Hillcrest Schools

What Hillcrest Schools does

Hillcrest School is a private, nonprofit (501(c)3), Cognia-accredited K-12 institution founded in 1993 by Betty Starnes in Midland, Texas, serving students with learning differences — primarily dyslexia and ADHD. The school specializes in multi-sensory teaching techniques, the Take Flight dyslexia intervention program, and an interdisciplinary curriculum with organizational strategies, operating on low student-to-teacher ratios to enable individualized instruction. Enrollment exceeded 100 students by 2016 across lower, middle, and upper school grades, served by approximately 54 faculty and staff including a 5-member administration team and 15+ specialized teachers.

The core educational product is supplemented by a robust extracurricular portfolio of 16+ activities including athletics (basketball, volleyball, golf, spirit team), fine arts (drama, art, music), distinctive offerings such as the Eagle-Q competitive barbeque team and student-run Dinner Theater, plus Hillcrest Hub tutorials for additional academic support. Technology infrastructure consists of a 1:1 Chromebook program (grades 3-12), Terra Nova standardized testing, and the Hillcrest@Home online curriculum delivery system introduced during COVID-19 for remote instruction.

Hillcrest's revenue model is a hybrid tuition-and-donation structure typical of nonprofit private schools. Published 2026-2027 tuition totals $15,650 per student ($14,350 base plus registration, technology, and activity fees), covering approximately 69% of total educational costs. The remaining 31% is funded through donations, grants, planned giving, and annual fundraising events such as the Beach Ball Blast. Enrollment is rolling year-round via a structured process involving application, in-person interview, two-day student visitation, and contract signing. Marketing is primarily community-driven: parent and alumni referrals, social media (Facebook, Instagram), community events, and the school's website. The institution serves families across the Permian Basin region of West Texas, with no disclosed plans for geographic expansion.

Name

Hillcrest Schools

Legal name

Hillcrest School

Website

https://hillcrestschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hillcrest School is a private nonprofit K-12 institution in Midland, Texas, founded in 1993, serving students with learning differences (dyslexia, ADHD) through multi-sensory teaching, the Take Flight dyslexia program, and low student-to-teacher ratios, funded by tuition plus donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education (Private K-12)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Learning Disabilities & Dyslexia Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAB)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Private K-12 education
• Dyslexia intervention programs
• Learning differences support
• Nonprofit private school

Headquarters

HQ city

Midland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Student Tuition: Student tuition covers approximately 69% of the total educational cost. Tuition for 2026-2027 is $15,650 annually, inclusive of tuition ($14,350), registration fee ($250), curriculum and technology fee ($650), and activity fee ($400).
2. Donations and Grants: Donations and grants cover approximately 31% of educational costs to keep tuition manageable. The school accepts various donation types including monetary gifts, in-kind donations, planned giving, and memorial/honorarium gifts. Major donors and community support are cultivated through annual campaigns and fundraising events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hillcrest School is a private, nonprofit K-12 educational institution in Midland, Texas delivering specialized instruction for students with learning differences, particularly dyslexia and ADHD. The school applies multi-sensory teaching techniques, an interdisciplinary curriculum, and the Take Flight dyslexia intervention program, supported by low student-to-teacher ratios and a 1:1 Chromebook program for grades 3-12. Supplemental offerings include Hillcrest@Home remote instruction, athletics, and 16+ extracurricular activities.

Product overview

Hillcrest Schools operates as a unified private K-12 educational institution offering specialized services for students with learning differences. The core offering is its Cognia-accredited educational program featuring multi-sensory techniques and the Take Flight dyslexia program. The institution supplements academics with a comprehensive extracurricular portfolio including athletics (basketball, volleyball, golf, spirit team), performing arts (Dinner Theater, Drama), competitive activities (Eagle-Q Barbeque Team), and academic clubs (Chess, Student Council). Remote learning support is available through Hillcrest@Home. Additional services include Hillcrest Hub Tutorials for academic support and structured enrollment services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hillcrest School Core Educational Program (K-12)
• Take Flight Dyslexia Intervention Program
• Hillcrest@Home Online Curriculum Delivery
• Hillcrest Hub Tutorials
• Athletics Program
• Extracurricular Activities Program
• Dinner Theater
• Enrollment Services

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CogniacoreOthersHillcrest School is accredited by Cognia, a global nonprofit education improvement organization. Originally accredited in 1999 by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), which was later incorporated into Cognia. This accreditation is essential for providing graduates with an accredited high school diploma and demonstrates educational quality standards.
• International Dyslexia Association (IDA)minorOthersListed as a resource for parents, providing resources and education about dyslexia, standards, and studies. Not a formal partnership but an affiliated organization.
• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)minorOthersListed as a parent resource. CEC advocates for governmental policies, sets professional standards, and provides professional development for special educators.
• Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)minorOthersHillcrest is a member of AFP, which provides training, courses, and education on practicing ethical fundraising for nonprofit organizations.
• Nonprofit Management Center (NMC)minorOthersListed as a resource for parents. NMC provides consulting, training, and advocacy that supports nonprofit organizations in the Permian Basin.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Eagle Hill School: Private school in Hardwick, MA serving students with language-based learning disabilities, ADHD, and dyslexia using individualized, multi-sensory instruction — directly comparable to Hillcrest's pedagogical approach and student population.
• The Siena School: Private school with campuses in Silver Spring, MD and Oakton, VA serving bright students with language-based learning disabilities — directly comparable niche focus to Hillcrest.
• The Craig School: Private school in NJ serving grades 3-12 students with language-based learning disabilities including dyslexia — highly comparable to Hillcrest's targeted dyslexia and learning-difference focus.
• Landmark School: Private residential and day school in Beverly, MA exclusively serving students with language-based learning disabilities including dyslexia — a directly comparable specialized K-12 mission to Hillcrest.
• The Prentice School: Private K-12 school in Tustin, CA serving students with learning differences, dyslexia, and ADHD — comparable in mission, small student-to-staff ratios, and specialized instruction.
• The Lab School of Washington: Private K-12 school in Washington, DC dedicated to students with learning differences such as dyslexia and ADHD — closely aligned with Hillcrest in mission, accreditation posture, and specialized instruction model.
• The Kildonan School: Independent co-ed school in Amenia, NY specifically serving students with dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities using Orton-Gillingham and multi-sensory methods — directly comparable specialization to Hillcrest's Take Flight approach.
• Forman School: Private college-prep school in Litchfield, CT exclusively for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences — directly comparable as a specialized K-12 LD institution.
• The Churchill School and Center: Private K-12 school in NYC serving students with language-based learning disabilities, with a comparable individualized, multi-sensory instructional model.
• The Gow School: Residential and day school in South Wales, NY serving students in grades 7-12 with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities — closely comparable specialized K-12 LD mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hillcrestschoolmidlandtx
• Instagraminstagram.com/hillcrestschooltx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hillcrest-schools

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Schools