Below Average
#2224 of 2,648 schools in NC
Hillcrest Elementary
Elementary School · Burke County Schools · Morganton, NC
A Burke County Schools elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
201 Tennessee Street, Morganton, NC 28655
- Math 52% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 38% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Hillcrest Elementary score 45% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 23 points since 2020, reaching 45% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 36% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
98.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Hillcrest Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 30Car-Dependent
- Bike 20Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated926/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$53,464
Median home value
$170,400
Median rent
$827/mo
College educated
20.8%
Homeownership
72.7%
Poverty rate
21.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28655; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morganton Day SchoolPrivate · tuition | 8.1private | PK–8 | 1.2 mi | 87 | Compare → |
| Mountain View ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.1 | PK–5 | 1.5 mi | 730 | Compare → |
| New DimensionsCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.1 | K–8 | 1.5 mi | 556 | Compare → |
| Icard ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.7 | PK–5 | Not available | 252 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Burke County Schools
- Schools in district
- 27
- Rank in district
- #24 of 26
- District spending per student
- $12,261NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 23.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Hillcrest Elementary is listed in Burke County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Hillcrest Elementary
Hillcrest Elementary is a public elementary school in Morganton, NC, part of Burke County Schools, serving approximately 258 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 out of 10 and ranks #2,224 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Hillcrest Elementary
What grades does Hillcrest Elementary serve?
Hillcrest Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Hillcrest Elementary?
Hillcrest Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 258 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hillcrest Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Hillcrest Elementary is 13.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Hillcrest Elementary rank in NC?
Hillcrest Elementary ranks #2,224 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Hillcrest Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Hillcrest Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 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 Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Hillcrest Elementary has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Hillcrest Elementary a charter school?
No, Hillcrest Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Hillcrest Elementary a Title I school?
No, Hillcrest Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Hillcrest Elementary?
98.8% of students at Hillcrest Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 258
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Burke County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 16.3%
- Phone
- (828) 437-4258
- Area population (ZIP 28655)
- 56,201
- Area average commute
- 23.5 min
- Area median age
- 43.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28655; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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