At a Glance
A large, diverse high school with exceptional teacher trust and zero suspensions, serving a mixed-income Queens neighborhood with competitive specialized programs
Families seeking a large, diverse high school with strong teacher leadership and constructive discipline practices; students interested in Health Sciences, Media Arts, or education careers who can handle competitive admissions; families comfortable with a neighborhood that has moderate safety concerns and limited transit options.
- Exceptional teacher-principal trust (99%) — nearly unanimous
- Zero suspensions reported — a notable achievement in a large high school
- Three competitive specialized programs with low acceptance rates (10-20%)
- High parent satisfaction (94%)
- Strong teacher instruction quality ratings (93%)
- Diverse student body with 76% diversity index
- Test score data not available, limiting academic performance assessment
- Very low PTA fundraising ($1/student vs. $165 district average) may affect extracurricular funding
- Large enrollment (2,592) means less individual attention than smaller schools
- Neighborhood safety scores are below average (46.74)
- Selective programs are highly competitive — most applicants receive rejections
- 12% IEP population but limited specific special education details provided
Based on 2024-2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 28
In a district where peer elementary schools score 83-97 on quality metrics, Hillcrest High School cannot be directly compared as it's a different grade span. However, the school's survey performance exceeds district averages in parent satisfaction (94% vs. 92.6%) and teacher instruction quality (93% vs. 91.7%). The zero suspension rate is notably better than the district average of 0.37%.
Test score data was not available for this school year, making a full academic assessment difficult. However, the school offers AP courses, STEM programming, and three selective programs — Health Sciences Institute, Teachers of Tomorrow, and Academy of Media, Arts and Music — that together draw over 1,500 applicants annually. The Health Sciences program is particularly competitive with only a 10% offer rate, suggesting strong academic pathways for admitted students.
The survey data here is striking: 99% of teachers trust the principal, 94% of parents trust teachers, and the school recorded zero suspensions for the year. Teacher instruction quality scores 93%, above the district average. The family survey response rate of 59% (1,329 responses) indicates strong parent engagement in providing feedback. This combination of high trust, strong instruction ratings, and no suspensions suggests a school where discipline issues are handled constructively and relationships between staff, families, and leadership are healthy.
The student body reflects the neighborhood's diversity: 36% Hispanic, 30% Asian, 25% Black, and 3% White, with a diversity index of 76%. Twelve percent of students have IEPs. The economic need index of 75.6% indicates a majority of students come from families facing financial challenges. The neighborhood has a 44.2% BA+ education rate and 23% households with children, suggesting a mix of college-educated and working-class families sharing the same school community.
Jamaica Hills-Briarwood is a transit-accessible but car-dependent Queens neighborhood with a median home value of $612,332 and moderate homeownership at 39.6%. The area scores poorly on safety (46.74) and transit (27.59), though family density is average. The neighborhood has some green space and local commercial corridors, but parents should know crime density is elevated and air quality shows elevated PM2.5 levels. It's a working-to-middle-class community where families value education — reflected in the school's education orientation score of 54.79.
The area is moderately walkable with some local shops and good street accessibility, though most families likely commute by bus or car given the low transit score.
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 1329 families responded (59% rate)
Programs & Activities
Admissions Demand
NYS CTE Certified Nursing Assistant program that includes supervised clinical rotations with training from registered nurses and a developing Sports Medicine program with courses such as Exercise Physiology, Human Anatomy, and Nutrition. Students participate in the Health Professions Club and receive paid and unpaid internships in the health field and volunteer experience.
Through a partnership with CUNY, the PERC TAS program allows students to lead lessons and mentor struggling students in Living Environment and Algebra. Through our partnership with Junior Achievement, students participate in the HS Heroes program where they have the opportunity to teach for a day, twice each year. We offer a Teacher Assistant program through our foundations of education course and the opportunity to participate in job shadowing through American Express and ABC studios.
An Honors College Preparatory Program offering scholars four-year tracks in Media, Art, or Music. Media provides writing and publishing courses in Journalism, Model UN, Film, and Creative Writing with options for AP and CUNY College Now English. Art includes Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Design, Photoshop, and Printmaking with options for AP Studio Art and AP Art History. Musicians perform and compose with multiple opportunities in Band, Chorus, Drum Line, and String Ensemble.
Courses offered leading toward medical careers, AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, AP Art History, AP Calculus, AP Spanish, AP French, AP Computer Science, AP English Composition, AP English Literature, Chemistry, Anatomy, Physics, STEM Research Academy at York College, STEM Science Research Internship opportunities, NASA-Global Warming and Climate Change, Science Research-Environmental Science, Medical Laboratory, Microbiology, and CUNY College Now Courses.
Interpretation of dramatic literature, acting, directing, playwriting, improvisation, scenic design, filmmaking, and career counseling in the arts. Students are actively supported as they progress through the rigorous curriculum of the New York City Blueprint for Theater and a CUNY College Now Communications course.
CTE Law Academy courses include Forensics, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Constitutional Law and Legal Studies; preparation for public and community careers in legal, federal/state/local government agencies; College credit for selected courses; High School Law Institute at Columbia University and NYU; Participation in New York State Mock Trials, Moot Court competition and Police Explorers; Paid internship opportunities with the Justice Resource Center.
Biz-Tek prepares students for college and careers in a range of business and STEM fields. CTE endorsed programs in Virtual Enterprise, Cyber Security/Software Engineering, CAD/CAM -Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing; and Information Technology and Computer Networking, training for Cisco certifications, CompTIAA+, Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (C-CENT), and Cisco Certified Networking, Associate (CCNA).
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
PTA Fundraising
Source: DOE Local Law 171 disclosure
Economic Need & Special Populations
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Hillcrest High School a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for Hillcrest High School yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades 9 to 12 in Jamaica Hills-Briarwood.
- What grades does Hillcrest High School serve?
- Hillcrest High School serves grades 9 to 12.
- How do students get into Hillcrest High School?
- Hillcrest High School admits by audition — applicants are judged on a performance, portfolio, or talent area.
- Is Hillcrest High School public, charter, or private?
- Hillcrest High School is a public school in NYC Community School District 28.
- What neighborhood is Hillcrest High School in?
- Hillcrest High School is in Jamaica Hills-Briarwood, Queens.
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Discipline
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