Program at 298-8409. 
  • MIP is a program for any Hillsboro student from gifted to average who needs to have a little or a lot of support as they meet their requirements for graduation.  A student has the opportunity of working with this program for as long as he/she needs it. 

HILLSBORO’S VOCATIONAL EDUCATION CLASSES

  • We have a professional sound recording studio. In it, students are trained to operate the equipment and run a music business.  No previous music background is required. 
  • The business department has a new Windows 2000XP, Internet accessible computer lab with several new software programs.  Students have exposure to Microsoft Office XP (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Microsoft Publisher, Page Maker 7.0 and Macromedia studio MX (Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash, and Freehand).  We also have two additional windows labs.
  • Mass Media is an exciting addition to the curriculum.  The course encompasses television and radio broadcasting.  Students are taught the in’s and out’s of presenting a daily news and current events program to all areas of campus.  The latest technology is being used with access to the Internet. 
  • Our cosmetology salon follows the state board of cosmetology guidelines.  If a student completes 1,500 hours of work at Hillsboro by his/her senior year, one can take the state board exams and be licensed to work in a salon.  Students serve the public by appointment.  Often, professionals from the community visit to share their expertise. 
  • In the Photography and Graphic programs, students are trained using our fully equipped studio, darkroom and digital lab.  Students produce work while gaining valuable experience in photography, layout, product design, digital imaging and image manipulation. 

HILLSBORO’S PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS

  • A wide range of activities is taught including weight training with top of the line nautilus equipment and free weights. 
  • Hillsboro requires a school physical education uniform at a cost of $22.00, which includes a physical education rental lock. 
  • Sports teams include:  Football, Tennis, Golf, Girl’s and Boy’s Soccer, Baseball, Wrestling, Softball, Girl’s and Boy’s Basketball, Cross Country, Track and Field, Bowling, Volleybal, Swimmingl. Hillsboro students may participate in a community Ice Hockey team in cooperation with Hillwood High School and a community Lacrosse team.