About Ulysses

What is Ulysses?  The Ulysses Signature Program is a special course of study unique to Northwest High School.  Students in the Ulysses Program take a rigorous series of courses, with a focus placed on the humanities and research.  In the Junior and Senior years, Ulysses students have the opportunity to take Research courses that help them build critical thinking and analysis skills, culminating in a final research project presented at the annual Ulysses Fair.

Who can participate?  The program is open to all students at Northwest High School.  It is a non-magnet signature program, so students must reside in the Northwest cluster to be eligible.  Students can apply to join Ulysses during their 8th grade year, and can also enroll in the program during 9th or 10th grade.

When do students take Ulysses courses?  Students in the program are in several cohort classes in their 9th and 10th grade years.  When they are upperclassmen, they enroll in the unique Ulysses research courses.

Why would a student want to join Ulysses?  All students are welcome to join the program.  Students who are interested in research, have a curious academic mind, and want to build a strong academic record throughout high school should consider joining Ulysses.

Where is Ulysses located?  Ulysses is a local program.  All students in the program attend Northwest High School for the full day, and take their non-Ulysses courses with the rest of the Northwest population.  All courses that are offered as part of the Ulysses program are taught by Northwest High School teachers.

Quotes from Ulysses Seniors, Class of 2024

“The Ulysses program has been a great community for me to make new friends and explore topics that I am passionate about. It also builds a really strong foundation on the process of conducting research.”

“One of my favorite things about the Ulysses program is the sense of community that is built through being with the same people all throughout high school.”

“In the last two years it is a unique opportunity for students to take some liberty in what they learn about, while also helping to build research skills they may go on to use in college.”

“Ulysses allows you to really test your research skills. You get the freedom of researching whatever you want which allows for your imagination to run wild.”

“Students should join Ulysses because it helps them develop good research abilities which can be useful even outside the program.”

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

New in 2024-2025 - AP Seminar and Research  (AP Capstone Diploma)

Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, the Ulysses Program will be adopting the AP Capstone Diploma Program.  This exciting course of study will allow students to take a junior AP Seminar course on a topic that interests them, and as seniors enroll in the AP Research course.  Both courses offer the possibility of college credit.  If students earn a 3 or more on each assessment in both Capstone course AP Exams (AP Seminar and AP Research), plus a 3 or more on 4 other AP Exams, they earn the internationally recognized AP Capstone Diploma.