Our school is helping all students develop World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by providing opportunities for students to be innovators and creators. Hillcrest Middle School offers a wide variety of both classes and clubs to challenge students' creative genius.
- Movie Making
- Video Editing
- Drama
- Robotics
- Computer Science for Innovators
- Design Model
- Creative Writing
- Broadcast Journalism
- Student Council
- Principal's Council
- National Beta
These and many other examples allow our students to think critically and solve real world problems in our classrooms and after school activities. We focus on collaborative settings embedded in teamwork. Hillcrest Middle is continuing to expand the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate in 2025-2026 by focusing on the soft skills required to be successful in life. The continuation of an advisory block (PAWS) will allow for the study and discussion of life characteristics, social/emotional learning, and the interpersonal skills.
Our staff includes published authors and illustrators, Top 10 Teacher of the Year Finalist for Greenville County Schools, VFW Teachers of the Year, Golden Apple Finalists, National Board Certified teachers, Orkin Start With Science Innovation Challenge recipient, Upstate Parent's Educators Who Make a Difference, South Carolina Paraprofessional of the Year (SC Association of School Librarians), South Carolina Middle School Counselor of the Year, STEM certified teachers and Distinguished Teachers of Reading. Our teachers work collaboratively in professional learning communities in order to provide student-centered classrooms where discovery, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration are facilitated in all content areas. We will continue to work in interdisciplinary teams focusing on the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) essential attributes and the characteristics of successful schools. The implementation of the Hillcrest Middle School Philosophy is made possible through the adoption of the 16 characteristics of the AMLE:
Culture and Community
- Educators respect and value young adolescents.
- The school environment is welcoming, inclusive, and affirming for all.
- Every student’s academic and personal development is guided by an adult advocate.
- School safety is address proactively, justly, and thoughtfully.
- Comprehensive counseling and support services meet the needs of young adolescents.
- The school engages families as valued partners.
- The school collaborates with community and business partners.
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
- Educators are specifically prepared to teach young adolescents and possess a depth of understanding in the content areas they teach.
- Curriculum is challenging, exploratory, integrative, and diverse.
- Health, wellness, and social-emotional competence are supported in curricula, school-wide programs, and related policies.
- Instruction fosters learning that is active, purposeful, and democratic.
- Varied and ongoing assessments advance learning as well as measure it.
Leadership and Organization
- A shared vision developed by all stakeholders guides every decision
- Policies and practices are student-centered, unbiased, and fairly implemented.
- Leaders are committed to and knowledgeable about young adolescents, equitable practices, and educational research.
- Leaders demonstrate courage and collaboration.
- Professional learning for all staff is relevant, long term, and job embedded.
- Organizational structures foster purposeful learning and meaningful relationships.
All of our classrooms have multi-media capabilities, all students have district issued chrome books and all teachers infuse technology, the arts and literacy into their standards. We offer Algebra 1, English 1, Spanish 1, Advanced Art, Advanced Chorus, Advanced Band, Advanced Strings, Advanced Theatre, Cyber Citizenship, Graphic Design, Creative Writing, Digital Publication Design, and Fundamentals of Computing for high school credit. Our 8th grade earned a combined total of 446 high school credits in 2024-25.
Our band, chorus, and strings programs consistently earn superior and superior with distinction ratings with more than 150 students continuing to earn solo/ensemble awards. We are proud of our multiple community partnerships and our award-winning PTA. Such partnerships allow our students to participate in community service projects and career information days. We work to expose our students to all career clusters by introducing them to Naviance, participating in field studies at the Career Center, the Fine Arts Center, and Clemson University. We constantly welcome guest speakers (both in-person and virtual) from across all clusters at Lunch and Learns and school assemblies.
Hillcrest Middle School earned a rating of Excellent on the South Carolina School Report Card and was recognized as a Palmetto Gold school in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
