The top reported proficiency rate is 51% in English language arts. The lowest is 29% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Highland Hills Elementary School
Highland Hills Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in Hermiston, Oregon, part of the Hermiston School District 8. The school sits in a mixed-use city whose economy blends agriculture and food processing with a growing logistics and data-center hub anchored by the I-82 and I-84 interchange. The city has been the fastest-growing in its micropolitan area, drawing new residents from Latino population growth and industrial investment. Publicly reported information describes a new K‑5 school, Loma Vista Elementary, that opened in the district in recent years, adding capacity and altering attendance boundaries for families in this part of town.
The student body of roughly three hundred children is split about evenly between students who identify as Hispanic or Latino and those who identify as White, with a small share of students who identify as two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, which means the school serves a population with above‑average economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the records used here; a parent may want to ask the school directly about the support services available for those groups.
On state assessments administered in the 2024‑2025 school year, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades placed it in the top quartile relative to the other districts in Umatilla County that reported results. That is a solid showing for a school with a high‑poverty enrollment. In English language arts, roughly half of students met proficiency benchmarks across grades three, four, and five. In math, the proficiency rate was a bit lower, around two‑fifths of students overall, with the third‑grade cohort scoring a little above that mark and the fourth‑grade cohort below it. Science is tested only in fifth grade, and the proficiency rate there was lower, under one‑third of students. Because this is the only year of data available, there is no trend to report; parents may want to ask the school how these results compare with prior years and what strategies are in place for math and science.
The school serves only elementary grades, so there is no graduation rate, and no chronic absenteeism or discipline data were provided. Those gaps may reflect the grade band or the limits of state reporting; they are not necessarily signs of a problem, but a parent could ask the school for its attendance and behavior climate information.
Hermiston’s housing market shows home values around the national median and rents that are modest relative to income, though prices have been rising with the area’s growth. The city’s major employers span logistics, healthcare, food processing, corrections, and the school district itself, creating a stable but not uniformly high‑income employment base. The local unemployment rate matches the national figure, and median household income is close to the national level.
For a family considering Highland Hills, the school offers a neighborhood‑scale elementary experience in a growing, economically diverse community. Its test results are above average for the county, particularly in reading, and the school’s demographic mix reflects the broader Hermiston population. The district’s recent addition of a new elementary school suggests that some attendance boundaries have shifted, so it would be wise to confirm which school serves a specific address. The limited public data on student support programs and the low science proficiency are points a parent may wish to explore further during a school visit.
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