Hillcrest High School is a co-educational secondary school with a roll of approximately 1800 students situated in attractive grounds in the southeast of Hamilton. The school operates an enrolment scheme with boundaries incorporating parts of Hamilton East, Hillcrest and Silverdale and a rural zone including Tamahere, Tauwhare, Newstead and Matangi. Hillcrest High is in close proximity to the University and School of Education and has developed a strong relationship with the University and Wintec. The student population is very multi-cultural, representing over 70 different nationality groups with the ethnic makeup of the school being 57% Pakeha/European, 21% Asian, 16% Maori and 6% other, split equally between male and female.