At a glance
Reported students
316
NCES CCD 2024–25
Teachers (FTE)
23.43
NCES CCD 2024–25
Student–teacher ratio
13.5:1
Calculated; not a class-size measure
Grades served
PK–03
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
School benchmarks
South Dakota elementary enrollment
73rd percentile
Compared with 316 same-level schools reporting enrollment.
District median enrollment
516
Hillcrest Elementary - 04: 316 reported students.
State peer staffing position
60th percentile
13.5:1 reported; state peer median 12.7:1. Ratio is not class size.
Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22
These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.
- Students
- 303
- Teachers (FTE)
- 25
- Student–teacher ratio
- 12.1:1
What the reported data says about Hillcrest Elementary - 04
Hillcrest Elementary - 04 is a public elementary school serving grades PK–03 in Brookings. It is one of 6 current school records connected to Brookings School District 05-1. NCES reports 316 students for 2024–25.
Among 316 elementary schools in South Dakota with comparable records, this school is larger than the reported median of 149.5 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 73rd percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.
The reported student–teacher ratio is 13.5:1, close to the South Dakota median of 12.7:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.
The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are White (74.4%) and Hispanic or Latino (9.5%). English learners represent 5.9% of enrollment. Students served under IDEA represent 27.7%. These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.
Questions worth asking Hillcrest Elementary - 04
- 1How do the reported 13.5:1 student–teacher ratio and 23.43 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
- 2Which advanced, gifted, career, arts, and computer-science courses are available this year, and how do students qualify?
- 3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 1 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
- 4What meal assistance, transportation, after-school, and family-support services are currently available?
Enrollment needs
- English learners
- 5.9%
- Students with disabilities
- 27.7%
- Free/reduced-price lunch
- 26.3%
- Lunch program
- Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Reported support staff
- Counselors (FTE)
- 1
- Nurses (FTE)
- 0.7
- Psychologists (FTE)
- 0.33
- Social workers (FTE)
- 0.15
CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White74.4%
- Hispanic9.5%
- Black2.8%
- Asian3.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native2.5%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial7%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.
Programs reported by the school
Gifted and talented
Not reported as offered
CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.
Other schools in Brookings School District 05-1
Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.
Medary Elementary - 05
Elementary · Grades PK–03
358 reported students
Dakota Prairie Elementary - 07
Elementary · Grades PK–03
509 reported students
Camelot Intermediate - 06
Elementary · Grades 04–05
523 reported students
George S. Mickelson Middle School - 02
Middle · Grades 06–08
780 reported students
Brookings High School - 01
High · Grades 09–12
979 reported students
Public schools near Hillcrest Elementary - 04
Closest campuses by straight-line distance between NCES geocodes, favoring the same school level. Distance is not drive time or an attendance assignment.
| School | Grades | Students | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookings High School - 01 High · Brookings School District 05-1 | 09–12 | 979 | 0.7 mi |
| Medary Elementary - 05 Elementary · Brookings School District 05-1 | PK–03 | 358 | 0.9 mi |
| Camelot Intermediate - 06 Elementary · Brookings School District 05-1 | 04–05 | 523 | 1.3 mi |
| Dakota Prairie Elementary - 07 Elementary · Brookings School District 05-1 | PK–03 | 509 | 2.5 mi |
| Sioux Valley Elementary - 02 Elementary · Sioux Valley School District 05-5 | KG–05 | 372 | 7.1 mi |
| Rolland Colony Elementary - 05 Elementary · Elkton School District 05-3 | KG–08 | 9 | 9.6 mi |
Frequently asked questions about Hillcrest Elementary - 04
What grades does Hillcrest Elementary - 04 serve?
Hillcrest Elementary - 04 reports grades PK–03 in the NCES 2025–26 preliminary directory. It is classified as an elementary school in Brookings School District 05-1.
How many students attend Hillcrest Elementary - 04?
Hillcrest Elementary - 04 reported 316 students in the NCES 2024–25 membership file. That places it near the 73rd percentile among 316 South Dakota elementary schools reporting enrollment. The 2021–22 civil-rights collection recorded 303 students.
What is the student–teacher ratio at Hillcrest Elementary - 04?
The calculated ratio is 13.5:1, based on 316 students and 23.43 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers in 2024–25. The South Dakota median for the same school level is 12.7:1. A ratio is not the same as average class size.
Is Hillcrest Elementary - 04 a public, charter, or magnet school?
Hillcrest Elementary - 04 is a public school. Enrollment is generally based on Brookings School District 05-1 attendance boundaries and transfer rules.
What share of Hillcrest Elementary - 04 students qualify for free or reduced-price meals?
26.3% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. This describes the students served and is not a quality measure.
Which school district is Hillcrest Elementary - 04 in?
Hillcrest Elementary - 04 is part of Brookings School District 05-1, based in Brookings, SD, which operates 6 current schools. Confirm attendance zones and enrollment rules with the district.
What public schools are near Hillcrest Elementary - 04?
The closest public schools by straight-line distance include Brookings High School - 01 (0.7 mi), Medary Elementary - 05 (0.9 mi), Camelot Intermediate - 06 (1.3 mi). Distance does not determine eligibility; attendance boundaries and program rules do.