Hillcrest School

Summary:

Hillcrest School is an elementary school in Somerset, New Jersey, serving 476 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Franklin Township Public School District, which is ranked 448 out of 615 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Hillcrest School faces several challenges, including a diverse student population with a higher percentage of Hispanic (45.38%) and Asian (15.97%) students compared to the state average, and a lower percentage of White students (5.67%) compared to nearby schools like Pine Grove Manor School, MacAfee Road School, and Conerly Road School. The school's academic performance consistently ranks in the bottom quarter of New Jersey elementary schools, and its students perform below the district and state averages on state assessments. Additionally, Hillcrest School has experienced a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 6.4% in 2016-2017 to 15.9% in 2021-2022, which is higher than the state average and the nearby schools.

Hillcrest School also has a high percentage of students (51.26%) eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a higher proportion of students from low-income families compared to the nearby schools. The school's per-student spending of $9,753 is lower than the nearby schools, which may contribute to the academic challenges. While the school's performance varies significantly among different student subgroups, with African American students ranking in the top 30%, Asian, Hispanic, and English Language Learner students rank in the bottom quarter. Addressing these issues will require a comprehensive approach, including targeted interventions, increased resources, and collaboration with the community to support student success.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 500 Franklin Blvd
       Somerset, NJ  08873-3030


(732) 246-0170

District: Franklin Township Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
1039th of 1,342 New Jersey Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,753 Help


Students who attend Hillcrest School usually attend:

Middle:    Franklin Middle School at Hamilton Street Campus
High:    Franklin High School

Student/teacher ratio:  10.7 Help
Number of students:  476

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
45.4%
African American:
28.4%
Asian:
16.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  51.3% Help


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 Compare Hillcrest School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Hillcrest School ranks worse than 77.4% of elementary schools in New Jersey. It also ranks last among 7 ranked elementary schools in the Franklin Township Public School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 22.98. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Hillcrest School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (45.4%), African American (28.4%), Asian (16%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 51.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Hillcrest School is 10.7, which is the highest among 7 elementary schools in the Franklin Township Public School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Hillcrest School employs 44.4 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Hillcrest School is $9,753. 5 elementary schools in the Franklin Township Public School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Hillcrest School:

SchoolDigger ranks Hillcrest School 1039th of 1342 New Jersey public elementary schools. (See Hillcrest School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:


Franklin Township Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Franklin Township Public School District 448th of 615 New Jersey school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Hillcrest School

