Hillcrest Elementary School, adjacent to Hillcrest Park is comprised of early childhood, junior kindergarten, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and third grade with approximately 300 students. The average class size is between 20-24 students.  Hillcrest School is accessible to the physically handicapped and provides a full array of special services for students who need help. Kindergarten is a full-day program at Hillcrest however; parents may choose to register their child for a district kindergarten program at South Dakota State University. A junior kindergarten classroom is also available at Hillcrest Elementary.  The library and each classroom are technologically advanced with district-wide telephone and computer/Internet wiring. All grade-level classrooms are equipped with Smart Boards or Promethean Boards. All students take part in physical education, art, ACES (classroom guidance), library, technology, and music classes as a part of the regular curriculum. Special programs include English Learners and school-wide Title I services.

There are a number of before and after-school programs offered such as Girls on the Run and Let Me Run programs for 3rd-grade-aged students and The Great After School Place (GAP) which offers on-site after-school daycare.

Hillcrest Elementary staff consists of the principal, school counselor, librarian, certified teachers, secretary, special education teacher assistants, and behavior technicians. A school nurse, school psychologist, occupational therapist, and physical therapist are also available.