The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in English language arts. The lowest is 45% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hawthorne Elem.
Hawthorne Elementary serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade in Kearney, Missouri, as a regular public school within the Kearney R-I district. It is one of four elementary schools in a district that is managing steady enrollment pressures from a fast-growing suburban community north of downtown Kansas City. The school sits at the south end of town, and its single-story building reflects the car-dependent, low-density character of the surrounding neighborhoods.
State assessment results from the MAP tests provide a mixed picture. In third grade math, about half of students scored at the proficient or advanced level. In fourth grade math, that share dropped to roughly two-fifths. The fifth grade math result was suppressed, meaning data was withheld, often for small group sizes or other reporting reasons, so no public figure is available for that grade in that subject. In English language arts, third graders showed a stronger result, with nearly three-fifths reaching proficiency. Fourth graders followed at just over half. Fifth grade ELA was also suppressed. Science, tested only in fifth grade, saw about half of students score proficient or above. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school lands above the midpoint when compared to other districts in Clay County, though not at the top of the group. Parents looking at these scores will see that academic performance clusters around the middle of the range, with some variation by grade and subject.
The student body is comparatively small for a K-5 school. Enrollment is modest, and the demographic profile is predominantly white. Small shares of students are Hispanic and of two or more races; a very small number of Black students attend. No Asian, Native American, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students were reported. The proportion of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is small, indicating that most families in the attendance area are above the federal income threshold. No data was available on students with Individualized Education Programs or English learner status, so families with a child needing those supports may want to ask the school directly about services.
Kearney is one of the faster-growing municipalities in Missouri, with a mix of residential subdivisions and commercial development along I-35 and Highway 92. Housing values in the school’s ZIP code run higher than the Missouri average, making this a relatively expensive part of the Kansas City metro for homebuyers and renters alike. The town retains a historic downtown along Washington Street, but schools are on separated campuses rather than integrated into that core. Most households drive to work, and the average commute is long by national standards, reflecting the suburban-commuter character.
At the district level, several recent decisions will affect families with children at Hawthorne. In late 2023, voters approved a bond issue, funded without a tax increase, to build a new elementary school, renovate existing buildings, and upgrade safety and security. That expansion will eventually relieve some of the growth pressure across the district’s elementary schools, though construction timelines were not specified in available materials. The district adopted a new English language arts curriculum for grades six through twelve starting in the 2024-25 school year, and expanded its four-day-a-week preschool program beginning in 2025-26. Those changes do not directly affect Hawthorne’s primary grades, but they signal a district that is actively investing in facilities and curriculum under steady enrollment growth.
Overall, Hawthorne is an elementary school in an upwardly mobile suburban community with above-median local housing costs and a student population that is economically comfortable by area standards. Its test results place it in the upper half of Clay County districts, though with room for improvement. Families considering this school will find a small, predominantly white school with modest academic performance and a district that is responding to growth with new facilities and curriculum updates. A parent should look into special education and English learner supports, as no public data on those programs was available.
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