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Very Good

#315 of 1,036 schools in AR

Top 30% in state

Hillcrest High School

High School · HILLCREST SCHOOL DISTRICT

P O BOX 50, Strawberry, AR 72469

Enrollment

181

Student-Teacher

3.8:1

Score

7.2

Grades

7th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Arkansas schools

#315 of 1,036

In district

#2 of 2

HILLCREST SCHOOL DISTRICT

School environment

9.7 / 10

Excellent

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Hillcrest High School

7.2/10

High School in Strawberry · grades 7th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Hillcrest Elementary School

9.0/10

5.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Cave City High Career & Collegiate Preparatory School

7.9/10

12.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Hillcrest High School

Hillcrest High School is a public high school in Strawberry, AR, part of HILLCREST SCHOOL DISTRICT. Hillcrest High School serves approximately 181 students, and covers grades 7th-12th, and has a 3.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Hillcrest High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 out of 10 and ranks #315 of 1,036 schools in AR.

Structured state assessment records for Hillcrest High School show 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.9 pts above AR schools
  • This school 7.2 · Very Good
  • AR avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

At 181 students, Hillcrest High School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 3.8:1 students to teachers, Hillcrest High School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Hillcrest High School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.2Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.47 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.0Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency31.4% (2025 ATLAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency27.1% (2025 ATLAS)
Math vs. State Avg-8.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-5.8 pts
Overall Proficiency29% (2025 ATLAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)30% (model expectation from 2025 ATLAS)
vs. Expected-1.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile44th
College Readiness5.7Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate90%+
AP Participation2.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.7Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio3.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,991
Chronic Absenteeism12.7%

Hillcrest High School — Students at Hillcrest High School score 29% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 30%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

79.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores AR ATLAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 38.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
30.2% (2025 ATLAS)
ELA Proficiency 49.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
32.9% (2025 ATLAS)

Based on 39 test records from AR state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
67%
ELA
62%
2010
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2011
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2012
Math
52%
ELA
62%
2013
Math
57%
ELA
67%
2014
Math
22%
ELA
32%
2015
Math
27%
ELA
52%
2016
Math
32%
ELA
47%
2017
Math
32%
ELA
42%
2018
Math
27%
ELA
62%
2019
Math
27%
ELA
62%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
27%
ELA
52%
2025
Math
31.4%
ELA
27.1%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.2/10.

How Hillcrest High School Compares

See how Hillcrest High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.2/10
70th percentile in AR
Academic
6.0/10
Average
Growth
8.2/10
Excellent
Environment
9.7/10
Excellent
Sports
6
3 boys' · 3 girls'
Advanced STEM
2/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
80%
Teaching Staff
4:1 student-teacher ratio
48 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
12.7%

Programs & Offerings

Athletics6sports offered
3 boys'·3 girls'·9 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses2 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

P O BOX 50, Strawberry, AR 72469

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Hillcrest High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. CEDAR RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL (rated 8.8/10, 18.3 miles away, in nearby Newark), which scores notably higher. Another option is TUCKERMAN HIGH SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 17.2 miles away, in nearby Tuckerman), which scores notably higher. Additionally, CAVE CITY HIGH CAREER & COLLEGIATE PREPARATORY SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 12.6 miles away, in nearby Cave City), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Strawberry, see our Strawberry schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 22.2 mi
School Distance Rating
HILLCREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lynn 5.0 mi 9.0
CAVE CITY HIGH CAREER & COLLEGIATE PREPARATORY SCHOOL Cave City 12.6 mi 7.9
CAVE CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL CAREER AND COLLEGIATE PREPARATORY Cave City 12.8 mi 8.9
CAVE CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Cave City 12.8 mi 7.0
SWIFTON MIDDLE SCHOOL Swifton 14.6 mi 7.7
TUCKERMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Tuckerman 17.2 mi 7.7
TUCKERMAN HIGH SCHOOL Tuckerman 17.2 mi 8.4
SLOAN-HENDRIX HIGH SCHOOL Imboden 17.9 mi 5.5
SLOAN-HENDRIX ELEM. SCHOOL Imboden 18.0 mi 6.0
CEDAR RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL Newark 18.3 mi 8.8
SULPHUR ROCK MAGNET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Sulphur Rock 17.5 mi 8.3
CEDAR RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Newark 18.4 mi 7.7
IMBODEN AREA CHARTER SCHOOL Imboden 18.3 mi 4.6
HOXIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hoxie 19.9 mi 4.2
HOXIE HIGH SCHOOL Hoxie 19.9 mi 5.3
EAGLE MOUNTAIN MAGNET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Batesville 21.5 mi 5.8
NEWPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Newport 24.3 mi 4.6
HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL Hardy 23.6 mi 6.2
HIGHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL Hardy 23.7 mi 7.5
BATESVILLE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL CHARTER Batesville 22.2 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 72469 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$42,042

Median Home Value

$138,500

Median Rent

$756/mo

Population

1,002

College Educated

10.1%

Homeownership

78%

Poverty Rate

11.5%

Median Age

56

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
HERMITAGE HIGH SCHOOL Hermitage, AR 7.2
SUBIACO ACADEMY Subiaco, AR 7.2
FOREMAN HIGH SCHOOL Foreman, AR 7.1
DIERKS HIGH SCHOOL Dierks, AR 7.0
EUREKA SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL Eureka Springs, AR 7.0
MT. VERNON/ENOLA HIGH SCHOOL Mt. Vernon, AR 7.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Hillcrest High School

What grades does Hillcrest High School serve?

Hillcrest High School serves students in grades 7th through 12th.

How many students attend Hillcrest High School?

Hillcrest High School has an enrollment of approximately 181 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Hillcrest High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Hillcrest High School is 3.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Hillcrest High School rank in AR?

Hillcrest High School ranks #315 of 1,036 schools in AR.

What is Hillcrest High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Hillcrest High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Hillcrest High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Hillcrest High School has 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Hillcrest High School a charter school?

No, Hillcrest High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Hillcrest High School a Title I school?

No, Hillcrest High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Hillcrest High School?

79.6% of students at Hillcrest High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
8 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
15 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
7th – 12th
Enrollment
181
Student-Teacher Ratio
3.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
48
Free/Reduced Lunch
79.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Lawrence County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
12.7%
4-Year Graduation
90%+

District

HILLCREST SCHOOL DISTRICT
District Enrollment
404
Schools in District
2
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,991
District Rank
#2 of 2

Other Schools in This District

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