Hamilton High School ~Charging toward a greater future!~

About our school

A hallmark of Hamilton High School staff members is their commitment to consistently seek ways to increase student learning and achievement. This outstanding dedication prompted the school community in 1996 to restructure to a four-period day, which allows implementation of the most effective teaching strategies. For three of every five days, classes meet for 90 minutes. Two of every five days, classes meet 75 minutes, with one hour allotted to an advisement and resource hour that replaces study halls and the old home room concept. By nearly doubling the class period, students finish a yearlong course in one semester.

The doors of Hamilton High School opened in 1962 to freshman and sophomores assigned to this new union high school who had previously attended Pewaukee, Arrowhead, Germantown, Menomonee Falls, Brookfield, Wauwatosa and Waukesha. Each consecutive year, a class was added until the first senior class graduated in the spring of 1965.

Its name is in honor of Alexander Hamilton, a signer of the Constitution who fought for freedom, one of the rights being the freedom of education. The name was chosen in a “Name the School Contest” held in 1959 submitted by Butler resident Linda Wicklund.

Significant additions to the original building include new classrooms in 1970, a science wing with eight state-of-the-art science classrooms in 1996 and the Hamilton Fine Arts Center in 2004. This 35,000-square-foot addition includes a 750-seat theater, full-fly stage, orchestra pit for live musical accompaniment, ticket booth, dressing rooms, new music rooms, costume-prop storage, control booth area and art display area. Thanks to a grant written by Hamilton High School staff members, the Fitness Center, equipped with more than 35 machines, opened its doors to the community in 2006. During the summer of 2008, the school’s main gymnasium underwent a major facelift, including updated bleachers, floor and overall appearance.

Hamilton welcomes parents, many of whom have served as guest lecturers, volunteers and booster club supporters. The school has two parent advisory committees — one that meets in the morning and another in the evening — that encourage involvement. In addition to a rigorous core curriculum of mathematics, language arts and science, the school offers an array of classes designed to prepare students for whatever they wish to pursue after high school, whether continuing their education at a university, technical school or entering the world of work or armed services.

Highlights of the school’s offerings include an Honors Program, Advanced Placement courses and their equivalent high-level capstone courses, world languages classes, apprenticeships, work experience co-op programs and a state-of-the-art Graphic Arts Department. Opportunities exist that allow students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world experiences. Hamilton High School partners with GE Healthcare and Rockwell Automation in a national robotics competition. Project Lead the Way, the district’s pre-engineering initiative prepares students in rigorous hands-on math, science and technology curricula. And the Charger Corner, the school store created by Mr. Edward Hay, provides marketing students the chance to practice marketing and accounting concepts learned in business education coursework.

The school’s guidance counselors offer individual support groups, scholarship information, testing resources, career counseling, college information and job opportunities to all students.

The Learning Center provides alternatives for students who are credit-deficient through P.A.S.S. and G.A.P., individualized course programs and Summer School credit courses. The Academic Assistant Program is offered through the Learning Center, allowing responsible, interested students the opportunity to shadow and work with district teachers. In addition, students have the option of attending an after-school study program, Club Success, designed to asssist students in improving overall study skills, habits and strategies.