Hillcrest students, staff highlight reading, math gains and new programs at Peekskill CSD meeting

At a Peekskill City School District Board of Education meeting (date not specified), Hillcrest Elementary School Principal Crystal Hernandez, staff and students presented school outcomes and enrichment work, including literacy and math gains, new inclusive playground equipment and after-school programming.

The presentation summarized academic measures, arts and extracurricular offerings and family partnerships that staff said supported student engagement. Hernandez said Hillcrest is focused on a “whole child” approach and highlighted dual-language instruction, an after‑school LEAP program, a student newspaper club called the Hawkeyes, and new instruments for the school orchestra.

Hernandez said the school uses data-driven instruction and cited recent reading gains: “The percentage of fourth grade scholars reading at or above proficiency increased by a whopping 40% last year,” she told the board, and also noted other slide figures showing similar gains in Spanish-language reading and math. She said the school serves roughly “about 250 students per grade level.” Dr. James Gordon, who the school identified as an assistant principal, described tiered…