Every 8th grade student at ICS participates in National History Day. Students learn firsthand the value of studying one subject in great depth. Impressive research and meticulous documentation becomes transformed into a dazzling display of skills mastery and learning. Award-winning ICS topics have included Henry VIII's court, the Lowell Mill Girls, the obscenity trial of Allen Ginsberg, the colonization of the Congo, the Tonkin Gulf Incident, and many others. Students learn the benefits of individual research and group participation.
In 2009, eight students in Levels 2 and 3 advanced to the National competition in National History Day(NHD). The categories represented were Drama and Documentary. One student advanced to the Finals and placed 13th in the nation in his category. The NHD National competition takes place at the University of Maryland at College Park each year in June.