I worked at this school as a PrimeTime staff and I gotta say that this is a good school. They have good teachers and good faculty. I really enjoyed working with the kids after school during PrimeTime. The kids are wonderful! read more

Wish I would of seen some of these bad reviews before sending my kid here. She got into the gate seminar program and hawthorne was the only available school for it in our area. Needless to say the principal said they don't allow bullying but she is a bully herself always yelling at my kid even when me and my wife are present. The principal doesn't have any children of her own but acts like she knows everything about disciplining kids, i'm sorry but yelling at kids with autism doesn't accomplish anything. The new teacher they have running the seminar program doesn't know how to teach these kids or handle them, she is always taking personal days and having substitutes and she cancelled all the future field trips for the rest of the year because she said the kids are out of control. We brought up to the teacher that she has trouble learning math, and they didn't help her. I've also noticed a change in my kids study habits she used to read 2 grades above and do good in math. Now she reads average and is failing math. She also picked up bad habits from her classmates she never used to fight or argue with us but now its everyday. I will be making a complaint with the superintendent about the school and the principal it is not a safe place for neurodivergent kids they should move the seminar program to a school that actually cares about these kids and wants them to learn. They also make you pay money out of pocket for the seminar program since the state doesn't cover it anymore. The principal also shamed our daughter when my wife was carrying her backpack. There was also a incident when a kid brought a gun to school and the principal was yelling saying i'm so mad your kids i could kill them. The tone of voice an approach when talking with the kids is very agressive... our new school the principal and teacher are the exact opposite and our child is thriving again. we figured out over summer when we got a tutor what the math issues was. She is back to having good study habits and isn't yelling all the time read more

My children started school at Hawthorne in 2015 this is our neighborhood school and we decided to give it a chance. As a parent we all want the best for our children and one of my biggest concerns for me is safety. Second, I wanted them to be around well behaved kids (no bullies). As far as their education goes, I decided from the very beginning that I would take an active role in my children's learning. Teachers and staff are faced with a difficult job daily and really don't get enough support. Almost 5 years at that school and I am very proud of what they have accomplished. They made it to the 2020 list of California's Distinguished schools!! The campus is always secure, they believe in building character and this foundation is important in preparing our kids for their future. It's a small community which encourages a it's members to have fun and to get involved. I am most proud of our Principal Miss Lauren Robinson. Her passion and dedication truly is heartwarming. She is extremely hands on and is easy to talk to. She's often in front of the school before and after to ensure all is going well for drop off and pick ups. You'll even meet her parents mom and dad Robinson; they are so supportive and helpful and it's always a pleasure to see them on campus. Remember I was concerned about safety? Every morning a staff member is at the drop off zone and the front gate is secured as soon as school begins. After school the staff stays out front until each student has left campus. If any student is left waiting, that staff member walks them to the office. This school was rated a 4 in 2015. Today it's now an 8! Education requires a ton of support and so do our schools. Give Hawthorne Elementary a chance. read more

Hawthorne Elementary School - Elementary Schools Near Me - San Diego, California

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about this Elementary School. The staff and administration are great and we are so grateful for all of them. My son has special needs and I don't know where he would be if we didn't go to this school. Every teacher he has had so far has made it their mission to make him as successful as possible. They give you every opportunity to be involved in your child's education. I meet with them every six months to discuss where he is and where I want him to be with his goals. The care we receive from the principal, the office staff, his special education teacher and her aides far exceeds anything I ever thought we would get. I can never Thank them enough for the help they have given us. We are very fortunate to be able to go to Hawthorne Elementary. read more

I have no idea what went on to cause the complaints below about past administrations at Hawthorne, but I'm very happy that my daughter has been there since third grade and will move on to middle school next year having received a great education in an environment that's supported her growth socially and academically. While there's been turnover in the principal's office, the teachers have mostly been there for years and have a real commitment to the students and the school as a whole. While there are some drawbacks of being a small school in terms of staffing resources for extra programs, there are also advantages in building community. My daughter has enjoyed the music instruction and is excited to have the 1-to-1 laptop program this year. read more

As a newer teacher, I could not have received a better placement than at Hawthorne Elementary. The staff has embraced me with open arms and works efficiently together to provide our students with the best learning experience possible. Hawthorne has a smaller learning community with teachers that are committed to furthering each child's education. There are many great things coming in Hawthorne's future! read more

If you have a child that goes into this school already knowing how to read and write, you might be ok. But if you're sending your child here to actually learn to read and write from the teachers, you will be sorely disappointed. They just keep passing the kids along, even though they STILL can not read or write. My son has a learning disorder so he requires special attention. This is not the school for these types of children. I have had sit downs and meetings with the teachers and the principal, did me no good. I'm sorry, I'm only going to give credit where credit is due and NONE is due here. I literally had to get a letter from my child's doctor to get these people to do their job. I'm switching schools as soon as possible. Also the bullying from the other kids and staff here is a problem as well. They blame everyone but themselves. I'm sorry but if it's your job to teach the children to read and write, but if they are not learning, then you are the problem, not the child or their parent. Sincerely disappointed in this school and their employees. read more

