The top reported proficiency rate is 13% in Math. The lowest is 12% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Hawthorn Middle
Hawthorn Middle is a closed school. The data records its lifecycle status as closed, and publicly reported accounts describe a sudden closure in August 2023, just before the start of the school year, attributed to declining enrollment and budget constraints. For any family or resident reading about it now, the most relevant fact is that it is no longer operating. The narrative that follows describes what was on the ground during its final year of operation, based on the available records.
The school served middle grades in St. Louis, Missouri, operating as a regular public school with a charter status. It was part of the Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls district, a single-school district that also closed. The building was located on North Kingshighway Boulevard in St. Louis.
State assessment data from the 2022-23 school year, the most recent available, shows that tested students in math and English language arts scored well below typical proficiency thresholds. In sixth-grade math, about a small share of students reached the proficient or advanced level. Seventh-grade math results were similar. Eighth-grade math data was suppressed, meaning the numbers were too small to report publicly. In English language arts, seventh-grade results showed a modest share of students meeting the bar, while eighth-grade ELA results were lower. Science results for eighth grade were also suppressed. A parent looking at these numbers in isolation would see a pattern of low demonstrated proficiency, though the very small number of test takers, fewer than a few dozen per grade level, makes broad conclusions difficult.
Enrollment, demographic, and program data from the state are missing for this period, so there is no breakdown of the student body by race, poverty status, special education, or English learner designation. No course access or staffing data is available either. The school did not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report.
The housing market in the 63113 zip code, where the school was located, showed a low median home value compared to the state and national averages, with a recent year-over-year decline. St. Louis as a city has a diverse economy anchored by major employers including the Federal Reserve Bank, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and several research universities. The city offers cultural institutions such as Forest Park, the Gateway Arch, the Saint Louis Zoo, and the Saint Louis Art Museum. City population trends have shifted over time, and St. Louis is an independent city with boundaries that were set decades ago.
The school is closed. For a parent or resident reading this, the most practical takeaway is that this building is no longer a functioning school option, and any records from its final year describe a small, low-performing middle school that served students in a challenging urban context before the district ceased operations entirely.
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