Hillcrest El, San Antonio TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Hillcrest El

Hillcrest Elementary is a small, early-grades school serving pre-K through fifth grade in San Antonio, located on West Malone Avenue in a neighborhood that is densely Hispanic and economically constrained. The school enrolls a small population of students, with a substantial majority qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Demographically, the school is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with very few students from other backgrounds.

Academically, Hillcrest shows a mixed picture. In math, performance varies by grade. Third-grade students reached proficiency at a meaningful rate, while fifth-grade students showed considerably lower proficiency. In English language arts, third-grade students also showed moderate proficiency, but fourth-grade students tested in English showed notably weaker performance. Fifth graders tested in Spanish scored better in ELA than their fourth-grade peers tested in English. In science, which is tested only at fifth grade, proficiency was lower. Across all subjects, the school's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among the county's school populations.

The school operates within San Antonio ISD during a period of significant district change. In November 2023, the district closed a large number of schools and merged others in response to declining enrollment, an action that affected many families district-wide. The district has also moved to standardize its math and reading curriculum across all campuses, adopting a phonics-based approach to literacy instruction to address prior achievement gaps. In 2020, voters approved a major bond that has funded facility renovations at multiple schools, including work that continued into 2025.

Hillcrest sits in a ZIP code where home values are substantially below state and national benchmarks, reflecting San Antonio's position as a more affordable metro. Rents in the area track lower than the national average as well. The city itself is growing rapidly, adding residents annually and ranking among the nation's fastest-growing metros, though this growth is concentrated in newer suburban areas rather than in the inner-city neighborhoods where Hillcrest is located.

A parent considering Hillcrest should understand that the school serves a predominantly Spanish-speaking student body with very high economic need. Test results show uneven proficiency across grades and subjects, with strength in some areas and notable gaps in others. The school is part of a district undergoing substantial curriculum reform and responding to enrollment pressures through closures and consolidation. Families may want to discuss with the school directly how the district-wide curriculum changes are being implemented at Hillcrest and what support structures are in place for students approaching grade-level standards.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 380%

School 80% · District 30% · ▲ 50 pts above district

▲ 40 pts above state median · ▲ 46 pts above county median

Grade 540%

School 40% · District 29% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 360%

School 60% · District 35% · ▲ 25 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Grade 433%

School 33% · District 32% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 557%

School 57% · District 44% · ▲ 13 pts above district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Science

Grade 530%

School 30% · District 5% · ▲ 25 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

This schoolSAN ANTONIO ISD, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 5Lower-income47%Higher-income83%36 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income40%Higher-income83%43 pp gap