The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in English language arts. The lowest is 33% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hillsboro Elementary School
Hillsboro Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in a rural, unincorporated community in Fleming County. The school is part of the Fleming County district, which covers the county. State testing data from a recent school year gives a picture of academic performance across several grade levels.
In reading, the school showed a range of results. Roughly half of fourth graders and half of fifth graders met the state's proficiency standard. Third graders scored somewhat lower in reading. In math, proficiency was lower across the board. About a third of third graders reached the proficiency mark, and a smaller share of fourth graders did. Fifth-grade math results were not reported, a gap that likely reflects the small number of students tested. In science, tested in fourth grade, a little under half of students scored proficient. In social studies, tested in fifth grade, about a third did.
These results, taken together, place this school’s overall test performance below the state average. There is a clear gap between reading and math, with reading generally stronger. A parent looking at these scores may want to ask the school how it supports math instruction in the early grades and whether there are specific interventions for students who need additional help.
The student body of just over two hundred children is almost entirely white, with a small number of Hispanic students. The school serves grades kindergarten through five, with class sizes that look moderate for a rural elementary school. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the modest economic context of the community.
Hillsboro itself is a small crossroads settlement with very low population density. It is not a walkable community. The school is located on a rural road, not in a traditional downtown, and the built environment consists of scattered homes and farms. The area has seen limited growth and development activity. Home values and incomes are modest. The community has a covered bridge listed on the National Register, a post office, and the school, but no major employers or public transit. The local economy is rural and agricultural.
The Fleming County district showed no major parent-relevant changes in recent reporting; it operates as a straightforward countywide system serving a largely rural population. There is no charter status, and no magnet or special designation applies. The school is a regular public elementary school, and there is no data available on discipline, attendance, course access, or staffing ratios. Those gaps mean a parent may want to gather more information directly from the school about class sizes, enrichment offerings, and student support services.
One area where the school performed relatively well was in fourth-grade reading, where half of students met the proficiency standard. That suggests some solid instruction in literacy at that level. For families considering this school, the peer environment is small and homogeneous, and the academic picture is mixed, with reading results holding up better than math. The community setting is deeply rural, quiet, and stable, without the amenities of a larger town. A family that values a small, familiar school in a low-density agricultural area would find this a natural fit. A family concerned about math achievement or seeking a more diverse student body may want to explore further.
See more original research from School Decision →