| Date | Who | Comments |
| 8/2/2012 | parent | I have two kids currently at Hawthorne and feel it's a good school especially for a CPS school. But it's not perfect. The concerns regarding the rushed school schedule expressed in the Dec. 6 and 11, 2011 posts are valid and, I believe, felt by a number of parents. But these issues as well as others are overlooked because my kids and the school overall are performing well. Now that the school day is being lengthened, I hope these issues will be resolved and the school makes the most of the possibilities. As for the May 27, 2012 post by a teacher - I find embarrassing. The "take it or leave it" attitude is inappropriate and immature and I don't believe reflects the majority of the school staff. To the teacher who posted this review - the personal comments are unprofessional and reflect badly on you and the school you represent. If this is your attitude, perhaps you should be the one to leave as there are plenty of enthusiastic teachers who want to work at Hawthorne without the self-deserving attitude that your comments reflect. |
| 5/27/2012 | teacher | December 5 and 6, 2011 post...I can actually guess who wrote it. So now I will say it...You're negativity towards everyone and everything at our school is shining through and people are on to you and actually think you are a joke with too much time on your hands. Stop already. Now you know why no one wants to speak with you. MAYBE you could be just a little more supportive since you are getting an amazing education for FREE!!! If you are not happy here...LEAVE!!! You have no clue how many people are praying for a spot at Hawthorne!!! Our wait list is a long one... |
| 12/6/2011 | parent | The principal leadership at this school treats it like an extremely regimented jail. There is no time allowed for recess, outdoor activity, play, or even lunch. The only thing that saves this school is a few stellar teachers and a PTA that taps the wealthy parents. The reality is that this school has been autonomous for years now and could have voted for a longer school day ages ago. Neither the leadership or teachers wanted it even though it would have allowed for recess and lunch. Their actions speak loudly as to who they are putting first and it is not "for the children". By the way, a teacher misspelling "phenomenal" is not a good sign. |
| 12/5/2011 | parent | Hawthorne teachers are fighting the longer school day. If they were truly there "for the children" they would be happy to extend the day for the children's sake. The day is rather rushed. Instead they are holding out for more money. Pretty sad. |
| 5/7/2011 | parent | This school is amazing. I would recommend this school to everyone. The teachers are amazing and the education is amazing. |
| 12/13/2010 | parent | My son has progressed so much in just four short months. I can't believe the difference that great teachers make! Thank you Hawthorne. |
| 5/18/2010 | other | my grandchildren attend and they are excelling and happy at Hawthorne, so are their parents. |
| 5/13/2010 | parent | A principal who is committed to each student's education. Excellent teachers. An philosophy that gives students agency in their own education but supports them every step of the way. |
| 5/13/2010 | parent | The school has a GREAT educational program with very supportive and concerned teachers. Mrs. Alvarado is a dynamic and inspiring principal who works with her staff and the children to make everyone the best they can be. |
| 5/13/2010 | parent | It's like an extended family with the added bonus of a GREAT education! |
| 5/13/2010 | parent | Both my children have received an excellent education at Hawthorne- the school's focus is on reading, writing, math and science AND they also experience art, music, technology (up to date equipment) and PE My son just completed an off-campus program at the Art Institute, he attended one afternoon each week for the school year - what an incredible experience; his curiosity was given free rein. Additionally, the parent/teacher/staff collaboration has brought so much to the school and ultimately to the students. Last, the principal, Anna Alvarado, believes in 2 principles of leadership which inspire great things: 1. there's always a solution and together we'll find the best one 2. everyone brings their own strengths; when we stop to acknowledge them, we provide an atmosphere in which all can contribute and excel. |
| 5/13/2010 | parent | Great administration and teachers!! Very supportive, kind and caring!! |
| 5/13/2010 | parent | It is a great school that focuses on the children with great parent/teacher involvement. Children learn to excel at Hawthorne. |
| 5/10/2010 | parent | the school provides an excellent education and prepares the kids well for the top high schools in the state |
| 5/10/2010 | parent | Great teachers! they are very supportive ,encouraging and caring with their students |
| 5/7/2010 | parent | Dedicated teachers and staff make every child's success a priority. |
| 5/7/2010 | parent | Creative, dedicated teachers, diverse student body, receptive, forward-thinking administration and involved parents make this an amazing place for kids to learn. |
| 5/7/2010 | parent | The sense of community and the fact that teachers and the administration demonstrate care for all the students that attend. |
