Northern High School offers Advanced Placement classes in English, American History, European History, Psychology, Statistics, Calculus AB and BC, Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Spanish, French, Latin, German, Studio Art, Music Theory (Independent Study), and US Government & Politics.

Northern High School employs over 150 staff members including four assistant principals.

The then new Northern High School had only 17 classrooms, a home economics department, a shop, a library, and a gymnasium.

In 1995 major additions were made to the cafeteria and the commons area and entire high school building complex was air-conditioned.

In 2020, construction began on a new $96 million Northern Durham High School 3 miles south of the Tom Wilkinson Rd campus, a new use will be found for the original building.

[7] The new building opened to students in September 2023 and includes all new on campus athletic and academic facilities.

Notably, the Northern football program won the 1993 North Carolina 4-A state championship under the leadership of current UNC assistant coach, Ken Browning.

Northern High School still plays its football games at Durham County Stadium through the 2023 season.

In February 2008, after winning the PAC-6 Tournament and gaining the number 2 seed in the playoffs, the Northern High School Varsity Men's Basketball team had to forfeit all games of their 15–11 season due to an "attendance issue" that made a player ineligible.

[8] In February 2014, after winning the PAC-6 Tournament for the first time since 1994 the Varsity Men's Basketball posted a 26–3 record while making it to the third round of the NCHSAA state playoffs as a #2 seed under head coach Ronnie Russell and Conference player of the year Ricky Council II.