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Hillcrest Elementary

Public Grades K-5

500^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 657 Kansas Elementary Schools

Better than 24% of Kansas elementary schools

Summary

Hillcrest Elementary serves 393 students in grades K–5 in Lawrence, Kansas. Its 2025–2026 proficiency results are below both the Lawrence district and Kansas in ELA, math, and science. The most important finding is that Hillcrest also ranks near the bottom of the 11 nearby schools in all three subjects, especially science.

ELA is Hillcrest’s relative bright spot, but its 42% proficiency rate is still below the state’s 46% and the district’s 51%; locally, it ranks 8th of 11. Math is weaker: 31% proficiency compares with 41% statewide and 45% in the district, placing Hillcrest 9th of 11 nearby schools. Science is the weakest local result: 30% proficiency is below the state’s 38% and the district’s 43%, and ranks 10th of 11. Nearby-school averages are 55% in ELA, 45% in math, and 45% in science, leaving Hillcrest behind by 13, 13, and 15 percentage points, respectively.

Results have declined while state results improved: from 2022–2023 to 2025–2026, Hillcrest fell 3 points in ELA, 5 in math, and 6 in science, while the state rose in each subject. The latest year brought especially sharp drops, including 25 points in science. SchoolDigger ranks Hillcrest 500th of 657 schools, at the 24th percentile with one star, down from the 50th percentile and three stars the prior year. Its student-teacher ratio is 11.8, tied for the lowest among nearby schools, while its free/reduced-lunch rate is 62%, the group’s highest; these are context, not explanations for test results. SchoolDigger’s statewide measure for English Language Learner students fell from the 91st percentile in 2023–2024 to the 35th in 2025–2026, and its measure for Special Education students fell from the 66th to the 18th percentile.

393

Students ?

11.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,010

Per pupil spending ?

61.8%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

1045 Hilltop Dr
Lawrence, KS 66044-4599

(785) 832-5720

District: Lawrence

Students who attend Hillcrest Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Lawrence Southwest Middle School
High:	Lawrence High

Racial breakdown:

White:

38.7%

Hispanic:

25.7%

Two or more races:

14.5%

See top rated Kansas elementary schools

Compare Hillcrest Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 86th percentile in 2016 → 24th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Kansas average (34% vs 42% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 62 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school34%

District avg46%

Kansas avg42%

500^th of 657

Kansas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 24%▼ down 62 pts since 2016

From top 14% (2016) to bottom 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

10^th of 11Elementary Schools in the Lawrence

115^th of 268Lawrence among Kansas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2026	29.2	500 of 657	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	50.7	329 of 656	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	45.9	362 of 653	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.8	323 of 660	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.5	380 of 668	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.4	416 of 670	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.4	263 of 667	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.7	187 of 656	71.5%	★★★★☆
2017	67.0	193 of 659	70.7%	★★★★☆
2016	82.6	91 of 656	86.1%	★★★★☆
2015	69.0	174 of 678	74.3%	★★★★☆
2013	62.7	301 of 668	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	63.3	291 of 660	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	37.2	492 of 631	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	56.0	336 of 630	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2009	57.5	327 of 621	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	36.3	463 of 614	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	50.8	364 of 600	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	61.1	259 of 585	55.7%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	39.2	33 of 70	52.9%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2026	38.0	82 of 126	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	66.1	19 of 129	85.3%	★★★★☆
2024	69.0	11 of 124	91.1%	★★★★★
2023	65.7	20 of 117	82.9%	★★★★☆
2022	61.9	24 of 117	79.5%	★★★★☆
2021	60.4	27 of 108	75.0%	★★★★☆
2019	55.8	38 of 122	68.9%	★★★★☆
2018	69.4	20 of 129	84.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2026	30.7	434 of 585	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	36.2	391 of 591	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.4	250 of 591	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.3	190 of 574	66.9%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2026	34.9	186 of 269	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	28.3	214 of 262	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.6	171 of 260	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.0	90 of 245	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.6	112 of 254	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.3	85 of 229	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	27.6	188 of 235	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	39.5	129 of 207	37.7%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2026	21.8	477 of 546	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.0	379 of 533	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.4	357 of 546	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.5	234 of 541	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.2	245 of 512	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.4	327 of 494	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.2	304 of 509	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	60.4	172 of 512	66.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2026	31.5	438 of 594	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	46.0	327 of 605	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	59.5	210 of 586	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.7	165 of 575	71.3%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	61.6	9 of 35	74.3%	★★★★☆
2024	63.3	13 of 41	68.3%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2026	22.6	262 of 318	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	53.9	121 of 313	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.8	104 of 306	66.0%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2026	49.2	291 of 576	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	81.2	79 of 576	86.3%	★★★★☆
2024	73.7	119 of 579	79.4%	★★★★☆
2023	68.5	140 of 584	76.0%	★★★★☆
2022	60.9	197 of 596	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.7	200 of 587	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	83.7	58 of 592	90.2%	★★★★★
2018	91.9	20 of 574	96.5%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Multi-racial (2025)74th percentile+24 vs school

