The top reported proficiency rate is 78% in Science. The lowest is 43% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hill Elementary School
Hill Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in Lincoln, Nebraska, as part of the Lincoln Public Schools district. It is a regular public school with a moderate-sized enrollment for an elementary building, drawing from a residential area of the city. Families considering this school will find a student body that is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic presence and smaller shares of students who identify as two or more races, Black, or Asian.
State assessment results from the 2024-25 school year offer a mixed picture. Third graders posted solid proficiency rates in both math and English language arts, with a majority meeting state benchmarks. Fifth graders also performed well in math and showed notably strong results in science, where proficiency was above three-quarters of students. Fourth grade math, however, was a sharp outlier: proficiency was reported at zero percent. That figure stands apart from the school’s other results and may warrant a conversation with school leadership about the specific assessments and circumstances behind that cohort. In English language arts, fourth and fifth graders performed similarly, with roughly two-thirds proficient, leaving about one-third below that mark. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among schools in Lancaster County, suggesting that while some individual grade-level results are competitive, the composite picture is weaker than many neighboring schools.
The school serves a community where a significant portion of students come from lower-income households, as reflected in the share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the records examined. Hill Elementary does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report.
Lincoln itself is a growing state capital and the economic anchor of the metropolitan area. Major employers include state government, the university, the school district, and a mix of healthcare and manufacturing firms. The city has seen steady population growth and has pursued affordable housing initiatives. Housing in the school’s zip code reflects a market where home values and rents have been rising moderately in recent years, consistent with trends across the region.
The parent district, Lincoln Public Schools, has undertaken two notable changes in recent years. A substantial bond issue passed in 2020 funded the construction of two new high schools and an elementary school, along with major renovations, which reshaped attendance boundaries and relieved overcrowding. Additionally, the district began implementing a science-of-reading approach to early literacy across all elementary schools starting in 2023, aligning with state legislation requiring evidence-based reading instruction. This represents a district-wide shift in pedagogy that Hill Elementary will be following.
For a parent or resident evaluating this school, the academic picture is one of uneven results. Strengths appear in third grade reading and math and in fifth grade science, but the fourth grade math outcome and the overall proficiency standing relative to county peers are areas where the school may face challenges. The district’s recent investments in facilities and early literacy instruction are positive context, but it will take time to see whether those efforts translate into improved student outcomes at Hill. Families already in the attendance area or considering a move to this part of Lincoln should weigh the school’s performance against their own priorities and may want to visit and ask specific questions about the fourth grade math situation and how the school supports struggling learners.
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