Hawthorn Elem School South, Vernon Hills IL

Original Research by School Decision on Hawthorn Elem School South

Hawthorn Elementary School South is a small to mid-sized elementary school in Vernon Hills serving grades one through five. The school enrolls a diverse student body, with a substantial share of Asian students, a sizable White population, and meaningful representation of Hispanic and Black students. Fewer students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch than the state average, and data on special education and English learner populations were not available.

State testing data from 2024-25 shows proficiency rates that sit below the midpoint relative to other districts in Lake County. In math, third graders achieved roughly half proficiency, fourth graders achieved proficiency at a higher rate, and fifth graders dropped back below half. In English language arts, the pattern is softer: third grade proficiency was noticeably lower, fourth grade climbed above half, and fifth grade fell again. Science proficiency in fifth grade came in below half. Across all grades and subjects, participation rates were strong, suggesting students were tested. The assessment itself changed cut scores from the prior year, so year-to-year comparison is not possible; a parent may want to ask the school directly whether these results reflect the school's underlying performance or the impact of the new assessment standard.

The school is one of two elementary buildings in Hawthorn CCSD 73, a district that recently completed a voter-approved building renovation and expansion program affecting this school. As of the 2023-24 school year, the district extended the school day for kindergarten and above, a change that affects families' childcare and activity scheduling. The district also moved all preschool programming to a shared early learning center in Mundelein, managed jointly with two neighboring districts.

Vernon Hills itself is a suburban village in Chicago's northwestern suburbs, built primarily in the 1950s through 1980s as a planned residential community with retail anchors. The area is automobile-oriented, organized around subdivisions and shopping centers. The dominant current development is a major redevelopment of Hawthorn Mall into a mixed-use district with apartments, restaurants, and walkable public space, alongside the nearby Mellody Farm shopping and residential complex. The village hosts several corporate headquarters and substantial retail employment. Housing values in the area have been appreciating, and the local housing market shows steady activity with modest inventory relative to demand. Public transit includes a Metra station, though daily life remains car-dependent.

The housing market context is relevant: homes in the zip code are valued above the state median, and median rent is moderate, creating a mixed affordability picture depending on household income. Families should expect to budget accordingly for the area.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 351%

School 51% · District 59% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 458%

School 58% · District 62% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 546%

School 46% · District 53% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 339%

School 39% · District 52% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 457%

School 57% · District 64% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▲ 8 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 543%

School 43% · District 64% · ▼ 21 pts below district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Science

Grade 542%

School 42% · District 52% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

This schoolHawthorn CCSD 73, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.