| 5/7/2010 | parent | My son graduated from Hawthorne last year and we were so proud of that school. Great principal and teaching staff... |
| 5/7/2010 | parent | Creativity + stellar academics + nice families + fantastic principal = Hawthorne. |
| 5/7/2010 | parent | From the top down, they strive to teach to the whole child |
| 5/7/2010 | parent | I have been at the school for over 10yrs now and it continues to get better - there is a true commitment to excellence, our principal and teachers are always looking for ways to improve the quality of learning. |
| 5/7/2010 | parent | The community of teachers,students, and parents at Hawthorne is outstanding. My son has attended for the past eight years, and it's been a wonderful experience. We have made friends for life at Hawthorne. |
| 5/6/2010 | other | Great School very well balanced classes, the Kids are so enthusiastic friendly charming and outgoing. They deserve to win. |
| 5/6/2010 | parent | I love Hawthorne Scholastic Academy because of all it offers to everyone who enters the door. Our administration, teachers, and community of parents work hard every day to ensure that our children learn to be creative with what is printed on the pages of a text book. This type of undertaking and commitment is visible in our children s experience at our public school every day. Hawthorne you rock !! |
| 5/6/2010 | parent | Great teachers and leadership from our principal. Teachers who really care about our children and their educational development, teaching them to think for themselves in a creative manner. |
| 5/6/2010 | parent | There are great teachers and an excellent education! |
| 5/6/2010 | parent | Hawthorne is an amazing school where the teachers and staff are dedicated to our children. and committed to our children. There |
| 5/6/2010 | parent | Committed and skilled teachers ... caring and concerned administration open to new ideas and supportive of teachers ... incredible parent group that supports the school's mission |
| 5/5/2010 | parent | amazing school spirit, family culture, student centric administration, energizing prinicpal, teachers who focus on the students, and so much more. |
| 5/4/2010 | parent | Great teachers, nurturing support system, active parent group! need i say more!!! |
| 5/3/2010 | parent | Outstanding principal, vice principal, teachers, and staff; parental involvement, general enthusiasm for learning throughout! |
| 4/25/2010 | parent | Fantastic teachers! Best school in the city! |
| 2/24/2010 | parent | We are disappointed in this school. The pressure put on the children is outrageous. There is far too much emphasis on test scores and not enough emphasis on teaching children how to learn. They are treated more like inmates by being denied outdoor recess. In a two month time period, the kids only had 3 outdoor recesses! There are dozens of studies that stress the need for kids to have time to run around so they can concentrate in class. |
| 10/6/2009 | parent | Just -- flat out -- an outstanding school with dedication and love from top to bottom: the principal and the teachers -- this is the way a good school should be run, we're very happy to have our son going to Hawthorne! |
| 10/4/2009 | parent | We are thrilled to be at Hawthorne. The Kindergarten teachers are incredible, using the latest research to guide their reading and writing instruction. I still can't believe such a terrific school exists in the city of Chicago! |
| 9/16/2009 | parent | I love the school because it is academically challenging, and also includes art, music, movement, theater, and many other subjects neccessary for proper education and enlightenment. The school offers all of this and is also very culturally and economically diverse. This is a great school! My kids love it as well. |
| 9/16/2009 | parent | Great teachers, active parents. |
| 9/5/2009 | student | I am going to 8th grade, my final year at Hawthorne. It has been an amazing 8 years, the teachers care for you so much but they also make sure you stay focus and learn as much as possible. I am going to be truly sad when i leave for highschool but i am totally sure that Hawthorne will/has prepared me great for my future. |
| 5/19/2009 | parent | I have two children at Hawthorne, both in the upper grades now. We've been here since kindergarten and on the whole have been nothing but grateful to have gotten into such a fine school. The teachers are dedicated, and principal Anna Alvarado is an unusually dedicated, caring and inspired administrator. She is a proactive and creative leader. The school is rigorous, no doubt, you must be an advocate for your child. Sometimes the curriculum is a solid grade level above the norm. If you're a dedicated student, you will find many outlets here. As to parents, yes, some work, some don't. I work full time, but don't see the school or other parents as cliquish. As at any other school, there are many ways to be involved and the parent community is composed of all sorts of people who wish only the best for their children. |
| 1/24/2009 | student | Great school, great kids, great teachers, and great principal |
