What Hillcrest Educational Centers does

Hillcrest Educational Centers, Inc. is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating under the Hillcrest Educational Foundation, headquartered in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and serving children and adolescents with complex psychiatric, behavioral, and developmental disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorders. The organization runs three specialized residential campuses — Highpoint (Lenox, 56 beds, males aged 11–21 with high-risk behaviors), Brookside ITU (Great Barrington, 26 beds, females aged 8–18 with severe behavioral/psychiatric challenges), and the Hillcrest Center ASD Program (Lenox, 28 beds, autism-specific facility) — plus the Hillcrest Academy therapeutic day school in Pittsfield (54 students, ages 6–22), Hillcrest Dental Care (Pittsfield and North Adams), and the Berkshire County Kids' Place children's advocacy center.

The clinical model combines Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) — supervised by Board Certified Behavior Analysts and incorporating Discrete Trial Training and reinforcement procedures — with the proprietary "Skills for Life Treatment Model," a trauma-informed, family-driven Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) framework. State-licensed, Joint Commission-accredited, and Massachusetts DESE-approved, Hillcrest uses high staffing ratios (up to 1:3 residential at Highpoint; 6:1:1 at the Academy) and operates year-round including a 7-week summer session. Data collection systems track progress across social, communication, academic, vocational, recreational, and behavioral domains.

Hillcrest's revenue derives from a managed-services model funded by tuition and per diem payments through government contracts — primarily Massachusetts Department of Education, NY State and NYC DOE IDEA grants, and contracts with DCF and DYS — supplemented by charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Admissions are referral-driven through school districts, child welfare agencies, and community partners such as the Brien Center, The Key Program, and United Cerebral Palsy, with an interdisciplinary team screening referrals within 24 hours. The organization is a top employer in Berkshire County, supporting students from across the Northeast and, in some cases, nationally.

Name

Hillcrest Educational Centers

Legal name

Hillcrest Educational Centers, Inc.

Website

https://hillcrestec.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Hillcrest Educational Centers is a Berkshire County, Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing residential treatment, therapeutic day school, and dental services for children and adolescents with complex psychiatric, behavioral, and developmental disorders, including autism, using trauma-informed and ABA-based clinical models.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education and Residential Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism-Specific Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP) (HLAFAJAL), Autism (ASD) Support Childcare (HSAAAIAA)

Keywords

• Residential treatment services
• Special education programs
• Applied behavior analysis
• Autism spectrum treatment
• Trauma-informed care

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Grants: Revenue from state and federal government contracts, primarily through Massachusetts Department of Education, New York State and City Department of Education IDEA Grants, and various foundation grants. Programs and services are state licensed and certified.
2. Donations and Charitable Giving: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization relying on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to maintain programming standards and support enrichment activities.
3. Dental Services Revenue: Hillcrest Dental Care operates as a general family dentistry practice and is a major provider of oral healthcare services to MassHealth recipients in Western Massachusetts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hillcrest Educational Centers operates specialized residential treatment programs (Highpoint for males 11-21, Brookside ITU for females 6-18, and the ASD Residential Program for children/adolescents with autism), the Hillcrest Academy therapeutic day school, and the Hillcrest Dental Care family dentistry practice, all using evidence-based methodologies such as the proprietary Skills for Life trauma-informed care model and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Services are delivered directly through organization-owned facilities in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, to children and adolescents referred by school districts, DCF, DYS, and community agencies.

