The student body is composed of approximately 900 students, supported by 75 staff members.
Theater program
Northampton High's theater program has been under the direction of Stephen Eldredge since his hire in 2005. Eldredge has acted, directed and taught theater in New York, San Francisco and New England for over 30 years. Within the school is a 709-seat proscenium theater. A Black Box theater was added in 2012, providing an alternative performing, with room for 75 audience members. There is also a small theater which seats 90; it is used primarily for the school's chorus, chamber choir, and the a cappella group The Northamptones. The seats were salvaged from Pleasant Street Theater, a defunct movie theater in downtown Northampton. In the spring, senior students are given the opportunity to produce, direct, and put up a show of their own in the Black Box. The theater program is also run by a well sized theater tech program, also run by Steve Eldredge.
Athletics
Athletics include varsity teams in football, soccer, swimming, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, wrestling, track and field, cross country, field hockey, fencing, skiing, crew, and ultimate frisbee. Northampton High School has one of the strongest girls varsity basketball programs in the state. The girls' varsity basketball team won the Massachusetts Girls Division 1 Basketball State Championship for the 2007–08 season. Both seniors and juniors from that team went on to division 1, 2 and 3 college basketball careers. In the 2010–11 season, the boys' varsity basketball team won the Western Massachusetts Division 1 title. The track and cross-country programs are highly ranked with numerous Western Mass championships, state championships and champion athletes. The girls' team have won Western Mass Championship titles in 2014, 2015, and 2016. The boys' track-and-field team has produced national contending athletes since 2015 and earned All-American status in the Sprint Medley at New Balance Indoor Nationals, and placed 3 relay teams within the top 15 in spring 2017 New Balance Outdoor Nationals. The fencing team has had numerous fencers place at state for the past five years. Both girls' and boys' soccer are also highly ranked. The school also has a very strong Ultimate program. In 2016, the boys' varsity and girls' varsity teams placed 2nd and 3rd in their respective state championships.
Northampton Community Television, a non-profit community media center, shares with the school. Although not officially affiliated with the High School, Northampton Community Television's equipment and resources are made available to students to for school and community media and art projects. The high school's theater and technology programs often work together.
