Summary:
In zip code 72469, there is a single high school, Hillcrest High School, serving grades 7 through 12 in the rural community of Strawberry, Arkansas, with a total enrollment of 179 students.
Hillcrest High School is part of the Hillcrest School District, which ranks in the 69th percentile of Arkansas districts. The school presents a fascinating paradox: it excels in core Mathematics (64.1% proficient vs. 44.1% state average) and Science (61.1% vs. 44.0% state average), yet struggles in English Language Arts (34.9% vs. 39.4%) and advanced math courses like Algebra (25.9% vs. 36.9%) and Geometry (11.5% vs. 26.4%). This creates a clear "STEM strength vs. literacy weakness" divide. The school also boasts an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 3.6:1 and high per-student spending of $17,001, suggesting a highly personalized learning environment. Despite these resources, the school's state ranking has declined from the 48th percentile to the 33rd percentile over three years, indicating that the investment may not be translating into overall academic improvement.
Notably, 7th graders are the strongest cohort, with proficiency rates well above state averages in Mathematics (60.9% vs. 44.2%) and Science (65.2% vs. 44.9%), but performance tends to drop in higher grades, particularly in 10th grade. The school serves a high-poverty community, with 78.21% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, yet maintains a very low dropout rate of 0.5%. Year-over-year test scores show mixed progress: Mathematics and English Language Arts improved, but Biology saw a dramatic decline from 50% to 32% proficiency. Overall, Hillcrest High School offers strong foundational STEM instruction and a supportive environment, but families should be aware of the challenges in literacy and advanced math as students progress through the grades.
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