The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in Science. The lowest is 27% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Hillcrest Elementary
Hillcrest Elementary sits in Burlington, a mid-sized Piedmont city anchored by a revived downtown district, Labcorp's headquarters, and ongoing growth in mixed-use and residential development. The school serves early grades—pre-K through fifth—in a public, regular education setting within the Alamance-Burlington Schools district.
The student body is economically challenged and racially diverse. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting high poverty in the school's catchment area. The student population is roughly evenly split between Black and Hispanic students, with a smaller white enrollment and representation from Asian, multiracial, and other groups. Enrollment sits at a modest size for this grade band, distributed across seven grade levels from pre-K through fifth grade.
The school's most recent state test results, from the 2024-25 school year, show uneven proficiency across subjects. In English/language arts, measured in grades 3-5, about a quarter of tested students met proficiency. In math, measured across grades 3-5, about two in five met proficiency. Science testing, which appears to have recently changed its assessment format, showed proficiency near two in five. These are low-performing results by state standards. A parent looking at these numbers may want to look into further detail with the school about classroom supports, intervention structures, or literacy and numeracy programming that might explain the gap and inform what instruction looks like day-to-day.
School test data does not provide average scale scores, participation rates, or year-over-year trend information, so it is not possible to say whether results are improving, declining, or stable. State testing data applies only to tested grades, and the school does not report numbers for special education enrollment or English learner enrollment, so the full picture of support services is not visible in available records.
The Alamance-Burlington Schools district has undertaken measurable facility improvements in recent years. A bond package completed major renovations and security upgrades across most schools in the district between 2022 and 2024, though the specific impact on Hillcrest is not detailed in public accounts. The district also implemented classroom cell phone restrictions districtwide in the 2025-2026 school year.
Housing in the Burlington zip code surrounding Hillcrest is affordable relative to both state and national benchmarks, and rental costs remain accessible. The area shows modest year-over-year growth in both home values and rents. Burlington itself is experiencing measurable economic growth, with major employers including Labcorp, Glen Raven, and Cone Health anchoring the local job market. The city has added multi-family residential projects, particularly near the hospital area, and downtown investment in mixed-use and medical facilities continues.
For families in the immediate school zone, Hillcrest offers a small, economically integrated setting in a city with growing infrastructure and local opportunity. The test results signal that families choosing this school should understand it is a school where reading and math proficiency gaps are significant and worth discussing directly with school leadership.
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