Hillcrest Elementary School

🐾When it comes to choosing your child’s school, we know there are infinite factors to consider. With some schools, you might feel like you are sacrificing one great thing for another. Not at APS. We are awesome across the board – and we have the data to support that. Here are a handful of quick facts about just a few of our awesome programs here at APS:

⭐The AHS Concert Band has earned 22 straight Division 1 Ratings at the MSBOA District level. (And we offer Marching and Jazz Band as well!)
⭐The Middle School Choir earned Division 1 Ratings at District and will be performing at State in May. (Can’t wait to support our Middle School Panthers!)
⭐The AHS Choir will be performing at Michigan's Adventure Amusement Park at the end of May. (Counting down the days until this fun trip!)
⭐The Alma High School Drama class performs three productions throughout the school year, including a musical. (Their last show, The Crucible, was amazing!)
⭐There are multiple opportunities for AHS students to take AP and Dual Enrollment Classes to earn college credit, as well as get on the job training as a Co-Op student. (These experiences set our students up for success after high school!)
⭐All our K-5 students have five different Encore classes each week, including Art, Music, PE, Social/ Emotional Learning and STEM. (Talk about well-rounded students!)
⭐The LINKS program allows AHS students to partner with a German student for opportunities for an exchange program. (What an amazing travel opportunity!)
⭐Our 3rd Grade takes a trip to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes to learn more about Michigan geography and history. (Beautiful destination and incredible history!)
⭐Spanish students have the opportunity to travel to a Spanish speaking country to be immersed in the language. (What a fantastic way to apply classroom skills in the real world!)

Here at APS, we know how important it is to be well-rounded, so we make sure our students have every opportunity to explore a variety of unique subjects. We foster creativity and curiosity at every stage. From performing arts to STEM to language, your student is sure to find something they are passionate about here at Alma! The School of Choice window is right around the corner. See why APS is the perfect choice for your student: https://www.almaschools.net/ 🐾

In May 2025, voters approved a $29,945,000 bond to fund district improvements here at Alma Public Schools. This funding is crucial in keeping our schools up-to-date and secure for years to come. One of the many renovations underway here at APS involves significant updates to the playgrounds at our Hillcrest and Pine Avenue elementary schools. 🐾

Today, we welcomed a visitor from Sinclair Recreation to talk to members of our Hillcrest and Pine Avenue Student Council. These students (one from each Hillcrest classroom and two from each Pine Avenue classroom) were selected by their peers to represent our elementary schools -- and they did a fantastic job. The council discussed and voted on playground renovations; they chose equipment styles and color schemes. Together, these students reflected on the reality that they were not only selecting elements of their own playground, but designing a recreational space that Alma elementary students will enjoy for up to 30 years! 🐾

Renovations are scheduled to begin this summer and will be completed by the 2026-27 schoolyear. We are so excited to see our students' vision become our schools' new playgrounds! 🐾

🐾Wonder how APS stacks up against other area schools? Let’s talk test scores…🐾

⭐On the 2025 M-Step tests, APS 5th-grade students scored the highest in the RESD in all tests: Math, ELA, Social Studies and Science, and higher than the state average in three of the four.

⭐On the 2025 PSAT tests, our 8th grade average was higher than the state average in Reading, Science and Social Studies.

⭐The 3rd-grade scores for APS students were higher than the RESD average on both the Math and ELA M-Step tests in 2025.

⭐On average, our ELA M-Step proficiency improved 5% in 2025 compared to the 2024 scores.

⭐On the NWEA Winter 2026 ELA test, seven of the nine grades that took the NWEA (K-8) scored higher than the norm, which is the most we have ever had.

⭐In the four core subject areas on the State Assessments; Math, ELA, Socials, and Science, APS students have scored consistently higher than schools that have similar socioeconomic status for the last 5 years.

📖✏️📝🖍️

APS is the place to be – and we’re just getting better! This year’s School of Choice window is right around the corner. See what Alma has to offer for your student...
https://www.almaschools.net/