I was surprised to see the negative reviews of Hawthorne Elementary. Both of my children have attended this school - my older daughter 'promoted' out of fifth grader there last year, and my younger daughter is currently in second grade at Hawthorne. We have found it to be a wonderful school. The teachers are unbelievably dedicated, often working long hours to support the kids after the school day has ended. Most teachers have taught at the school for more than ten years. Many have enough seniority to allow them to move to most any school in the district, but they choose to stay at Hawthorne. Few schools can claim that level of dedication. Hawthorne offers many enrichment and extension programs to enable children to thrive. My older daughter was thrilled to be a member of the Student Council last year, the first year the school had such a program. It was a wonderful leadership opportunity for the students involved, and empowered them and the student body as a whole to make positive changes to the school. The teachers take the kids on many, many EDUCATIONAL field trips. Some schools take their kids on non-educational field trips (e.g., bowling, to the movie theatre, picnic in the local park, etc.), but the field trips my children have taken through Hawthorne have all been wonderful AND educational. These include art exhibits, the symphony, nature experiences with the San Diego Audubon Society, ecology lessons at the Tijuana River Estuary, etc. We love the fact that this is a small, neighborhood school. By about ~2nd grade your child will know and be known by every member of the staff. The campus is very comfortable, with lots of trees and grassy areas between classrooms. There is low-cost, high-quality before- and after-school care available, including free before- and after-school PrimeTime program run by the YMCA, and inexpensive after-school offered by the Boys and Girls Club (my daughter LOVES this program!). Though the there were some problems with principals in the more distant past (pre-2014), the principal from the 2015-2016 school year was AMAZING! He made such a huge, positive impact in the school in the short time he was here. Every parent and child I know was devastated to hear that he was leaving. Fortunately, the new principal also seems fantastic! Granted, we're only three weeks into her tenure, so time will tell, but so far she is extremely engaged, receptive, and eager to continue the positive changes instituted by the previous principal. The new principal was born and raised in the Madison Cluster (to which Hawthorne belongs), and has spent nearly her entire career in this cluster, so we're optimistic that she is here to stay! read more

This is our first year at Hawthorne. My son entered in the 4th grade. I can't say enough good things about the principal, teachers, staff, and parents at this school. Bullying is handled swiftly and effectively. There is a strong sense of community. Standards and expectations are high. The playground could use some grass, but the city has it scheduled next year to fix that issue. I highly recommend this school, especially if you have an accelerated learner who could benefit from the strongly supported parent run seminar foundation. read more

I had 3 kids go thru the seminar program there. It was life changing for them -esp compared to their school experience up until then. Smith and Sherman with the seminar program are amazing. The kids had lots of unique experiences and field trips. Kids can be treated like individuals. read more

Teachers work hard. Staff is helpful and open-minded. Administration is running a school, supervising staff and teachers, coordinating committees, welcoming to parents, helpful to students and does it all with a calm and caring attitude. Day to day operations can be overwhelming and the staff, teachers and students make the best of every day! I==Hawthorne provides a safe environment at this small, neighborhood school with a well established teaching staff that take ownership of all students, not just those in their class. Support staff is always available to help in whatever capacity they can, going above and beyond their job descriptions. read more

If your child is identified gate/ seminar and isn't being challenged you must consider enrolling them at Hawthorne. My child is in third grade in the seminar program and has grown and learned so much in the past 5 months. The campus defiantly needs work. It is not pretty but the staff is great! I am very pleased with the program read more

Thank God my children no longer attend here. I can say that now they are receiving a better education and are now in a safer environment! No more bullying, no more fear, no more bad teachers, etc. My kids are NOW being challenged and not just passed from grade to grade without learning. I realized that after switching schools. My kids now attend Standley Middle and Doyle and let me tell you they were at the end of their class when the school year started. Their teachers couldn't believe that they were even passed to the next grade. My daughter has had a hard time with english. For an example, she doesn't know grammar basics such as the difference between there, their, they're. Things like that in addition to math issues. Now she is getting all the help she needs to succeed thanks to a new school with new leadership. She is no longer being sexually harassed and bullied. I even filed complaints with the board and nothing happened! My son was held under water, thrown to the ground, kicked in the head (2nd grade) yet there were no consequences for the child who violated him. The biggest mistake in all my years of parenting was sending my kids here. Please do not send you kids here. Unless they are in the GATE program, you will regret it. read more