The top reported proficiency rate is 51% in Math. The lowest is 29% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Hillcrest High School
Hillcrest High School serves grades seven through twelve in the rural town of Strawberry, Arkansas, a very small place in the Ozark Mountain region of Lawrence County. The school sits as a central institution in a community of scattered homes, churches, and a handful of small businesses; the settlement pattern is sparse, and there is no compact downtown or walkable street life. The Hillcrest School District was formed through consolidation and also operates an elementary school in the nearby community of Lynn, so the high school draws from a broad remote area covering parts of three counties.
The student body is small, and the demographic picture is straightforward: nearly all students are White, with a very small Hispanic population. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a reflection of the area’s economic circumstances. The school’s grade span means it is the sole secondary option for the community, housing both middle and high school grades under one roof.
State testing results are available only for grades seven and eight, which is common for Arkansas’s assessment program; results for high school grades were not reported in this data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about academic performance in the upper grades. For the tested grades, performance varies notably by subject and grade level. In mathematics, eighth graders showed a solid proficiency rate, while seventh graders were lower. In English language arts, results were softer: seventh-grade proficiency was low, and eighth-grade proficiency was modest. Science results fell between these, with eighth graders again performing better than seventh graders. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index placed it in the top quartile among the six districts in Lawrence County that had data available, a relative strength in this local context. At the same time, the seventh-grade ELA figure in particular is a soft spot that a family may want to explore further with the school, especially since literacy skills are foundational for later coursework.
No graduation rate was reported in this data set. No information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, or program offerings such as Advanced Placement, career pathways, or dual credit was available, leaving significant gaps. Families who value specific academic pathways or want to compare postsecondary outcomes will need to seek that information directly from the school.
The town of Strawberry is experiencing a slight population decline, and no major new housing or development projects were identified in search results. The local employment base is very small, centered on a few small businesses and the school district itself. The school likely functions as a key community anchor and employer.
For a family considering this school, the picture is one of a very small, rural secondary school serving a predominantly economically disadvantaged student body, with strong relative performance compared to other districts in the same county on the middle-grades tests that are reported. The school’s top-quartile proficiency index is a notable strength in context. The academic soft spots in seventh-grade reading and the lack of reported high school outcomes and program details are gaps that warrant direct inquiry. This school fits a family seeking a close-knit, rural environment where the school is a central part of community life and where middle-grades math and science results are a relative local bright spot.
See more original research from School Decision →