Hillcrest International is a private Christian school, sponsored and governed by a consortium of the major protestant missions in Papua. The Christian foundation of HIS is reflected in the mission of the school: to provide the children of missionaries and other expatriates, along with Indonesian and international students, with a Biblically-based education which will enable them to thrive in all aspects of life. With this in mind, teachers look for ways to enrich students’ relationships with the Lord and approach all subjects from a Christian viewpoint. Because not all students are of the same denomination—or even Christian—the openness towards Christianity and theological viewpoints encourages students to learn what they believe and why.

The curriculum used at HIS is based on U.S. models and uses English as the language of instruction. To help students who come from non-English-speaking countries, the school provides ESL help and (when staff is available) a daily class in the student's mother tongue. Bible classes are mandatory for all grades.

Accreditation

Hillcrest International School is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), California, and is a member of the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

Though HIS provides rigorous courses and encourages high educational achievement, it does not leave out opportunities for fun. Every year, high school students begin the year with a weekend beach trip that allows them to get to know each other while they enjoy stunning coral reefs and remote beaches. Community service opportunities give them the chance to reach out to the national community and make local friends. Friday night soccer, volleyball, and basketball games try our teams against local schools and clubs. Outdoor Education, a two-week trip into remote areas of Papua, is a time of service to and learning about the lives of village people. The senior trip to other parts of Indonesia is an opportunity to provide a wider understanding of Indonesia as a whole.