From career and technical education (CTE) classes to opportunities to earn college credits through Advanced Placement (AP) and dual enrollment, Alexander Hamilton High School provides students with diverse academic pathways to achieve their college and career goals.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Sponsored by the College Board and taught by Hamilton teachers, Advanced Placement courses give students the chance to tackle advanced content and earn college credit.
Ambitious Instruction Plan
The Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Ambitious Instruction Plan recognizes and celebrates that our students come from many cultures and backgrounds. This plan focuses on high-quality, culturally appropriate teaching and learning. Our goal is to ensure that every student develops reading, writing, and math skills in ways that are meaningful to their individual lives and experiences. Our staff works together to understand each learner and find appropriate ways to assess and improve their progress. We then make sure that students can apply what they have learned in productive ways in school and in their community.
Career and Technical Education
Students can earn high school and college credit, develop workforce-ready trade and technical skills, and participate in internships and apprenticeships.
Internships
Hamilton students who participate in an MPS internship are employed for a specific period to learn about a particular industry or occupation.
School-to-Work Transition Program
For three decades, MPS’s School-to-Work Transition Program (STWTP) has placed students with special education needs at worksites across Milwaukee. Students develop employment readiness and independent living skills while earning credit toward their high school diplomas.
Youth Apprenticeship Program
Learning a trade and earning a paycheck are among the benefits of youth apprenticeships for our juniors and seniors. They spend half their day at Hamilton and half their day at a job.
Common Core State Standards
The curriculum in MPS is based on Common Core State Standards. These standards were developed with teachers, school administrators, and experts to prepare all children for college and the workforce.
Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment courses give students the chance to earn high school and college credit at the same time. Hamilton educators with advanced degrees are approved to teach Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) or University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM) courses at our school. Students may even attend classes on the MATC or UWM campuses.
Early College Credit
M-Cubed College Connections Program
Rising Phoenix at UW–Green Bay
Start College Now
Electives
Students can fulfill college entrance requirements, gain new insight and knowledge, and develop specialty skills in elective classes. Below are examples of electives offered at Hamilton:
- Art: AP Art History, AP 2-D Art & Design, AP 3-D Art & Design, AP Drawing, Arts in the Community, Cartooning, Clay Design, Painting, Printmaking
- Business & Information Technology: Accounting, Business Law, Marketing Techniques, Personal Finance
- Design: Design Elements & Principles, Desktop Publishing, Multimedia Photo & Video
- Music: Band (Beginning, Advanced, Modern); Chorus (Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced); Music Technology; Piano
- Nursing: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- PLTW: Computer Science and Biomedical Science pathways
Graduation Information
Learn more about graduation, including the requirements for graduating from MPS.
Required Classes
Students enroll in classes—ranging from foundational to advanced—that fulfill graduation requirements in these core subjects: English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and world languages.
Core Classes
- English Language Arts: 4.0 credits
- Mathematics: 3.0 credits (courses at or above algebra level)
- Science: 3.0 credits, including at least one course with a lab
- Social Studies: 3.0 credits
- World Language: 2.0 credits (Spanish or Mandarin Chinese at Hamilton)
English language learners (ELLs) may substitute English as a Second Language (ESL) courses instead.
Other Credit Requirements
- College and Career Readiness: 1.0 credit
- Electives: 3.0 or 4.0 credits
- Health: 0.5 credit
- Physical Education: 1.5 credits
Credit Recovery
Special Education
MPS serves all children with disabilities, including cognitive, emotional, hearing, learning, physical, speech, and vision disabilities. The school’s special education teachers, regular education teachers, school social worker, school psychologist, and administration work together to meet students’ needs.
If you think your child has special education needs, ask your child’s teacher or principal for an evaluation. For general questions about special education or specialized services, please call (414) 874-8493.
Transcript Requests
MPS uses Parchment to electronically send official transcripts for students and alumni who are applying to college or for jobs. Learn how to request your transcript.