The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in Science. The lowest is 45% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Hawthorn Academy South Jordan
Hawthorn Academy South Jordan is a charter school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in the city of South Jordan, a fast-growing suburb southwest of Salt Lake City. The school operates as part of the Hawthorn Academy district but functions as its own campus with a dedicated administration and teaching staff. Because it serves only elementary and middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and the school sits outside the usual high school metrics that parents of older students might look for.
South Jordan itself has transformed over the past two decades from an agricultural community into one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, driven largely by the master-planned Daybreak development on the city’s western half. New residential subdivisions, a mixed-use downtown anchored by a minor league ballpark, and a network of trails and parks have reshaped the landscape. For families moving into the area, housing is expensive relative to national and statewide averages, consistent with the broader Salt Lake Valley market. Rental costs are also elevated but have held roughly steady recently. The city is served by three light rail stations and one commuter rail stop, making regional transit feasible, though the day‑to‑day environment remains car‑dependent outside the Daybreak core.
Hawthorn Academy South Jordan enrolls about six hundred students, making it a mid‑sized elementary school by local standards. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic presence and smaller shares of Asian, multiracial, Black, and Pacific Islander students. Roughly three in every ten students qualify for free or reduced‑price lunch, a share that mirrors the region’s overall income diversity. Data on special education identification and English learner status was not available in the materials provided, so families who need those specifics should seek them directly from the school.
On state standardized assessments, results are mixed but generally above the county average. In math, a bit less than half of students met proficiency benchmarks in the most recent testing year. Reading performance from the prior year shows a similar proportion of students scoring at proficient or above. The state changed its cut scores for English language arts beginning in the 2024‑25 school year, so the reading figure reported here comes from before that adjustment and may not be directly comparable to future results. Science performance was stronger, with a majority of students reaching proficiency. When these three subjects are averaged together, the school’s overall proficiency index lands above the midpoint when compared with other districts across Salt Lake County. That is a solid showing in a county with many high‑performing schools.
Because this is a charter school, families should be aware that it operates under its own governance and enrollment policies rather than through a traditional school district. The district brief for Hawthorn Academy turned up no recent bond measures, boundary changes, or curriculum overhauls that would affect day‑to‑day life at the campus; the school’s operations appear stable.
No information was available on chronic absenteeism, disciplinary incidents, or staff qualifications. These gaps are common for schools that do not yet have civil‑rights data published, but a parent may want to ask the office about school climate and teacher experience directly.
For a family already drawn to South Jordan’s housing market and amenity‑rich suburban growth, Hawthorn Academy South Jordan offers an academic environment that is performing reasonably well on state tests relative to the surrounding county. The school’s charter structure and smaller scale could appeal to parents seeking an alternative to the larger elementary schools in the Jordan School District. Families with older children will need to plan for middle school and high school elsewhere, as this campus ends at sixth grade.
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