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Hillcrest School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1010^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,331 New Jersey Elementary Schools

Better than 24% of New Jersey elementary schools

Summary

Hillcrest School is a PK–5 elementary school in Somerset, New Jersey, serving 439 students in Franklin Township Public School District. In 2025–2026, its average proficiency across grades 3–5 was 34% in English Language Arts (ELA) and 31% in math; fifth-grade science proficiency was 16%. The most important takeaway is that Hillcrest was below both district and state proficiency levels in every tested subject, with its largest gap against the state in math.

Compared with its three nearby Franklin Township peers, Hillcrest’s ELA and math averages were lower: Pine Grove Manor School had 43% in ELA and 42% in math, MacAfee Road School had 54% and 52%, and Conerly Road School had 46% and 37%. Hillcrest’s fifth-grade science result, 16%, was also below all three, though above the average of the other nearby schools listed. Within Hillcrest, grade 4 ELA is a clear weak spot: 25% were proficient, compared with 37% in grade 3 and 41% in grade 5. Across the school, science had the smallest gaps with state and district results, while math had the largest state gap.

Results have improved in ELA and science since 2022–2023: the ELA average rose by 8 percentage points, and grade 5 science increased by 2 points. Math improved by 3 points, but its gap with the state widened slightly, from 15.7 to 16.2 percentage points. SchoolDigger rates Hillcrest at the 24th percentile and 1 star statewide in 2025–2026; its percentile has been higher than its 17th-percentile low in 2021–2022, but remains below its Franklin Township peers. Its student-teacher ratio was 9.2 in 2024–2025, and 61% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that year. One notable SchoolDigger subgroup result is that Hillcrest ranks at the 59th percentile for African American students, 35 points above its overall percentile; that subgroup ranking has fallen 22 points since 2024–2025.

439

Students ?

9.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,883

Per pupil spending ?

60.6%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

500 Franklin Blvd
Somerset, NJ 08873-3030

(732) 246-0170

District: Franklin Township Public School District

Students who attend Hillcrest School usually attend:

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

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

53.1%

African American:

23.0%

Asian:

12.3%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 22nd percentile in 2016 → 24th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the New Jersey average (30% vs 45% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

!Mathematics scores 16 pts below the New Jersey average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school30%

District avg40%

New Jersey avg45%

1,010^th of 1,331

New Jersey public elementary schools ?

Bottom 24%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of New Jersey Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 7Elementary Schools in the Franklin Township Public School District

438^th of 607Franklin Township Public School District among New Jersey 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	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	24.5	1010 of 1331	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.4	1028 of 1347	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.7	1066 of 1338	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.0	1039 of 1342	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.4	1114 of 1345	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.6	979 of 1317	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.2	1081 of 1360	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.1	1070 of 1353	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	27.6	1017 of 1352	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	25.5	1052 of 1346	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	28.3	996 of 1357	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	31.3	1033 of 1363	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	17.7	1169 of 1367	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	32.5	1028 of 1363	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	26.7	1099 of 1360	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	35.9	1003 of 1354	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	41.9	923 of 1346	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	54.6	774 of 1338	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	43.2	950 of 1329	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	36.0	995 of 1314	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	48.6	834 of 1303	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2004	44.2	884 of 1298	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2003	49.4	728 of 1204	39.5%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	54.5	180 of 434	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	71.0	90 of 463	80.6%	★★★★☆
2024	67.2	116 of 469	75.3%	★★★★☆
2023	64.1	133 of 463	71.3%	★★★★☆
2022	48.4	240 of 494	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.7	229 of 456	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	42.2	306 of 522	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.4	377 of 517	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	16.6	305 of 341	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	3.8	311 of 340	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	0.0	328 of 346	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	2.4	316 of 348	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	37.5	244 of 370	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.3	261 of 370	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	36.0	349 of 581	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.0	381 of 597	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.9	283 of 559	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.2	360 of 499	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.2	308 of 489	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.2	232 of 411	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.5	257 of 463	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	15.9	393 of 434	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	22.1	1038 of 1311	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	21.4	1038 of 1326	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.3	1028 of 1317	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.8	935 of 1318	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.0	1038 of 1326	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.5	953 of 1290	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.8	1094 of 1331	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.4	990 of 1333	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	32.4	719 of 991	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	26.4	778 of 1032	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.5	784 of 989	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.6	729 of 982	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.2	744 of 953	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	35.3	588 of 896	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	20.4	715 of 899	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.7	693 of 870	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	31.2	760 of 1002	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	34.3	735 of 1023	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.1	700 of 939	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.7	592 of 910	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	27.0	644 of 863	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	39.0	509 of 839	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.7	651 of 948	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	25.3	782 of 942	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	29.7	917 of 1306	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.2	924 of 1318	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	24.0	983 of 1313	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.3	1061 of 1315	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.8	1107 of 1324	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.0	937 of 1297	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.3	941 of 1335	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.8	1059 of 1334	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	31.5	634 of 970	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.2	640 of 1023	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.2	482 of 989	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	31.1	601 of 958	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	17.0	826 of 949	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.7	749 of 868	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.6	848 of 1007	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2026)59th percentile+34 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)40th percentile+16 vs school

Special Education (2026)35th percentile+11 vs school

Male (2026)30th percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2026)27th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)24th percentile~ school

Female (2026)21st percentile-3 vs school

Asian (2026)11th percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs New Jersey (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts34%-15 vs state

Mathematics31%-16 vs state

Science16%-11 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, June 15, 2016

