Hillcrest High School Celebrates Academic Progress

Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills is marking academic achievements as the 2026-27 school year begins. In the previous year, the District 228 school reported an impressive 99% OnTrack rate for freshmen and a 99% course pass rate across both semesters, according to a news release. Additionally, the school reached a 91% graduation rate, an improvement from the prior year.

School leaders have focused on enhancing student success over the last five years. They have implemented grade-level teams, expanded support staff, and fostered stronger connections between students and educators. Five years ago, the school evaluated its support for freshmen and decided to extend this support to all grades.

“We looked at all the success we started to see at the freshman level, and we were like, ‘Why shouldn’t we do this across all grades,’” said Colin Milton, associate principal for student success.

Currently, Hillcrest provides learning centers for every grade. This development signifies the school’s commitment to aiding students of all ages. The school features learning centers specifically for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, alongside a digital learning center for students needing credit recovery, as noted by school administrators.

The student success team operates these centers. Each center includes a coordinator, part-time tutors, and full-time professionals. Ronald Towner, assistant superintendent for personnel, explained that staff access grades through Power School. This K-12 cloud software helps them assist students effectively.

A news release stated that approximately 80 staff members are dedicated to student support at Hillcrest. Associate Principal Jim Curtin described school improvement days. These meetings, held monthly with all staff, identify students who might struggle. The student success team also reviews data and student progress in weekly meetings.

Curtin emphasized the importance of identifying students who might otherwise slip through the cracks by using these meetings and a-grade level team structure. Moreover, Hillcrest has reported a 77% decrease in major disciplinary incidents, which are serious violations like drug use and fights. Curtin noted that understanding students’ home environments and elevating expectations have led to better behavior.

“As we raise the expectations for kids, they just keep on meeting those expectations or surpassing them,” Curtin added.

Milton stated that this comprehensive support has improved attendance by 26% in the past five years. School authorities treat academics, attendance, and behavior as interconnected elements influencing student success.

“That was always sort of a light bulb moment as a teacher, when you found out what a child might have been going through outside our building,” Towner remarked.

Principal Eric Washington expressed pride in the staff’s efforts in a news release. “Everyone in this building has put in a lot of hard work over the past five years to achieve the success we’ve had. However, there is more to be done. We are happy, but we are not satisfied,” Washington concluded.