The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in English language arts. The lowest is 28% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hawthorne Park Elementary School
Hawthorne Park Elementary School serves first through fourth grade in Willingboro, a residential suburb of Philadelphia that was developed as a planned Levittown community in the mid-twentieth century. The township is organized into twelve sections called parks, and Hawthorne Park sits within one of those residential neighborhoods. The school is one of five elementary schools in the Willingboro Public School District, which also operates an upper elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. A recent district reorganization approved in 2024 will close the existing middle school and relocate those students to the high school building, a change that will affect feeder patterns for all elementary families.
The student body is predominantly Black, with a substantial Hispanic population and small numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. More than half of students come from households that qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a level that places the school in a category of above-average economic need for the area. Enrollment is on the smaller side for an elementary school serving four grade levels, with roughly similar numbers across grades one through four.
The most recent state assessment results, from New Jersey’s NJSLA tests, show that across mathematics and English language arts, proficiency rates for both third and fourth graders fall below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Burlington County. In math, the share of students scoring at proficient or advanced was lower than the county median, and English language arts performance was also below that benchmark. A parent may want to speak with school staff about how classroom instruction and intervention supports are structured to address these outcomes. Data on chronic absenteeism, special education enrollment, and English learner populations were not reported, so it is not possible to draw conclusions about those dimensions of student experience from the available information.
The school itself is a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation, and it does not appear to offer specialized programs beyond the standard elementary curriculum. The district’s plan to consolidate middle school students into the high school building may create changes in how elementary graduates flow into upper grades, and families new to the area may want to confirm current attendance zones and feeder schools.
The wider Willingboro community is defined by its planned layout: curvilinear streets, mature trees, and a scattering of parks, lakes, and recreational facilities rather than a traditional downtown. The Kennedy Center serves as a hub for recreation and cultural events. Housing consists mainly of single-family homes from the original Levittown development, supplemented by townhouses, senior housing, and a few newer apartment buildings. Home values are moderate relative to New Jersey as a whole, and the local housing market has shown steady activity. The township has bus service connecting to Philadelphia and surrounding towns.
For parents considering this school, the key factors are the small elementary setting in a stable residential community, a student body shaped by the area’s demographic makeup, and academic performance that currently trails county averages. The district’s recent consolidation decision adds an element of transition that may affect school assignments in the coming years. Without more detailed information on special programs or student support services, a visit and conversation with the principal would be a practical next step for any family weighing Hawthorne Park.
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