Product overview

Hillcrest Educational Centers operates as a multi-program therapeutic and educational services organization offering a portfolio of distinct but coordinated programs. The core offerings include three residential treatment programs (Highpoint for males, Brookside ITU for females, and ASD Residential for Autism Spectrum Disorders), one therapeutic day school (Hillcrest Academy), and affiliated healthcare services (Hillcrest Dental Care) and advocacy services (Berkshire County Kids' Place). All programs are supported by clinical services utilizing Skills for Life (trauma-informed PBIS approach) and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) methodologies, with nursing and educational services integrated across residential and day programs. The organization serves children and adolescents with complex psychiatric, behavioral, and developmental disorders across Berkshire County, MA and the Northeast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hillcrest Academy (Therapeutic Day School) A therapeutic day school providing comprehensive educational and clinical behavior support services to emotionally/behaviorally disturbed children and adolescents from local school districts; offers year-round programming including a 7-week summer session with rolling admissions. Current enrollment 54 students, ages 6-22.
• Highpoint Program (Residential Treatment) Trauma-informed care residential treatment for males aged 11-21 with high-risk behaviors (physical aggression, self-injury, suicidal ideation, substance use, fire setting, sexualized behaviors) and mental health diagnoses. Located on a 24-acre rural campus in Lenox, MA.
• Brookside Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU) Residential crisis stabilization and diagnostic assessment program for females ages 6-18 with severe behavioral and psychiatric challenges, designed to break the cycle of rehospitalization and multiple failed placements; current capacity of 26.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Residential Program Specialized intensive residential treatment for children and adolescents at all levels of the Autism Spectrum, utilizing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques including Discrete Trial Training, incidental teaching, and reinforcement procedures supervised by Board Certified Behavior Analysts. Current capacity of 28.
• Clinical Services (Skills for Life & ABA) Clinical therapy services anchored in the proprietary Skills for Life Treatment Model (strength-based, trauma-informed, family driven, youth guided) and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), including individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and crisis assessment/support delivered across residential and day programs.
• Nursing Services Nursing care services delivered by LPNs and RNs across Hillcrest's residential programs, including medical director oversight, medication administration, coordination of specialist appointments, and family involvement in medical decisions.
• Hillcrest Dental Care Comprehensive general family dentistry practice providing state-of-the-art preventative dentistry and quality dental treatment in a caring environment; the largest provider of oral healthcare services to MassHealth recipients and special needs patients in Western Massachusetts.
• Berkshire County Kids' Place and Violence Prevention Center Fully accredited Children's Advocacy Center operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary, providing clinical services to child abuse victims and their non-offending caregivers through a multi-disciplinary, cooperative team approach.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transition to less restrictive educational settings in local public schools
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Joint CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Commission provides accreditation for behavioral health care services. This accreditation demonstrates Hillcrest's compliance with national standards for quality and safety in healthcare delivery.
• Massachusetts Audubon SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHighpoint Campus is surrounded by land preserved by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, providing natural environment for therapeutic programming.
• Brien CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity mental health agency partnership providing coordinated services for students and supporting transition to less restrictive environments.
• The Key ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth services organization collaborating with Hillcrest on student support and community integration.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopmental disabilities services organization collaborating on student support services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• League School of Greater Boston: Massachusetts therapeutic day school specializing in autism education, comparable to Hillcrest Academy's day-school model and payer mix.
• The New England Center for Children: Massachusetts nonprofit providing ABA-based education and residential services for children with autism; directly comparable in model, geography and population.
• May Institute: Massachusetts-based nonprofit delivering ABA, special education and residential behavioral-health services for youth with autism and developmental disabilities, closely mirroring Hillcrest's offerings.
• Walker (Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs): Massachusetts nonprofit offering therapeutic day and residential programs for children with complex emotional and behavioral needs, serving a similar referral base of school districts and state agencies.
• Melmark: Nonprofit operating residential and educational programs using ABA for individuals with autism and IDD, directly overlapping with Hillcrest's residential and clinical model.
• Cardinal Cushing Centers: Massachusetts nonprofit providing special education and residential services for youth with developmental disabilities, similar regional and program profile.
• Latham Centers: Massachusetts nonprofit offering residential and educational programs for children with complex special needs, comparable in geography and residential treatment focus.

Regional players

• Bancroft: New Jersey nonprofit providing residential, educational and ABA services for autism and IDD; comparable model but serving a different geography.
• Judge Rotenberg Educational Center: Massachusetts residential special-education center serving youth with severe behavioral and developmental disorders, a similar high-acuity residential niche.

Broad incumbents

• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large national behavioral-health nonprofit offering residential treatment and special education for youth with autism and psychiatric needs; overlapping capabilities across a much broader multi-state footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqZ7vaMO1116KXbx2I3Ne8Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/hillcresteducationalcenters
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hillcrest-educational-centers
• Xx.com/hillcrestedctrs

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hillcrest Educational Centers