Academies

The academic specializations include the health science nursing academy, engineering academy, convergent media academy, educational leadership academy, and JROTC. All of these academies are four year programs that the student can receive an endorsement in upon graduation.

Classes

In addition to pre-AP courses, several AP courses are also offered, including AP Art, AP US History, AP US Government, AP English Literature, AP English Language, AP Spanish, AP French, AP Physics 1, AP Chemistry, AP Calculus AB, and AP Statistics. Dual credit courses including DC Algebra I, DC Algebra II, DC Biology I, DC Biology II, DC Composition I, DC Composition II, and DC Public Speaking are offered.^[3]

Demographics

As of the 2018-2019 school year, the school had an attendance of 1706 students.^[2]

Matriculation statistics

In the typical graduating class, 70% of all students attend a 2- or 4-year college or university, with 20% joining the workforce and 10% joining active US military service. From the 2017 graduating class, the estimated total scholarship award to national colleges and universities amounted to $110 million.

Student government

A yearly committee is elected by the student population. The government is divided into executive positions (campus-wide representation) and class positions (Grade 10, 11, or 12 Representation). All positions have one seat available; the noteworthy exception is the co-president position, which has two seats.

Executive positions:

• Co-President (2)
• Vice President (1)
• Secretary (1)
• Treasurer (1)
• Reporter (1)

Class positions:

• Co-President (2)
• Vice President (1)
• Secretary (1)
• Treasurer (1)
• Class Representative (1)

Band

The Northwest band received many accolades, including receiving all honors Lions Band, the highest honor given to secondary bands in the state of Mississippi. In addition, many of its students have been selected to chairs in the state band.

HOSA: Future Health Professionals

The Northwest chapter of HOSA: Future Health Professionals was charted in 2015 and was the flagship program in the Rankin County district. With the majority of its members also being health science nursing academy students, competitive skills are incorporated into the curriculum, with one day of every week dedicated to developing skills for competition. Several students have competed successfully at the international level and have placed Top 10 in several individual or team events. Notably, students have placed first in CPR first aid, second in medical terminology, and fifth in pathophysiology. In 2016, a student was elected Mississippi HOSA state president.^[4][5]