Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0Hawthorne’s public schools outscore 58% of California districts
The grade covers the two public school districts serving Hawthorne, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. In Hawthorne, 26% of tested students are proficient in math, below the California average (33%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.
From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Hawthorne’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 518 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Hawthorne’s, its schools beat 72%, higher than their 58% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 41% of tested students were proficient in reading and 26% in math, against 47% and 33% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
88% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across California. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
Centinela Valley Union High spends $21,163 per student and Hawthorne Elementary $20,768, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Choice beyond the district
Family First Charter, Hawthorne Math and Science Academy, St. Joseph School (private), Al-Huda Islamic School (private), Trinity Lutheran School (private) and Hawthorne Academy (private) are in town. Da Vinci RISE High, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Hawthorne’s grade
B: better than 58% of California school districts, #374 of 847 California towns. Graduation is above the California average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Hawthorne, with each school’s own grade.
6th grade in Hawthorne · depends on your address
Hawthorne Middle
Grades 6–8 · 761 students · 24:1 students per teacher
Prairie Vista Middle
Grades 6–8 · 674 students · 26:1 students per teacher
Bud Carson Middle
Grades 6–8 · 601 students · 24:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Hawthorne · depends on your address
Hawthorne Middle
Grades 6–8 · 761 students · 24:1 students per teacher
Prairie Vista Middle
Grades 6–8 · 674 students · 26:1 students per teacher
Bud Carson Middle
Grades 6–8 · 601 students · 24:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Hawthorne · depends on your address
Hawthorne Middle
Grades 6–8 · 761 students · 24:1 students per teacher
Prairie Vista Middle
Grades 6–8 · 674 students · 26:1 students per teacher
Bud Carson Middle
Grades 6–8 · 601 students · 24:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Hawthorne
Hawthorne High
Grades 9–12 · 1,675 students · 22:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Hawthorne
Hawthorne High
Grades 9–12 · 1,675 students · 22:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Hawthorne
Hawthorne High
Grades 9–12 · 1,675 students · 22:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Hawthorne
Hawthorne High
Grades 9–12 · 1,675 students · 22:1 students per teacher
Hawthorne runs its own schools through grade 12 (Hawthorne Elementary School District). From grade 9, students attend the Centinela Valley Union High School District, shared with Inglewood and Lawndale. Parts of Hawthorne (14%, 10%, 10% and 3% of its land) are served by Wiseburn Unified, Los Angeles Unified, Lawndale Elementary and Lennox Elementary instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Hawthorne
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well below the state in reading
Hawthorne vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Hawthorne’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Hawthorne | B | Hawthorne Elementary K–12 · Centinela Valley Union High 9–12 |
| Inglewood | C | Inglewood Unified K–12 · Centinela Valley Union High 9–12 |
| Lawndale | B | Lawndale Elementary K–8 · Centinela Valley Union High 9–12 |
| El Segundo | A | El Segundo Unified K–12 · Wiseburn Unified K–12 |
| Los Angeles | B− | Los Angeles Unified |
2 of the 4 neighbors share Centinela Valley Union High with Hawthorne for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Hawthorne
23 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Success Learning Center).
Questions about Hawthorne’s schools
Are Hawthorne’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of California: the public schools Hawthorne children attend outscore 58% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #374 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 72%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Hawthorne in?
Two districts: Hawthorne Elementary School District runs grades K–12, and Centinela Valley Union High School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Inglewood and Lawndale.
Where do Hawthorne kids go to high school?
Hawthorne High, with 1,675 students; its own test results earn a C+.
What is Hawthorne’s graduation rate?
88% of the class of 2023 in Centinela Valley Union High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does Hawthorne spend per student?
$21,163 in Centinela Valley Union High School District and $20,768 in Hawthorne Elementary School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Hawthorne?
Yes: St. Joseph School (Catholic, grades K–8, 315 students), Al-Huda Islamic School (religious, grades PK–8, 193 students), Trinity Lutheran School (religious, grades K–8, 61 students) and Hawthorne Academy (special education, grades 5–12, 47 students). Hawthorne also has 2 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Hawthorne families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Hawthorne → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.