The top reported proficiency rate is 97% in Science. The lowest is 81% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hillside El Sch
Hillside Elementary serves kindergarten through fourth grade in Berwyn, a residential Main Line suburb within the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District. The school sits in a highly affluent community of well-educated households, with major corporate headquarters such as AMETEK and TE Connectivity based locally, and strong rail and transit access via the SEPTA Paoli/Thorndale Line.
The school's academic performance is strong across subjects. In English language arts, the proficiency rate for grades three and four stands well above the midpoint among Chester County districts. Mathematics proficiency is likewise solid. Science results are particularly high based on the most recent available assessment. Across tested subjects, Hillside's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile when compared to other schools in Chester County. The school serves a small enrollment of about four hundred students spread across the five grade levels, with a stable distribution from kindergarten through fourth grade.
The student body is predominantly white, with a sizable Asian student population; other racial and ethnic groups are represented in smaller numbers. Only a small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the surrounding area. Data on special education enrollment and English learner status were not available from the sources consulted.
Enrollment data do not include the size of the special education or English learner populations, so a parent may want to inquire directly with the school about support services and how the school structures inclusion or pull-out programs. Kindergarten hours and program structure will shift significantly: the district approved full-day kindergarten beginning in the 2027-28 school year as part of a major expansion that includes building a sixth elementary school (Bear Hill Elementary, opening August 2027) and introducing a new elementary STEM special across the district. These changes will trigger district-wide redistricting of elementary attendance boundaries, expected to be finalized in late 2026 or early 2027. Families should be aware that elementary school assignments may change even if they purchase a home in the current Hillside catchment.
The community surrounding the school is a mix of historic tree-lined neighborhoods and newer construction, with modest multifamily growth including a new apartment complex along Swedesford Road. The median home value in the area is substantially higher than state and national benchmarks, and the housing market is active. The walkable village center near Lancaster Avenue and the Berwyn train station offers shops, restaurants, and breweries within reach on foot, though township officials are working on pedestrian and traffic improvements through a Complete Streets initiative. Parks, the Easttown Library, and the Upper Main Line YMCA are also nearby civic anchors.
At the district level, the school is part of a system undergoing deliberate curriculum alignment through the Elementary Blueprint for Instruction, which is standardizing practice across all elementary schools and shaping the rollout of full-day kindergarten, new Pennsylvania science standards, and the new STEM offering. Property tax rates have risen in recent years to cover special education costs, a factor worth considering in the household budget for families moving to the area.
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