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

Schools Near Hillcrest School

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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)				NJSLA-S Science (2026)		NJSLA English Language Arts (2026)						NJSLA Mathematics (2026)						NJSLA Algebra I (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	NJSLA-S Science 5th Grade	NJSLA-S Science 8th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 4th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 5th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 6th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 7th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 8th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 3rd Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 4th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 5th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 6th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 7th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 8th Grade	NJSLA Algebra I 8th Grade	NJSLA Algebra I End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Hillcrest School	Public	PK, KG-5	500 Franklin Blvd	Somerset	08873	Somerset County	Franklin Township Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(732) 246-0170	439	47	9.2	60.6%	37 (8.4%)	101 (23.0%)	233 (53.1%)	54 (12.3%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.5%)	24.5	1010^th of 1331 public elementary schools	24.1%		24.4	1028^th of 1347 public elementary schools	23.7%	18	16.0		37.0	25.2	40.7				34.7	30.7	27.5						$17,883	$520	$17,363
Pine Grove Manor School	Public	PK, KG-5	130 Highland Avenue	Somerset	08873	Somerset County	Franklin Township Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(732) 246-2424	346	41	8.4	76.9%	12 (3.5%)	58 (16.8%)	251 (72.5%)	17 (4.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.7%)	37.9	832^nd of 1331 public elementary schools	37.5%		35.5	877^th of 1347 public elementary schools	34.9%	45	17.8		51.7	35.7	42.2				45.2	42.8	37.8						$19,578	$636	$18,942
MacAfee Road School	Public	PK, KG-5	53 Macafee Road	Somerset	08873	Somerset County	Franklin Township Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(732) 249-9097	405	40	10.1	33.1%	83 (20.5%)	145 (35.8%)	100 (24.7%)	43 (10.6%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.7%)	27 (6.7%)	63.3	509^th of 1331 public elementary schools	61.8%		57.6	574^th of 1347 public elementary schools	57.4%	65	39.1		49.0	51.0	62.0				51.1	47.0	59.2						$17,675	$259	$17,416
Mckinley Community School	Public	PK, KG-8	15 Van Dyke Ave	New Brunswick	08901	Middlesex County	New Brunswick School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(732) 745-5300	524	64	8.1	92.9%	6 (1.1%)	81 (15.5%)	431 (82.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	17	1123^rd of 1331 public elementary schools	15.6%		18.9	1112^th of 1347 public elementary schools	17.4%	11	10.5	2.9	30.0	32.5	31.6	20.0	24.3	22.9	27.5	21.0	26.3	13.3	37.8	5.6	47.1	47.1	$41,034	$2,445	$38,589
Conerly Road School	Public	PK, KG-5	35 Conerly Road	Somerset	08873	Somerset County	Franklin Township Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(732) 249-9362	350	36	9.7	31.1%	62 (17.7%)	122 (34.9%)	94 (26.9%)	49 (14.0%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.4%)	39.5	810^th of 1331 public elementary schools	39.1%		51.8	656^th of 1347 public elementary schools	51.3%	154	20.0		48.5	46.3	44.4				34.3	44.4	33.3						$18,391	$256	$18,135
Greater Brunswick Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	429 Joyce Kilmer Avenue	New Brunswick	08901	Middlesex County	Greater Brunswick Charter School	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(732) 448-1052	397	21	18.9	83.1%	2 (0.5%)	21 (5.3%)	367 (92.4%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	22.4	1040^th of 1331 public elementary schools	21.9%		18.8	1113^th of 1347 public elementary schools	17.4%	73	6.5	13.6	26.6	22.8	41.3	38.3	32.5	40.9	22.2	29.5	28.2	34.0	30.0	4.2	75.0	75.0	$14,713	$828	$13,885
Blanquita B. Valenti Community School	Public	K-8	50 Jersey Ave	New Brunswick	08901	Middlesex County	New Brunswick School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(732) 745-5300	810	73	11.1	93.7%	2 (0.2%)	25 (3.1%)	779 (96.2%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	20.1	1073^rd of 1331 public elementary schools	19.4%		15.4	1166^th of 1347 public elementary schools	13.4%	93	15.8	7.4	22.4	21.7	34.5	33.6	35.2	34.3	22.4	31.3	26.7	19.7	19.5	13.6	94.1	94.1	$22,891	$1,049	$21,842
Lincoln Elementary School	Public	K-5	66 Bartlett Street	New Brunswick	08901	Middlesex County	New Brunswick School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(732) 745-5300	356	43	8.3	93.3%	2 (0.6%)	9 (2.5%)	342 (96.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	7.8	1270^th of 1331 public elementary schools	4.6%		11.5	1220^th of 1347 public elementary schools	9.4%	50	3.3		18.2	11.9	30.0				15.2	14.3	13.3						$27,765	$1,029	$26,736
Livingston Elementary School	Public	K-5	206 Delavan Street	New Brunswick	08901	Middlesex County	New Brunswick School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(732) 745-5300	342	33	10.3	93.3%	2 (0.6%)	18 (5.3%)	319 (93.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	3.5	1328^th of 1331 public elementary schools	0.2%		6.3	1305^th of 1347 public elementary schools	3.1%	23	0.0		3.5	11.1	10.0				3.5	4.7	8.0						$26,118	$1,290	$24,828
A Chester Redshaw School	Public	PK, KG-5	216 Livingston Avenue	New Brunswick	08901	Middlesex County	New Brunswick School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(732) 745-5300	678	66	10.3	88.6%	5 (0.7%)	29 (4.3%)	636 (93.8%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	13.3	1174^th of 1331 public elementary schools	11.8%		18.7	1114^th of 1347 public elementary schools	17.3%	60	6.8		23.5	20.5	28.4				22.9	28.0	19.4						$25,219	$1,060	$24,159

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