[3] In 2012, it was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education.

New Palestine High School is part of the Hoosier Heritage Conference and offers soccer, tennis, cross country, American football, golf, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, swimming, wrestling, baseball, softball and track and field.

In addition, New Palestine High School has award-winning marching band,[5] choir and journalism programs.

NPHS also has eight individual IHSAA state championships, won by Kyle Ulrey (1), Chad Red (4) and Alec White (1) in wrestling, as well as Lori Swegman (1, 880 yard run) and Samuel Voelz (1, 800 meter run) in track and field.

[7] A former football coach, Marvin Shepler, is a member of the Indiana Football Hall of Fame and a former basketball coach, Fred Keesling, is a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, and the IHSAA's Mental Attitude Award for boys' golf is named for her.