African American (2025)53rd percentile+3 vs school

White (2026)49th percentile+26 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)35th percentile+11 vs school

Hispanic (2026)31st percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)26th percentile~ school

Female (2026)26th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)18th percentile-6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)13th percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Kansas (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts42%-4 vs state

Mathematics31%-10 vs state

Science30%-8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Hillcrest Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				KAP English Language Arts (2026)				KAP Mathematics (2026)				KAP Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	KAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	KAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	KAP English Language Arts All Grades	KAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	KAP Mathematics 4th Grade	KAP Mathematics 5th Grade	KAP Mathematics All Grades	KAP Science 5th Grade	KAP Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Hillcrest Elementary	Public	K-5	1045 Hilltop Dr	Lawrence	66044	Douglas County	Lawrence	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 832-5720	393	33	11.8	61.8%	152 (38.7%)	44 (11.2%)	101 (25.7%)	30 (7.6%)	9 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (14.5%)	29.2	500^th of 657 public elementary schools	23.9%		50.7	329^th of 656 public elementary schools	49.8%	171	45.0	41.0	39.1	41.6	45.8	30.2	20.3	31.4	30.4	30.4	$15,010	$1,801	$13,208
Sunset Hill Elementary	Public	K-5	901 Schwarz Rd	Lawrence	66049	Douglas County	Lawrence	No	No	No	No	(785) 832-5880	398	28	13.9	51.3%	239 (60.1%)	17 (4.3%)	53 (13.3%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (20.4%)	41.6	403^rd of 657 public elementary schools	38.7%		41.6	397^th of 656 public elementary schools	39.5%	6	53.7	50.0	40.9	48.3	43.3	42.6	31.8	39.3	36.4	36.4	$12,739	$1,349	$11,389
Deerfield Elementary	Public	K-5	101 Lawrence Avenue	Lawrence	66049	Douglas County	Lawrence	No	No	No	No	(785) 832-5660	433	28	15.2	32.1%	296 (68.4%)	23 (5.3%)	46 (10.6%)	6 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	60 (13.9%)	69.2	184^th of 657 public elementary schools	72.0%		64.9	221^st of 656 public elementary schools	66.3%	37	51.9	61.4	63.5	59.0	53.9	54.8	57.3	55.3	52.0	52.0	$12,758	$952	$11,806
New York Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	936 New York Street	Lawrence	66044	Douglas County	Lawrence	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 832-5780	415	21	19.9	57.3%	213 (51.3%)	28 (6.7%)	74 (17.8%)	3 (0.7%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	91 (21.9%)	20	554^th of 657 public elementary schools	15.7%		17.6	565^th of 656 public elementary schools	13.9%	11	40.0	33.3	39.3	37.6	26.7	18.5	21.4	22.4	35.7	35.7	$12,988	$1,350	$11,637
Schwegler Elementary	Public	K-5	2201 Ousdahl Rd	Lawrence	66046	Douglas County	Lawrence	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 832-5860	434	31	13.9	61.5%	189 (43.5%)	32 (7.4%)	120 (27.6%)	10 (2.3%)	17 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (15.2%)	32.4	478^th of 657 public elementary schools	27.2%		34.6	456^th of 656 public elementary schools	30.5%	22	50.0	40.8	46.3	45.3	44.6	22.5	22.6	29.4	34.5	34.5	$13,578	$1,891	$11,687
