Hillcrest High School (HHS) is helping all students develop the world class skills and life and career characteristics of the Profile of the Graduate by providing a safe, positive and always-growing learning environment. Many Hillcrest High faculty members hold masters degrees, masters plus thirty, as well as additional degree certifications such as National Board, Advanced Placement, and Gifted and Talented. They are highly qualified in their subject areas. Hillcrest High School continues to see an increase of student test scores.
As a result, Hillcrest High School students scored an average of 73% on all EOC tests. In addition, the graduation rate was 88.2% in 2017. This represents an 8.8% increase over a four-year span. The Class of 2018 had 30 students recognized as Palmetto Fellows and the class earned over $13 million in college scholarships. The number of seniors attending a 2-year or 4-year college rose to 89%.
Hillcrest offers many opportunities for its students beginning with the Freshman Academy for ninth grade students who attend freshmen core classes in a separate location. The Freshman Academy faculty begin planning during the summer and conduct ongoing collaboration during the school year to design, modify, and monitor student progress to ensure a successful beginning to the high school years. In order to prepare students and parents for high school, HHS offers a Parent’s Night prior to school starting. During this event, parents tour the school, visit individual classrooms and are informed of the various opportunities available to students. Simultaneously, the in-coming freshmen participate in their first pep rally, learn school cheers, and learn experience a typical day in the life of a Hillcrest High School student. In the 2017-18 school year, approximately 520 ninth grade students and their parents attended this event.
Hillcrest High School provides a variety of opportunities for student involvement at all grade levels. Hillcrest has a Speech and Debate program that continuously has district, state and national winners. Hillcrest’s Fine Arts Department is also a leader in our school district. This past year several students placed in state events and many others were selected for All State Chorus, All State Band, and All State Strings. Hillcrest also has one of the top athletic programs in the state with 22 varsity and 24 Sub Varsity teams that are consistently some of the top athletic teams in our state. In addition, Hillcrest offers a variety of extracurricular and academic clubs to students. Our student body, in partnership with the community, raised over $106,000 to support the South Carolina Make-A-Wish organization. The Greenhouse Industries program at Hillcrest sponsors plant sales throughout the year, offering student-grown plants and flowers to the public. The program has earned over $70,000 since its inception and recognized by the state as an exemplary program.
Students have ample opportunity to investigate their interests through many outstanding classes and ongoing engagement with the Guidance Department. Our Guidance Department works with students and parents to ensure students’ needs are met and that students are on track for graduation. An Individual Graduation Plan is developed for every student that incorporates student interests, skills, and talents. Students participate in interest assessments, job shadowing, work-site visits, and have access to career experts in an effort to help them evaluate and determine their career interests. These evaluations enable each student, in collaboration with their guidance counselor, to determine which classes best meet their needs and goals.
A source of pride for the Simpsonville-Fountain Inn Community, Hillcrest is proud of its students and faculty and their accomplishments. Dedicated to providing a safe, positive and ever-growing learning environment, Hillcrest High School strives to bring together the resources of staff, family, and our community to create the best future possible for our students.
Bryan Skipper, Principal
Scott Buhr, SIC Chairperson