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Hillcrest Elementary

Q: Is Hillcrest Elementary a good school?

Hillcrest Elementary ranks 981 st of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Hillcrest Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 254 students attended Hillcrest Elementary.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Hillcrest Elementary?

Students at Hillcrest Elementary are 72% Hispanic, 15% White, 7% African American, 7% Two or more races.

Q: What schools do graduates of Hillcrest Elementary attend?

Students who attend Hillcrest Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Walter R Johnson Middle High : Freedom High

Public Grades PK, KG-5

981^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 34% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Hillcrest Elementary is a PK–5 public school in Morganton, NC, serving 254 students in Burke County Schools. Nearly all of its students (97.6%) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a poverty level shared by most elementary schools in the district. The school's 2025–26 state rank of 981 out of 1,492 elementary schools (34th percentile, 2 stars) reflects steady improvement from the 10th percentile in 2021–22 and the 21st percentile in the two years that followed. Among nearby schools with similar student profiles, Hillcrest now outperforms Forest Hill Elementary and Oak Hill Elementary, keeps pace with Mountain View Elementary, and sits behind higher-ranked Salem Elementary, Drexel Elementary, Mull Elementary, Valdese Elementary, Glen Alpine Elementary, and W A Young Elementary.

Hillcrest's strengths go well beyond its ranking. Chronic absenteeism is just 9.8% — far below the district average of 18.3% and the state average of 24.2%. The school is especially effective with its highest-need students: English learners scored in the 76th statewide percentile, low-income students in the 69th, and Hispanic students in the 57th. Early elementary results are another bright spot: 3rd graders beat state averages in reading (61.8% vs. 55.6%) and math (67.6% vs. 66.4%) in 2025–26. Hillcrest also invests heavily in its students, spending $11,197 per pupil — the most among nearby elementary schools — while keeping its student-teacher ratio at 14.0.

The most urgent challenge is reading in the upper grades. While 3rd graders are thriving, only 37.1% of 4th graders and 25.6% of 5th graders are proficient, compared with state averages of 57.7% and 55.3%. Nearby Salem Elementary — just 4.4 miles away with a similarly high poverty rate — ranks in the 82nd percentile statewide with stronger scores in every grade, showing what Hillcrest can aim for. Overall, Hillcrest is a school in transition: attendance is a clear asset, early-grade and high-need subgroup results are improving, and the state ranking keeps climbing. The next milestone is carrying those gains into the upper grades and closing the reading gap.

254

Students ?

14.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

97.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

201 Tennessee Street
Morganton, NC 28655

(828) 437-4258

District: Burke County Schools

Students who attend Hillcrest Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Walter R Johnson Middle
High:	Freedom High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

71.7%

White:

15.0%

African American:

6.7%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Hillcrest Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 24th percentile in 2016 → 34th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (51% vs 61% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Reading scores 16 pts below the North Carolina average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school51%

District avg62%

North Carolina avg61%

981^st of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 34%▲ up 10 pts since 2016

From bottom 24% (2016) to bottom 34% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

83^rd of 246Burke County Schools among North Carolina 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	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	36.0	981 of 1492	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	25.1	1181 of 1490	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.7	1184 of 1505	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.2	1226 of 1502	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	14.6	1367 of 1514	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	16.7	1276 of 1489	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.6	1010 of 1473	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	18.2	1234 of 1434	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	21.5	1194 of 1429	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	29.6	1081 of 1425	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	38.8	937 of 1440	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	45.8	767 of 1390	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	48.1	696 of 1403	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	58.4	639 of 1388	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	60.5	600 of 1381	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	80.3	190 of 1363	86.1%	★★★★☆
2009	80.6	191 of 1354	85.9%	★★★★☆
2008	60.8	535 of 1324	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	62.7	494 of 1293	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2006	66.8	393 of 1276	69.2%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2018	16.5	863 of 897	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	63.4	124 of 519	76.1%	★★★★☆
2025	42.6	296 of 563	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.9	382 of 533	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	44.1	261 of 514	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.3	336 of 485	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.9	236 of 385	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.4	281 of 497	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.8	300 of 421	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	33.2	1029 of 1447	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	32.6	1036 of 1451	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.2	1159 of 1455	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.0	1064 of 1459	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.0	1185 of 1458	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.8	1174 of 1440	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.8	998 of 1424	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	14.7	1279 of 1405	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	54.2	420 of 981	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.7	581 of 961	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.2	593 of 951	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.2	550 of 915	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.3	725 of 893	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.8	670 of 843	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.7	562 of 865	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	25.1	729 of 851	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	62.5	444 of 1434	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	42.1	863 of 1437	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.4	903 of 1450	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.8	951 of 1437	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.5	957 of 1366	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.3	935 of 1329	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	55.0	581 of 1361	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	36.8	917 of 1332	31.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	39.1	896 of 1451	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	22.6	1207 of 1450	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.9	1145 of 1464	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.3	1246 of 1461	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	10.3	1391 of 1464	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.9	1276 of 1444	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.9	922 of 1430	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	25.0	1143 of 1413	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	0.7	1181 of 1183	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	15.2	1093 of 1172	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	23.6	1013 of 1178	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2026)76th percentile+42 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)69th percentile+35 vs school