Cordley Elementary	Public	K-5	204 West 19th Street	Lawrence	66044	Douglas County	Lawrence	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 832-5640	348	29	11.8	59.8%	183 (52.6%)	16 (4.6%)	75 (21.6%)	11 (3.2%)	8 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (15.8%)	55.8	282^nd of 657 public elementary schools	57.1%		56.3	284^th of 656 public elementary schools	56.7%	2	48.5	59.6	59.6	55.1	34.8	54.9	43.5	43.6	46.8	46.8	$15,910	$1,740	$14,170
Woodlawn Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	508 Elm St	Lawrence	66044	Douglas County	Lawrence	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 832-5920	240	20	12.1	52.1%	151 (62.9%)	14 (5.8%)	27 (11.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (17.9%)	31.5	483^rd of 657 public elementary schools	26.5%		36.5	442^nd of 656 public elementary schools	32.6%	41	41.5	50.0	39.0	43.4	39.0	32.5	35.0	35.5	25.6	25.6	$15,855	$1,316	$14,539
Quail Run Elementary	Public	K-5	1130 Inverness Drive	Lawrence	66049	Douglas County	Lawrence	No	No	No	No	(785) 832-5820	421	27	15.4	25.2%	297 (70.5%)	25 (5.9%)	32 (7.6%)	9 (2.1%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (12.6%)	80.5	93^rd of 657 public elementary schools	85.8%		78.8	114^th of 656 public elementary schools	82.6%	21	68.7	65.5	71.0	68.2	59.4	60.5	66.7	62.1	50.7	50.7	$12,666	$831	$11,835
Sunflower Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2521 Inverness Drive	Lawrence	66047	Douglas County	Lawrence	No	No	No	No	(785) 832-5870	444	33	13.3	43.0%	268 (60.4%)	32 (7.2%)	61 (13.7%)	11 (2.5%)	12 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (13.5%)	62.8	225^th of 657 public elementary schools	65.8%		63.1	233^rd of 656 public elementary schools	64.5%	8	55.6	67.5	54.4	59.4	52.4	50.6	43.0	48.4	48.1	48.1	$12,432	$1,230	$11,202
Prairie Park Elementary	Public	K-5	2711 Kensington Road	Lawrence	66046	Douglas County	Lawrence	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 832-5740	354	26	13.5	51.7%	196 (55.4%)	23 (6.5%)	44 (12.4%)	3 (0.8%)	14 (4.0%)	1 (0.3%)	73 (20.6%)	37.7	440^th of 657 public elementary schools	33.0%		42.2	392^nd of 656 public elementary schools	40.2%	48	54.1	52.5	43.6	50.9	26.2	40.7	26.3	31.6	38.5	38.5	$14,595	$1,489	$13,106

Frequently Asked Questions about Hillcrest Elementary

Is Hillcrest Elementary a good school?

Hillcrest Elementary ranks in the bottom 23.9% of Kansas elementary schools.

How many students attend Hillcrest Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 393 students attended Hillcrest Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Hillcrest Elementary attend?

Students who attend Hillcrest Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lawrence Southwest Middle School
High : Lawrence High

What district is Hillcrest Elementary in?

Lawrence

What is the racial makeup of Hillcrest Elementary?

Students at Hillcrest Elementary are 39% White, 26% Hispanic, 15% Two or more races, 11% African American, 8% Asian, 2% American Indian.

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Latest Kansas data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewNov 2, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesNewNov 1, 2026

2025–26 attendance dataOct 13, 2026

2025–26 KAP test scoresOct 13, 2026

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