Hawthorne Avenue School, Newark NJ

Original Research by School Decision on Hawthorne Avenue School

Hawthorne Avenue School is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through eighth grade in the South Ward of Newark. It is part of the Newark Public School District, the largest school system in New Jersey. The student body is predominantly Black, with a substantial share of Hispanic students and a very small number of students from other racial backgrounds. A significant majority of students come from low-income households, as measured by eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch. State testing data for English language arts, math, and science is available for grades three through eight, though the data does not include information on the share of students with disabilities or English learners, which would be important context for understanding the school’s outcomes.

On state assessments, proficiency rates across all tested subjects and grades are low. In math, the percentage of students scoring at the proficient or advanced level falls well below typical benchmarks, with rates in the single digits or low teens across most grade levels. Results in English language arts are mixed: a few grade levels show proficiency rates around a third of students, while other grades show rates well below that. Science proficiency is very low in both tested grades. When compared with other school districts in Essex County, Hawthorne Avenue School sits in the bottom quartile for overall proficiency.

Because the school does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate data. The school’s own data does not include figures on chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, course access, or discipline, so a parent would need to ask the school or district directly about those dimensions of school life.

The surrounding neighborhood is part of a dense, urban city that has seen a notable population rebound after decades of decline. Newark has a deep employment base anchored by corporate headquarters, universities, the port, and the airport. Housing in the area is moderately priced relative to the state as a whole, and homes in the 07112 ZIP code reflect a value roughly in line with the broader Newark market. The housing market in Essex County shows moderate activity, with a modest uptick in listings over the past year.

For families considering Hawthorne Avenue School, the central academic fact is clear: the school serves a high-needs population and its state test results are among the lowest in the county. A parent may want to discuss with the school what specific academic interventions and supports are in place for students who are behind grade level, and how the school monitors progress over time. The district, meanwhile, has been recognized by the state as a High Performing District as of mid-2026, a designation that reflects improvement district-wide since the end of state control. The district has also been expanding career-themed high school options, and families who begin at Hawthorne Avenue will eventually navigate the district’s school-choice system for high school placement. The school’s own programmatic offerings are not described in the available data, so a direct inquiry about enrichment, arts, athletics, and after-school programs would be valuable for any parent trying to gauge the full experience a child would have here.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 323%

School 23% · District 28% · ▼ 5 pts below district

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

Grade 42%

School 2% · District 23% · ▼ 21 pts below district

▼ 44 pts below state median · ▼ 36 pts below county median

Grade 514%

School 14% · District 22% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 29 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 69%

School 9% · District 18% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

Grade 714%

School 14% · District 21% · ▼ 7 pts below district

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

Grade 88%

School 8% · District 12% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 335%

School 35% · District 28% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 49%

School 9% · District 30% · ▼ 22 pts below district

▼ 47 pts below state median · ▼ 44 pts below county median

Grade 533%

School 33% · District 31% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

Grade 634%

School 34% · District 36% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

Grade 736%

School 36% · District 38% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 820%

School 20% · District 39% · ▼ 19 pts below district

▼ 38 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

Science

Grade 57%

School 7% · District 10% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 83%

School 3% · District 6% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

This schoolNewark Public School District, 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 4Lower-income12%Higher-income0%12 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income30%Higher-income40%10 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income20%Higher-income20%0 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income3%Higher-income0%3 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income12%Higher-income20%8 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income9%Higher-income10%1 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income10%Higher-income0%10 pp gap