Hickory High Home

Hickory High School offers a wide-range of Academic, Art and Athletic opportunities. These programs offer multiple opportunities for the diverse population that attends Hickory High School. These opportunities constitute the AAA Recognition of Excellence program.

At Hickory…

Hickory High School houses 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grade students. These grades equal approximately 800 students.  The approximately 60 professional staff members are dedicated, diverse, accommodating and willing to help in the academic as well as social arenas.  The entire professional staff is considered Highly Qualified according to NCLB and PDE regulations. The professional staff has earned bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in secondary education, administration, specialty areas and guidance.

92 % of seniors attend four-year colleges. 8 % of seniors choose two-year colleges.

The Class of 2026 has exceeded all previous classes by being awarded over 4.9 million dollars in scholarship monies. This feat demonstrates HHS students dedication and commitment to Academics, the Arts, and Athletics at HHS. 

The HHS Program of Studies booklet (available online) is used to guide students through their high school careers. It is designed to prepare students for their next step. The core classes of English, science, math and social studies offer different levels of academic rigor. Academic, advanced and Advanced Placement (AP) classes are available for all students to explore and challenge their academic limits.  

Four years of Spanish and French world language, with accelerated options, are available.

The HSD is proud to host our annual Career Week each February. At HHS this week highlights a variety of post-secondary options, military careers and interview procedures. An alumni panel constitutes a very important question and answer session with all sophomores. 

HHS has also begun a new tradition with our affiliation with Business Week and the ACES Program. The Americans for Competitive Enterprise System has entered into a venture providing high quality, business education experiences through a week-long Business Week Program each fall.

HHS has teamed with the City of Hermitage and the eCenter at Lindenpointe to offer the Entrepreneurship Academy. In 2026, 11 HHS seniors and students from neighboring districts will embark on a year-long program that introduces them to the S.T.E.A.M –Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. This program combines real-world business experience with creative design. 

HHS AP scores have risen steadily and now exceed national and state averages! We are proud to report that 80 % of all HHS AP students who tested scored a 3, 4, or 5 on their exam. This percentage is unprecedented and exceeds the national AP average  by 20% and the Pa average by 12%. 

In addition, HHS now offers 11 AP courses in a variety of core academic areas. HHS was recognized as an AP Honors School for participation, offerings and performance. During the 2025 school year, 168 AP exams were taken and an average score of 3.8 was achieved. 

Dual Enrollment opportunities, through local colleges and universities exist for qualifying seniors. 

Hickory High School offers the full complement of Mercer County Career Center options. HHS students may attend the career center to acquire specific vocational, work-related and college preparatory skills. 

HHS is very proud of SilverCords Program. A voluntary community service program in which students volunteer their time in the Shenango Valley and receive recognition for their efforts. This program utilizes 100’s of community organizations, churches, and local businesses to permit HHS students to give back to the community and provide a valuable human resource. Hundreds of students at HHS are involved in the program and their efforts are appreciated. A strong community equals a strong school…

A full explanation of credits, available classes, dual enrollment procedures, AP courses, freshman – senior requirements and Mercer County Career Center programs are available in the course of study booklet found on the Hermitage School District website. 

In addition, the school counselors offer a wide-range of services from career prep, college scholarships, social counseling and peer support. Please visit the guidance section of the HSD website.

Students are provided the opportunity to express themselves appropriately and interact with the faculty and administration. A strong peer-mediation program that assists students to resolve their conflicts peacefully is active and well. An ambassador program that shows student leaders how to positively influence their peers is in development. 

A Student Assistance Program (SAP) works in conjunction with the Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission to identify, provide support and assist students in need. Teachers volunteer their time to meet twice a month and discuss referrals of students experiencing a variety of concerns identified by caring and trusted staff members.  

In Closing…

At Hickory, EXCELLENCE is the expectation. We are very proud of our students’ academic accomplishments, artistic endeavors and athletic achievements. We are proud of our facilities and community support for our school. We strive for constant improvement, a dedication to high-achievement and the building of positive relationships between our students and staff. We stress the need for all students to become well-rounded individuals and stress the importance of how you represent yourself, your family, your school and your community. Hickory High School is proud of its traditions, its past and we are excited about the future…the HIVE is alive with activity and promise!