The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in English language arts. The lowest is 14% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hawthorne Elementary
Hawthorne Elementary serves students in prekindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the Albert Lea Public School District. The school sits in a residential area of Albert Lea, a city that functions as the county seat of Freeborn County and is built around a chain of lakes. The community has a traditional downtown, a mix of older grid neighborhoods and newer suburban-style development, and a local economy anchored by health care, food processing, manufacturing, and service providers. Population has been relatively stable but slightly declining in recent years.
Enrollment at Hawthorne Elementary is moderate compared to other elementary schools in the district. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse, with a majority of students identifying as white and significant shares identifying as Asian and Hispanic, and smaller shares identifying as Black or as two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a population with considerable economic need. Data on students receiving special education services or English learner support was not reported in the available records, so a family may want to ask the school directly about those programs if they are relevant.
State assessment results are available for the most recent school year. In reading, proficiency rates across the tested grades were modest, and in mathematics they were lower still, with a noticeable drop in one grade. Science results for fifth grade were also in a low range. When compared to other districts in Freeborn County, the school’s overall proficiency index landed in the bottom quartile, meaning that on this measure it sits below the midpoint of the county’s districts. Only one year of assessment data was available, so it is not possible to see whether performance has been improving or declining. A parent may want to discuss these results with the school and inquire about the specific academic support strategies in place.
The district passed a property tax levy referendum in 2022 that provides funding for class size reductions, academic programs, and student support services. That additional local funding may benefit Hawthorne Elementary, but the specific allocation to this school is not detailed in the available data. The district has also launched an online academy for grades six through twelve, which would not directly affect an elementary school but indicates some broader program flexibility in the district.
Housing in the Albert Lea area is relatively affordable compared to state and national benchmarks, with moderate home values and rents. The cost of buying versus renting is balanced in a way that may make homeownership accessible for many families. The unemployment rate has been near the national average, and real median household income trails the national figure.
Hawthorne Elementary offers a full prekindergarten program, which can be a meaningful resource for families seeking early childhood education within the public system. The school’s grade band means it feeds into middle and high schools elsewhere in the district; the available data does not include information on those schools’ performance or programs.
For a family considering Hawthorne Elementary, the picture is one of a school serving a high-poverty student body with assessment results that fall below county averages. The district’s recent operating levy vote suggests local commitment to maintaining educational services, and the community itself offers a stable, lake-centered small city with affordable housing. A parent who values a diverse student population and a school that is part of a district investing in its own future may want to explore what specific interventions and enrichment opportunities are available at the building level. Given the academic numbers, it would be reasonable to ask directly about reading and math instruction, intervention programs, and how the school supports students who are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks.
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