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Rank History for all students at Hillcrest School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 49.43 728th 1204 39.5%
2004 44.18 884th 1298 31.9%
2005 48.58 834th 1303 36.0%
2006 35.98 995th 1314 24.3%
2007 43.17 950th 1329 28.5%
2008 54.63 774th 1338 42.2%
2009 41.90 923rd 1346 31.4%
2010 35.90 1003rd 1354 25.9%
2011 26.67 1099th 1360 19.2%
2012 32.49 1028th 1363 24.6%
2013 17.68 1169th 1367 14.5%
2014 31.28 1033rd 1363 24.2%
2015 28.25 996th 1357 26.6%
2016 25.46 1052nd 1346 21.8%
2017 27.61 1017th 1352 24.8%
2018 24.12 1070th 1353 20.9%
2019 23.17 1081st 1360 20.5%
2021 22.62 979th 1317 25.7%
2022 17.43 1114th 1345 17.2%
2023 22.98 1039th 1342 22.6%
See the entire list of New Jersey Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Hillcrest School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 15.86 393rd 434 9.4%
2019 39.54 257th 463 44.5%
2021 37.16 232nd 411 43.6%
2022 33.20 308th 489 37.0%
2023 29.18 360th 499 27.9%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Hillcrest School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 17.59 848th 1007 15.8%
2021 17.66 749th 868 13.7%
2022 16.97 826th 949 13.0%
2023 31.07 601st 958 37.3%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Hillcrest School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.30 782nd 942 17.0%
2019 31.71 651st 948 31.3%
2021 39.02 509th 839 39.3%
2022 26.97 644th 863 25.4%
2023 34.70 592nd 910 34.9%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Hillcrest School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.38 990th 1333 25.7%
2019 19.83 1094th 1331 17.8%
2021 24.55 953rd 1290 26.1%
2022 21.02 1038th 1326 21.7%
2023 28.75 935th 1318 29.1%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Hillcrest School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 22.75 1059th 1334 20.6%
2019 31.32 941st 1335 29.5%
2021 22.95 937th 1297 27.8%
2022 15.81 1107th 1324 16.4%
2023 18.34 1061st 1315 19.3%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Hillcrest School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 33.32 261st 370 29.5%
2019 37.54 244th 370 34.1%
2022 2.36 316th 348 9.2%
2023 0.01 328th 346 5.2%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Hillcrest School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.38 377th 517 27.1%
2019 42.23 306th 522 41.4%
2021 45.70 229th 456 49.8%
2022 48.44 240th 494 51.4%
2023 64.09 133rd 463 71.3%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Hillcrest School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.66 693rd 870 20.3%
2019 20.42 715th 899 20.5%
2021 35.25 588th 896 34.4%
2022 23.17 744th 953 21.9%
2023 26.61 729th 982 25.8%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: New Jersey Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Hillcrest School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: New Jersey Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Open Quote I think this ranking is unwarranted. My son is in the full-time FREE Pre-K program at the school and I have been incredibly impressed with the level of instruction and care by his teacher and the TWO aids in the classroom. Everyone from the security guards on site, to the front office, the Principal, the librarian, the PTO (which is incredibly active) have been stellar and so nice! I was a bit hesitant when my son got assigned to the school. I had attended for 5th and 6th grade in the late 70s and wasn't sure it was still a quality school. However, all my qualms have been lifted. It ultimately comes down to the parent's participation. You are primarily responsible for making sure your child gets the care and attention he/she needs. Hillcrest has made it very easy for me to work with the school to make sure that happens. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Hillcrest School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 198 209 20 29 0 n/a n/a 0 456
1989 229 219 33 24 0 n/a n/a 0 505
1990 233 206 24 26 0 n/a n/a 0 489
1991 219 190 25 30 1 n/a n/a 0 465
1992 205 225 60 22 0 n/a n/a 0 512
1993 202 278 70 15 0 n/a n/a 0 565
1994 221 240 82 19 1 n/a n/a 0 563
1995 216 251 82 19 0 n/a n/a 0 568
1996 216 251 82 19 0 n/a n/a 0 568
1998 263 264 81 24 2 n/a n/a 0 634
1999 232 259 62 47 2 n/a n/a 0 602
2000 191 238 58 54 1 n/a n/a 0 542
2001 167 247 68 59 2 n/a n/a 0 543
2002 166 255 91 52 0 n/a n/a 0 564
2003 166 255 91 52 0 n/a n/a 0 564
2004 144 296 92 65 0 n/a n/a 0 597
2005 108 299 81 70 0 n/a n/a 0 558
2006 47 157 105 49 0 n/a n/a 0 358
2007 54 156 105 66 0 n/a n/a 0 381
2008 64 166 105 86 1 n/a n/a 0 422
2009 83 160 109 121 2 1 0 0 476
2010 76 151 101 157 3 1 4 0 493
2011 78 147 100 162 2 1 9 0 499
2012 67 133 105 144 3 1 13 0 466
2013 65 140 90 136 2 2 15 0 450
2014 56 119 87 142 3 1 14 0 422
2015 41 110 74 148 2 0 19 0 394
2016 64 119 82 149 3 0 6 0 423
2017 53 122 77 171 1 0 6 0 430
2018 47 109 67 174 2 1 11 0 411
2019 49 118 78 178 0 2 11 0 436
2020 38 97 69 203 2 2 13 0 424
2021 36 101 65 222 3 2 15 0 444
2022 25 133 75 213 4 0 13 0 463
2023 27 135 76 216 6 0 16 0 476

