The top reported proficiency rate is 77% in Math. The lowest is 75% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Hillcrest Elementary
Hillcrest Elementary serves kindergarten through fourth grade in Oak Harbor, on Whidbey Island. It is a regular public school in the Oak Harbor School District. The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic population and a smaller but notable share of students who identify as two or more races. Asian and Black students each make up a modest part of the enrollment, and the school reports a small number of Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander students. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available.
State testing results for the most recent school year show that students at Hillcrest performed at a level that places the school in the top quartile among districts in Island County. In third-grade math and English language arts, a large majority of students met or exceeded the state standard. Fourth-grade math results were particularly strong, with a very large share of students demonstrating proficiency. Fourth-grade English language arts results were also solid, with a substantial majority meeting the bar. Because only one year of data was available, there is no trend to evaluate, so it is not possible to say whether performance is rising, falling, or stable based on this single snapshot.
The school's grade span ends at fourth grade, so there is no graduation rate to report. Parents making a decision about Hillcrest should note that students will transition to a different school for fifth grade, and will want to understand how that pathway works and which middle school their child would attend.
Oak Harbor is a family-oriented community shaped heavily by the presence of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, which is the dominant local employer. The city has a small-town feel with a walkable downtown along Pioneer Way that offers shops, cafés, and murals. Windjammer Park provides waterfront public space, and Deception Pass State Park is nearby with extensive forest and trails. Housing values in the area are above the national median but below the Washington state benchmark. Rents have been rising, and the cost of renting is more affordable than buying a home with a mortgage, suggesting a market that favors renters over buyers at current interest rates. The broader economic context includes a stable unemployment rate near the national average.
The Oak Harbor School District recently passed a replacement Educational Programs & Operations levy to fund staff, curriculum, technology, and student programs beyond what the state covers. The district also opened Oak Harbor Virtual Academy as a permanent online learning option, giving families a full-time alternative to in-person instruction. These are publicly reported developments that may matter to families considering the district's overall direction and offerings.
Hillcrest Elementary stands out for its strong state testing performance relative to other schools in Island County. The lack of trend data means a parent should treat the one-year snapshot as promising but not conclusive. The school serves a diverse student body in a community where military families are common, which shapes the peer environment in ways some families will find familiar and others may want to ask about. With no information on special education staffing or English learner support, a parent with a child who needs those services should contact the school directly to understand what is available.
See more original research from School Decision →