Hispanic (2026)57th percentile+23 vs school

Male (2026)38th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)29th percentile-5 vs school

Disabled (2018)4th percentile-10 vs school

White (2023)<1st percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science65%-3 vs state

Mathematics57%-6 vs state

Reading40%-16 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, September 9, 2015

The teachers are grate. They have a really good sports director. There eogs scores are good. My son has went there for 5 years and I have never had any trouble with any one there. Close Quote

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)				EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Hillcrest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	201 Tennessee Street	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 437-4258	254	18	14.0	97.6%	38 (15.0%)	17 (6.7%)	182 (71.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.7%)	36	981^st of 1492 public elementary schools	34.2%		25.1	1181^st of 1490 public elementary schools	20.7%	200	67.6	45.7	58.1				61.8	37.1	25.6				65.1		$11,197	$1,694	$9,503
New Dimensions	Public, Charter	K-8	550 Lenoir Road	Morganton	28655	Burke County	The New Dimensions School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(828) 437-5753	569	39	14.7	33.0%	500 (87.9%)	21 (3.7%)	13 (2.3%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (5.4%)	44.4	837^th of 1492 public elementary schools	43.9%		58.1	596^th of 1490 public elementary schools	60.0%	241	76.1	71.4	51.4	54.2	50.9	67.9	52.2	50.0	45.7	50.0	62.3	69.8	52.9	69.8
Mountain View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	805 Bouchelle St	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 437-1584	762	52	14.5	97.8%	287 (37.7%)	58 (7.6%)	346 (45.4%)	12 (1.6%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	56 (7.3%)	38.3	938^th of 1492 public elementary schools	37.1%		28.6	1107^th of 1490 public elementary schools	25.7%	169	69.9	56.1	54.8				48.8	43.9	42.3				60.6		$9,734	$1,324	$8,410
Forest Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	304 Ann Street	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 437-5906	305	19	15.8	99.0%	78 (25.6%)	25 (8.2%)	175 (57.4%)	7 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (6.6%)	20.5	1272^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	14.7%		23.1	1217^th of 1490 public elementary schools	18.3%	55	53.3	45.7	36.4				48.9	37.0	38.6				52.3		$10,628	$1,562	$9,066
Mull Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1140 Old NC 18 South	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 437-5785	291	20	14.2	98.6%	203 (69.8%)	8 (2.7%)	48 (16.5%)	13 (4.5%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.8%)	51.9	694^th of 1492 public elementary schools	53.5%		64	499^th of 1490 public elementary schools	66.5%	195	63.6	49.0	81.1				47.7	47.1	62.2				83.8		$11,063	$1,857	$9,205
Drexel Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Alta Vista Street	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 437-3160	477	29	16.4	98.7%	316 (66.2%)	23 (4.8%)	55 (11.5%)	41 (8.6%)	4 (0.8%)	3 (0.6%)	35 (7.3%)	72.2	375^th of 1492 public elementary schools	74.9%		51	733^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	50.8%	358	75.3	76.2	66.2				62.4	74.6	57.4				75.0		$9,435	$1,433	$8,002
Salem Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1329 Salem Road	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 437-5901	476	28	17.0	98.7%	377 (79.2%)	3 (0.6%)	65 (13.7%)	8 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (4.6%)	77.2	275^th of 1492 public elementary schools	81.6%		70.7	378^th of 1490 public elementary schools	74.6%	103	76.3	77.3	78.3				65.0	64.9	63.3				78.3		$9,182	$1,028	$8,153
Oak Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2363 Nc 181	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 433-1533	310	20	15.2	99.0%	194 (62.6%)	40 (12.9%)	38 (12.3%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	34 (11.0%)	30.4	1082^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	27.5%		29.1	1102^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	26.0%	20	46.0	53.8	52.2				34.0	48.1	52.2				63.0		$9,195	$1,040	$8,155
W A Young Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	325 Conley Road	Morganton	28655	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 584-0632	327	25	12.9	95.4%	246 (75.2%)	4 (1.2%)	22 (6.7%)	32 (9.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (7.0%)	63.5	527^th of 1492 public elementary schools	64.7%		37.9	953^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	36.0%	426	71.7	73.9	56.1				52.2	63.0	63.4				75.6		$10,309	$1,352	$8,957
Valdese Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	298 Praley Street	Valdese	28690	Burke County	Burke County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 874-0704	530	30	17.8	99.4%	422 (79.6%)	11 (2.1%)	44 (8.3%)	25 (4.7%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	24 (4.5%)	59.4	593^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	60.3%		56.5	623^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	58.2%	30	62.2	53.3	78.7				62.2	45.6	60.6				81.9		$8,594	$1,111	$7,483

Frequently Asked Questions about Hillcrest Elementary

How many students attend Hillcrest Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 254 students attended Hillcrest Elementary.

What district is Hillcrest Elementary in?

Burke County Schools

Is Hillcrest Elementary a good school?

Hillcrest Elementary ranks 981^st of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Hillcrest Elementary?

Students at Hillcrest Elementary are 72% Hispanic, 15% White, 7% African American, 7% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Hillcrest Elementary attend?

Students who attend Hillcrest Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Walter R Johnson Middle
High : Freedom High

Rate Hillcrest Elementary!

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesNewSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresNewSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

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.