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Hillcrest School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 456 32.0 14.2 n/a
1989 505 35.0 14.4 n/a
1990 489 36.0 13.5 10.8
1991 465 34.0 13.6 19.6
1992 512 40.0 12.8 19.1
1993 565 39.0 14.5 22.3
1994 563 37.0 15.2 21.5
1995 568 41.0 13.9 18.5
1996 568 41.0 13.9 18.5
1998 634 40.0 15.9 15.8
1999 602 37.0 16.3 17.9
2000 542 41.0 13.2 26.6
2001 543 41.3 13.1 30.4
2002 564 42.0 13.4 28.9
2003 564 42.0 13.4 28.9
2004 597 44.0 13.6 29.6
2005 558 48.0 11.6 n/a
2006 358 30.0 11.9 31
2007 381 30.0 12.7 24.1
2008 422 28.0 15.1 27.3
2009 476 40.6 10.0 32.4
2010 493 39.0 12.6 41
2011 499 37.0 13.4 43.9
2012 466 36.3 12.8 41.2
2013 450 36.8 12.2 47.6
2014 422 40.8 10.3 49.1
2015 394 39.0 10.1 37.6
2016 423 42.0 10.0 48
2017 430 44.4 9.6 52.1
2018 411 42.7 9.6 52.1
2019 436 41.9 10.4 50.5
2020 424 41.0 10.3 52.8
2021 444 44.3 10.0 49.8
2022 463 46.2 10.0 45.4
2023 476 44.4 10.7 51.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Hillcrest School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 456 32.0 14.2 n/a
1989 505 35.0 14.4 n/a
1990 489 36.0 13.5 10.8
1991 465 34.0 13.6 19.6
1992 512 40.0 12.8 19.1
1993 565 39.0 14.5 22.3
1994 563 37.0 15.2 21.5
1995 568 41.0 13.9 18.5
1996 568 41.0 13.9 18.5
1998 634 40.0 15.9 15.8
1999 602 37.0 16.3 17.9
2000 542 41.0 13.2 26.6
2001 543 41.3 13.1 30.4
2002 564 42.0 13.4 28.9
2003 564 42.0 13.4 28.9
2004 597 44.0 13.6 29.6
2005 558 48.0 11.6 n/a
2006 358 30.0 11.9 31
2007 381 30.0 12.7 24.1
2008 422 28.0 15.1 27.3
2009 476 40.6 10.0 32.4
2010 493 39.0 12.6 41
2011 499 37.0 13.4 43.9
2012 466 36.3 12.8 41.2
2013 450 36.8 12.2 47.6
2014 422 40.8 10.3 49.1
2015 394 39.0 10.1 37.6
2016 423 42.0 10.0 48
2017 430 44.4 9.6 52.1
2018 411 42.7 9.6 52.1
2019 436 41.9 10.4 50.5
2020 424 41.0 10.3 52.8
2021 444 44.3 10.0 49.8
2022 463 46.2 10.0 45.4
2023 476 44.4 10.7 51.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Hillcrest School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $325 (3.3%) $9,428 (96.7%) $9,753

Data source: New Jersey Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Hillcrest School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 1081st of 1360 Elementary schoolsRanks 1039th of 1342 Elementary schools
 2.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Hillcrest School)27.329.8
 2.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Franklin Township Public School District)3739.3
 2.3%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)50.242
 8.2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Hillcrest School)38.345.5
 7.2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Franklin Township Public School District)47.741.9
 5.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)55.145.9
 9.2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Hillcrest School)33.412.7
 20.7%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Franklin Township Public School District)46.441.3
 5.1%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)57.451.3
 6.1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Hillcrest School)36.418.5
 17.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Franklin Township Public School District)50.137.3
 12.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)5144.3
 6.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Hillcrest School)42.237
 5.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Franklin Township Public School District)50.349.7
 0.6%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)57.953.2
 4.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Hillcrest School)43.819.1
 24.7%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Franklin Township Public School District)39.930.2
 9.7%
   5th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)46.840.1
 6.7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students436476
 9.2%
African American118135
 14.4%
American Indian06
Asian7876
 2.6%
Hispanic178216
 21.3%
Pacific Islander20
 100%
White4927
 44.9%
Two or More Races1116
 45.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients50.5%51.3%
 0.8%


Schools Near Hillcrest School









Frequently Asked Questions about Hillcrest School

Hillcrest School ranks in the bottom 22.6% of New Jersey elementary schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 476 students attended Hillcrest School.

Students at Hillcrest School are 45% Hispanic, 28% African American, 16% Asian, 6% White, 3% Two or more races, 1% American Indian.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Jersey Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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