- Enrollment
- 1,607
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Tuscaloosa, AL
Hillcrest Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Hillcrest Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 010339001280
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hillcrest Middle School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median.
- #4 of 4
- middle schools in Tuscaloosa · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.5:1
- students per teacher
- 63.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Hillcrest Middle School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hillcrest Middle School ranks #4 of 4 middle schools in Tuscaloosa, AL.
School address
District: Tuscaloosa County · Alabama
NCES ID 010339001280 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-31 students YoY
Hillcrest Middle School shrank from 576 students in 2022-23 to 545 in 2023-24 (-5.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 31.0 → 29.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-31 students YoY 010339001280 · Tuscaloosa, AL Middle · MID · TRAD
542 enr · 17.5:1 · 63.0% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Tuscaloosa County High School (1,607 students)
Hillcrest Middle School shrank from 576 students in 2022-23 to 545 in 2023-24 (-5.4%). Teacher FTE lost 31.0 → 29.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Hillcrest Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Tuscaloosa Cou
Tuscaloosa County High School
1,607 students
- Hillcrest High
Hillcrest High School
1,434 students
- Brookwood High
Brookwood High School
1,076 students
- Lake View Elem
Lake View Elementary School
744 students
- Walker Element
Walker Elementary School
743 students
- This school 542
Hillcrest Middle School
542 students
What this shows Hillcrest Middle School reports 542 students on the CCD universe file.
How Hillcrest Middle School compares
Hillcrest Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.5:1 | ▼ 1% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.0% | ▲ 7% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 542 | top 38% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.5:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
542
Bigger than 67% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
63.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.5:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 52% in Alabama - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
17.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,564
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 542 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
102
in-school suspensions + 92 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 18.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 35.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 78.2%
White 14.8%
Hispanic or Latino 4.4%
Two or More 1.8%
Asian 0.7%
Largest group: African American at 78.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.4, Hillcrest Middle School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Tuscaloosa County reports $11,564 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Hillcrest Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hillcrest High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Brookwood High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lake View Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walker Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hillcrest Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,434
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,076
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 744
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 743
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar middle schools in Tuscaloosa
3 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~542 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.5:1)
Frequently asked questions about Hillcrest Middle School
How many students attend Hillcrest Middle School?
Hillcrest Middle School has 542 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Tuscaloosa, AL. CCD year-over-year: 576 (2022-23) → 545 (2023-24), down 31.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hillcrest Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Hillcrest Middle School is 17.5:1, which is 1% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Hillcrest Middle School?
63.0% of students at Hillcrest Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hillcrest Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Hillcrest Middle School is African American at 78.2% of enrollment, in Tuscaloosa, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hillcrest Middle School?
Hillcrest Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Hillcrest Middle School rank among middle schools in Tuscaloosa?
By Resource Investment Index, Hillcrest Middle School ranks #4 of 4 middle schools in Tuscaloosa, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Tuscaloosa on the city page.
What other schools are in Tuscaloosa County?
Besides Hillcrest Middle School, Tuscaloosa County also operates Tuscaloosa County High School (1,607 students), Hillcrest High School (1,434 students), and Brookwood High School (1,076 students). See the Tuscaloosa County district page for the complete list.