The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in Science. The lowest is 43% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hawthorn Academy West Jordan
Hawthorn Academy West Jordan is a public charter school in West Jordan, one of the fastest-growing suburbs in the Salt Lake Valley. It serves kindergarten through ninth grade, a grade span that means a family could send a child from the start of their schooling well into early high school without changing buildings. The school’s student body is just under a thousand, a size that feels moderate for a charter school and small enough that students are likely known by name.
The community around it is distinctly suburban and car-dependent, with wide arterial roads and separated commercial centers rather than a walkable downtown. West Jordan is a family-oriented city where a substantial share of households have children. The western neighborhoods along the Oquirrh Mountains are developing rapidly, and the city has experienced intense growth in recent decades. TRAX light rail runs through the city, but the overall built environment is designed for driving. Housing values in the zip code sit above the national median, and rents are high as well, which is typical for the Salt Lake Valley’s western suburbs.
The school itself is part of the Hawthorn Academy district, a single-charter-school-authority entity that operates this campus. We looked for recent district changes such as bond measures or curriculum expansions and found none publicly reported in the available record, so the district has been stable in terms of major parent-relevant events in the recent past.
Academically, Hawthorn Academy West Jordan’s performance on state assessments places it above the midpoint among districts in Salt Lake County when looking at overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. That is a solid standing, though not at the top of the county’s range. In math, a substantial share of students scored proficient or above on the state’s RISE assessment, but the rate leaves room for growth. English language arts results from one year prior were in a similar range. Science proficiency was higher, with more than half of students meeting the bar. Because the school serves only through ninth grade, there is no four-year graduation rate to report. Any high-school-level outcome measures that apply to grades ten through twelve will not be available here.
The student body is majority white, with a significant Hispanic presence. Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and multiracial students each make up smaller shares. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that is typical for a mixed-income suburban charter setting. Data on the share of students with disabilities and English learners was not available from the school’s public reporting, so a parent with a child in either group may want to ask the school directly about those services and supports.
Because this is a charter school, it operates as its own district under its own governing board. That structure can mean flexibility in programming and school culture, though it also means the school does not have a larger district to draw on for specialized services or program breadth. The school’s website was not provided, so the specific electives, extracurriculars, or school philosophy are not described here.
For a family in West Jordan or the surrounding area, Hawthorn Academy offers a K-9 option in one building, a stable academic profile that sits above the county median, and the typical charter emphasis on school-level autonomy. The school fits a family looking for a single-campus experience that spans elementary through early high school in a growing, car-dependent suburb with high housing costs. Parents considering the school for a student with significant special education needs or who is an English learner may want to confirm the level of support available.
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