Original Research by School Decision on Hill Country H S
Hill Country High School is a small alternative school serving students in grades ten through twelve in Kerrville, in Kerr County. The enrollment is very small, with the highest concentrations in twelfth grade and smaller numbers in eleventh and tenth grades. About two-thirds of the student body qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share well above the district average. The student composition is roughly split between white and Hispanic students, with a small number of Asian students and other groups also present.
As an alternative school, Hill Country High School sits outside the standard high school pathway. Alternative schools typically serve students who have struggled in conventional settings, face barriers to attendance, need schedule flexibility, or are working toward completion and graduation through nontraditional means. The school's structure and mission differ fundamentally from the main high school in the district.
In terms of recent state testing results, the school shows mixed proficiency. All tested students met or approached proficiency in English Language Arts and Science. In ELA, about three-fifths of students met proficiency standards, while all students at least approached the standard. Science results show most students met the standard, with a smaller group achieving mastery. Mathematics testing data was suppressed, meaning the sample size is too small for the state to report results without identifying individuals. This is typical for small schools and alternative programs. With such a small enrollment, caution is warranted in reading any single year's results as a stable picture of performance; results can shift notably year to year.
Graduation data for this school was not available. Because Hill Country High School is an alternative program and not part of the standard accountability system used for traditional high schools, state four-year graduation rates are not reported in the same way. A parent would want to ask the school directly about graduation and completion pathways, what proportion of students finish their diplomas, and what timelines and support structures are in place.
The school is part of Kerrville ISD, which experienced a major disruption in the July 2025 Central Texas flood. While the school building itself was not damaged, the flood affected roughly seventy district families, including school staff who lost homes. The district responded by adding crisis counselors and therapy dogs at each campus and providing free supplies for all students. Some bus routes cross flood-prone areas, and the district has committed to ongoing safety-plan review. For a family considering Hill Country High School, this community recovery backdrop and the district's support infrastructure are part of the context.
Kerrville itself is growing rapidly. The county seat sits along the Guadalupe River in the Hill Country, with major employers in health care, aerospace manufacturing, and tourism. The housing market has appreciated, though rental options remain more accessible than purchase. The city is planning for substantial growth over coming decades, with workforce and middle-class housing developments now under way near schools. Public school campuses sit on separated campuses away from downtown, and no fixed-route municipal transit system was confirmed, so transportation and location matter for families.
A parent looking at Hill Country High School should understand its role as an alternative pathway rather than a conventional high school. The very small size means individualized attention is possible, but also that course offerings, peer dynamics, and scheduling are fundamentally different from what students would find at the main district high school. Direct conversation with the school about graduation support, program focus, and student outcomes is essential.
See more original research from School Decision →