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#3587 of 4,739 schools in NY

Hillcrest High School

High School · NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #28

160-05 HIGHLAND AVE, Jamaica, NY 11432

Enrollment

2,333

Student-Teacher

15.1:1

Score

5.2

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Jamaica

#37 of 48

public schools

New York high schools

#958 of 1,160

In district

#44 of 50

NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #28

Equity

7.3 / 10

Strong

About Hillcrest High School

Hillcrest High School serves 2,333 students in grades 9-12 in the Jamaica section of Queens, with a student-teacher ratio of 15.1:1 across its 154 full-time equivalent teaching staff. This large public high school operates within New York's expansive educational system, currently ranking in the 22nd percentile statewide with a MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 out of 10, indicating significant room for academic growth and development. The school's substantial enrollment creates a diverse learning environment where students from various backgrounds come together.

With its considerable size, Hillcrest High School offers the potential for varied programming and activities that can benefit from economies of scale, though academic outcomes suggest opportunities for improvement in student achievement and educational delivery. Located on Highland Avenue, the school sits within ZIP code 11432, a community characterized by a median household income of $72,001 and median home values around $781,100. The neighborhood demonstrates educational aspirations, with 37% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher, while maintaining a relatively low poverty rate of 13.7%.

This economically stable community of over 64,000 residents provides a supportive backdrop for students pursuing their high school education in one of New York City's most populous boroughs.

What's said publicly about Hillcrest High School

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026. Reviewed for accuracy.

Hillcrest High School offers various academic support and extracurricular programs for students. The school provides ENL Science tutoring and lab make-up sessions for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics, available after school on weekdays and on select Saturdays 1 . Spring 2026 science tutoring sessions are also scheduled for these subjects 1 . The school hosts a Breakfast Club in Room 104 from 7:30 am to 8:00 am to support attendance 1 . Additionally, South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) partners with the school to offer programs for grades 9–12, including leadership development, SAT prep, and college readiness, running from February 2 to June 13, 2026 1 . SAYA also hosts hangout sessions in Room 358 on Wednesdays and Thursdays 1 . The school highlights several program areas, including Global Citizens, Health Science, Pre-College, Performing & Visual Arts, Teachers of Tomorrow, Public Service & Law, and Pre-Med 1 . Recent activities include a trip to Morocco and Black History Month celebrations 1 . The school celebrated its 2024 graduates 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. www.hillcrestweb.com
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

What Parents Should Know

Hillcrest High School is a large school with 2,333 students enrolled. Larger schools typically offer a wider range of academic programs, electives, and extracurricular activities. Parents may want to ask about how the school maintains a sense of community and ensures students don't get lost in the crowd.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress1.4Significantly Below Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change-19 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2021
TrendDeclining
Academics6.8Above Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency80%
Reading/ELA Proficiency27%
Overall Proficiency54%
Expected (poverty-adj.)48%
vs. Expected+5.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile53th
College Readiness8.6Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation30.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.0Fair20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.1:1

Hillcrest High School — Students at Hillcrest High School score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

82.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NY EDFACTS (2020-21)

Math Proficiency 85.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 60.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 4 test records from NY state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2019
Math
90%
ELA
93%
2021*
Math
80%
ELA
27%

* 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: 1.4/10.

How Hillcrest High School Compares

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

Overall Score
5.2/10
24th percentile in NY
Academic
6.8/10
6.8/10
Growth
1.4/10
Below average
Environment
3.0/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
83%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
154 teachers

Location

160-05 HIGHLAND AVE, Jamaica, NY 11432

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Hillcrest High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SCHOOL-QUEENS (rated 7.7/10, 0.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is QUEENS HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE SCIENCES AT YORK COLLEGE (rated 7.6/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, QUEENS GATEWAY TO HEALTH SCIENCES SECONDARY SCHOOL (rated 7.5/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Jamaica, see our Jamaica schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 0.7 mi
School Distance Rating
PS 86 Jamaica 0.1 mi 6.7
YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SCHOOL-QUEENS Jamaica 0.1 mi 7.7
PS 182 SAMANTHA SMITH Jamaica 0.2 mi 8.0
QUEENS SATELLITE HIGH SCHOOL FOR OPPORTUNITY Jamaica 0.2 mi 6.1
MS 358 Jamaica 0.2 mi 5.3
QUEENS SCHOOL FOR LEADERSHIP AND EXCELLENCE (THE) Jamaica 0.2 mi 6.6
GROWING UP GREEN CHARTER SCHOOL II Jamaica 0.4 mi 5.1
QUEENS COLLEGIATE - A COLLEGE BOARD SCHOOL Jamaica 0.4 mi 6.0
HILLSIDE ARTS & LETTERS ACADEMY Jamaica 0.4 mi 6.7
HIGH SCHOOL FOR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP Jamaica 0.4 mi 6.0
JAMAICA GATEWAY TO THE SCIENCES Jamaica 0.4 mi 4.5
THOMAS A EDISON CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL Jamaica 0.5 mi 5.9
RISING STARS ISLAMIC SCHOOL Jamaica 0.4 mi 5.7
THERESA PAPLIN SCHOOL Briarwood 0.5 mi 6.6
THERESA PAPLIN SCHOOL Jamaica 0.5 mi 6.6
QUEENS HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE SCIENCES AT YORK COLLEGE Jamaica 0.6 mi 7.6
JHS 217 ROBERT A VAN WYCK Jamaica 0.5 mi 6.7
QUEENS GATEWAY TO HEALTH SCIENCES SECONDARY SCHOOL Jamaica 0.7 mi 7.5
PS 117 J KELD/BRIARWOOD SCHOOL Jamaica 0.6 mi 8.2
PS 131 ABIGAIL ADAMS Jamaica 0.7 mi 5.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 11432 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$75,395

Median Home Value

$826,100

Median Rent

$1,841/mo

Population

63,730

College Educated

35.7%

Homeownership

37%

Avg Commute

43.5 min

Poverty Rate

15.2%

Median Age

39.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding Hillcrest High School has a median household income of $75,395. It is an area where 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $826,100, with a median rent of $1,841/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.2%. The average commute in the area is 44 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
WESTBURY HIGH SCHOOL Old Westbury, NY 5.2
COLONIE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Albany, NY 5.3
NEWTOWN HIGH SCHOOL Elmhurst, NY 5.3
SPRING VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Spring Valley, NY 5.3
RAMAPO HIGH SCHOOL Spring Valley, NY 5.1
CENTRAL ISLIP SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Central Islip, NY 5.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Hillcrest High School

What grades does Hillcrest High School serve?

Hillcrest High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Hillcrest High School?

Hillcrest High School has an enrollment of approximately 2,333 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Hillcrest High School is 15.1:1. 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 NY?

Hillcrest High School is ranked #3587 out of 4,739 schools in NY.

What is Hillcrest High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Hillcrest High School has a composite rating of 5.2 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Hillcrest High School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Hillcrest High School has 85.0% math proficiency and 60.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

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?

82.7% 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
92 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
100 Rider’s Paradise
Bike Score
52 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
2,333
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
154
Free/Reduced Lunch
82.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Queens County
Data Year
2023–2024

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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