Hillwood offers all levels of academics. Standard and honors level courses are available along with Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses. Hillwood became one of the first IB World Schools in Tennessee in February 2004. It offers the Diploma Programme. Additionally, the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program is available. Hillwood is a Technology Site Demonstration school.
Athletics
There are many sports available for students to participate in. The Topper Athletic Club is a parent/faculty organization that helps support all sports teams. They generally meet once a month. All sporting events are overseen by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA).
Sports at Hillwood High School include:
Baseball
Basketball (boys & girls)
Bowling (boys & girls)
Cheerleading
Cross Country (boys & girls)
Football
Golf (boys & girls)
Soccer (boys & girls)
Softball
Tennis (boys & girls)
Track (boys & girls)
Volleyball
Wrestling
Dance Team
Team accomplishments
The football team was state championship contender in the 1990s and early 2000s before their move from AAAA (4A) to AAAAA (5A), which was Tennessee's highest class. Now there are six classes and Hillwood is in 5A.
The baseball team won Hillwood's first state championship in any sport when they won the TSSAA AAA state championship over Maryville High School in 1977. William Brennan, who would later be a Major League pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, played for Hillwood in 1981.