Hillcrest Continuation High School

Our Mission

The mission of Hillcrest Alternative Center is to ensure that all students develop an appreciation and respect for individual differences, unique cultural heritage and academic achievement within a safe, clean and secure environment which fosters a rigorous, challenging and diverse curriculum that promotes self-esteem, racial harmony and supportive parental involvement.

What Students Say

“Hillcrest is a good school because you can learn, make up credits, and get extra credits if need be. The teachers are willing to work with you and offer hands-on assistance. Hillcrest has a good work environment where you pick up good study habits. Also, I love the Real Estate Apprenticeship Program because that’s what I want to do. I will be back in the fall!”

-Kevin Gilliam

“I attended several high schools before Hillcrest. I came because I was distracted at my regular schools. Here I’m more focused. I plan to graduate and become a business professional, and I am already taking classes at Santa Monica College.”

-Tiffanie Thongmee

Major Achievements

• Hillcrest Academy High School has exceeded all district and state expectations for continuation school students. In 2006–2007 we added classes with College Summit, DeAnza College, and El Camino College. We also added art classes, a science preparatory class, a class for English Learners, and California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) classes.
• One hundred five seniors returned to their high schools to graduate with their class in June 2008.
  We held Saturday Boot Camp for students who needed support for the CAHSEE, with the result that an impressive number of students passed the exam. We held a fall festive to recognize students with perfect attendance in October 2007.
• We held Senior Favorites in the spring to salute “Caught Being Good,” a behavior modification program that encourages students and staff to remember manners and good deeds.
• We picked Senior Favorites to acknowledge the Class of 2008. Attendance improved during senior week.
• We implemented a new afterschool music program.
• Our principal, Edward Brownlee, was named the school district’s 2006 Principal of the Year. Focus for Improvement
• Continue to see growth in achievement on the CAHSEE, California Standards Tests, SAT, and district standardized testing.
• Continue Academic Boot Camps in math and language arts, and afterschool college classes in Business Communication and AutoCAD.
• Offer Banking on Our Future, a program of classes in financial opportunities provided by Operation Hope to teach students how to save, write checks, budget, and develop skills determining “Earned Incomes.”