The top reported proficiency rate is 87% in English language arts. The lowest is 82% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hillcrest Elem School
Hillcrest Elementary serves prekindergarten through sixth grade in a traditional suburban setting in Downers Grove, a western Chicago suburb with a mix of historic neighborhoods and modern corporate corridors. The school sits on its own campus in a residential area rather than in the downtown core, anchored by the Main Street Metra station and walkable shops and restaurants.
The school enrolls a small-to-mid-sized population spread across eight grade levels, with the largest cohorts in the early grades. The demographic makeup is predominantly white, with meaningful populations of multiracial and Hispanic students, a smaller Asian enrollment, and very few Black students. Free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility data was not available, so a reader cannot assess poverty concentration at the school level from publicly reported figures.
On the most recent state assessments, Hillcrest shows solid performance across tested grades and subjects. In mathematics, proficiency ranges from the mid-70s in fourth grade to the high-80s in third grade, with fifth and sixth grade both in the low-to-mid-80s. English language arts results are consistently in the mid-to-high-80s across grades three through six. In science, fifth-grade students achieved proficiency in the mid-80s. Participation rates in all tested grades exceeded 97 percent, and the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to other districts in DuPage County. These results reflect a school where the majority of students are meeting or exceeding state standards, though a parent may want to ask the school directly about the dip in fourth-grade math proficiency to understand whether it reflects typical grade-level variance or a specific area of focus.
The school is housed within Downers Grove Grade School District 58, which recently passed a substantial bond referendum approved by voters in November 2022. The district is undertaking a multi-year renovation of all 13 school buildings through summer 2026, including roofing, HVAC upgrades, secure entry vestibules, classroom updates, and middle school additions. This came with a property tax increase that will be repaid over a fixed term. More structurally, the district is transitioning from its former K-5 and 6-8 configuration to a new PK-5 and 6-8 model beginning in the 2026-27 school year, which will move sixth graders from elementary buildings to the two middle schools. For families currently in the district or considering a move, this is a meaningful shift in where students attend school and when they transition between buildings.
The housing market in the 60516 zip code surrounding Hillcrest reflects a stable, mid-to-upper-income suburban context. Median home values sit in a mid-range for the region, with year-over-year appreciation modest. Rental costs are moderate for the Chicago area. The village is experiencing density growth, particularly downtown, with new multifamily housing projects near the Metra station and ongoing single-family teardown-and-rebuild activity in neighborhoods, making Downers Grove a place where housing stock and character are actively evolving. Employment is diversified across healthcare, corporate headquarters, manufacturing, and institutional employers, with the Metra connection to downtown Chicago providing job access for commuters.
The school environment reflects a suburban elementary ethos with traditional grade-level organization and state-tested academics in core subjects. Neither charter status nor magnet designation applies; this is a regular public school serving its geographic neighborhood. Program data beyond core academics and science was not available in the public record reviewed, so a parent would want to reach out to the school directly about enrichment offerings, special services, or specialty programs. Similarly, staff composition, attendance, and discipline data were not publicly reported, limiting what can be said about school culture beyond the academic metrics.
For a family considering Hillcrest, the read is straightforward: a school with solid academic outcomes, stable suburban setting, young student body, and straightforward grade progression, situated in a community undergoing both major facilities investment and modest housing evolution. The main structural change affecting families is the 2026-27 middle school transition, which alters where sixth graders will attend school going forward.
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