Summary:
In zip code 32640, there is one school, Hawthorne Middle/High School, a combined middle and high school serving grades 6 through 12 in Hawthorne, Florida, with a total enrollment of 472 students.
Hawthorne Middle/High School presents a complex picture for parents. On one hand, the school boasts a very high graduation rate of 94.1% for the 2024-2025 school year, which exceeds both the Alachua district average of 87.7% and the state average of 92.2%. However, this positive metric stands in stark contrast to the school's academic performance, which consistently falls below district and state averages. For example, only 40% of 10th graders are proficient in English Language Arts, compared to 61% statewide, and math proficiency is critically low, with just 18% of 8th graders meeting state standards. The school also has a severe chronic absenteeism rate of 59.3%, nearly double the state average, which is a major concern for student engagement and learning continuity.
The school's state ranking places it in the bottom quartile of Florida high schools, and its student-teacher ratio of 26.7:1 is notably high, which can limit individualized instruction. While per-student spending is $10,345, the poor academic outcomes suggest that resources are not translating into student success. The high graduation rate, despite low test scores, may indicate a focus on credit recovery or alternative pathways. For parents, the key takeaway is that while the school successfully graduates students, the underlying issues of chronic absenteeism and low academic proficiency in core subjects like math and science are significant challenges that need to be addressed.
Thank you for your feedback!