| 12/31/2008 | parent | Thought they would be a good fit for our son. We were wrong. Too big of a class for one teacher and TA. Minimal individualized attention due to large class size. Breeding ground for behavioral problems. Sure, they care. But they only care for the kids that shine, right off the bat. Our son is a caring, enthusiatic, and age appropriate learner. He is curious and intelligent, and is learning to work with his peers-- isn't that what school is about? Just an aside. I appreciate the comment about the mothers who do not work that send their children here. While dropping off my kid, the school grounds looked like a sorority gathering-- very clique-ish, very high school-like. Not cool. |
| 8/19/2008 | parent | Hawthorne Academy is one of the gems of the Chicago Public School system. We have one child already at Hawthorne entering 3rd grade. Our two other children will be attending this year entering K and 5th grade . Our daughter ( who skipped 1st grade) had a wonderful teacher last year in 2nd grade and we are very happy to have all of our children at Hawthorne this year. The school has a great staff, starting with the principal, Ms. Alvarado. Everyone we have met there is friendly and seems to actually like children, which was not the case at some of our previous schools. Unlike many urban schools, Hawthorne has a very open, welcoming feel to it that was evident to us from the first time we visited it. We are very lucky to have a school like Hawthorne in Chicago. |
| 3/23/2008 | parent | My daughter is in the 8th grade at Hawthorne and she really hates the school. She especially hates the kids in her class. There isn't very much ethnicity in her class and her teachers aren't very good at communicating, or being helpful in any way. I would never recommend this school to anyone. |
| 9/4/2007 | parent | Hawthorne is a good school, but there are many good schools in the CPS system. The new principal is just as amazing in effectiveness, yet caring, as the previous one. Just a note of caution that many of the mothers do not work. Some teachers and mothers are not understanding of the time constraints of working mothers, which can cause a rift. My children are doing very well at this school. Hawthorne has wonderful music, art, computer and math teachers as well as the core elementary teachers. |
| 5/31/2007 | parent | I have my twin daughters at Hawthorne this year. They are both in 6th grade. My daughters had attended pre-k at Moos School and I was told that they were bright and that I should put them in a gifted kinder class. I didn't because the gifted school was to narrow minded and I want my children to be well rounded so I registered them at St. John Berchman School in Logan Square and felt that I wanted more... so, I applied to several CPS locations and Hawthorne contacted me and the girls were accepted. They have done extremely well academically and have a lot of friends. The academics are great. Teachers are great. Parents seem to work together. The information I gather from the LSC is wonderful and active. The principal doesn't seem to be a people person. It is her 1st year as a principal, perhaps its that. |
| 11/19/2006 | parent | My daughter attended 3rd and 4th grade at Hawthorne. She loved this school, it's one of the best in Chicago. Daughter now attends a school in Naperville that doesn't match up to this school. Very good school, I should have let my daughter complete 8th grade here, Naperville schools aren't that great. |
| 4/5/2006 | student | I love this school, i am a student there and the teachers are concerned and love the students. Children are challenged and they promote harmony within the classroom. |
| 11/2/2005 | parent | Ok...I am impressed! Having two children with different learning styles, varying attributes and needs...Hawthorne is an amazing school that somehow successfully evaluates and applies methods to ensure that each and every child fully grasps the material they are receiving. I have had Hawthorne alum report Highschool as a breeze after leaving Hawthorne...they truly are prepared and then some upon leaving! |
| 9/13/2005 | former student | I attended this school from k-8 and I am currently a freshman at the University of Misosuri- Columbia. Hawthorne really prepared more for one of the best high schools in Chicago. The academic programs are available in different levels of difficulty for the various backgrounds students come from. Hawthorne is very diverse. I always looked forward to international night at the end of every year. Art, music, sports, and cultural activities are always planned and made available to the students. Parents are very involved. They tag along for field trips, help with crafts that require more supervision, join PTA, run for office in the parent government, and help with school assemblies. I enjoyed my time at Hawthorne and go back on a regular basis to talk to old teachers. |
| 7/19/2005 | parent | I have 2 children at Hawthorne, I am one of the parents that work very hard on fundrairsing. I don't give big checks I just give alot of time and it is very much appreciated by the whole staff. My children are getting a great education and we consider ourselves to be very lucky. |
| 7/7/2005 | parent | The academic education my child received is first class although many of the projects have obviously been done by parents. The staff is wonderful, except for the ones that allow children to get away with many things because of who their parents are and how much (money or time) they contribute to the school. The principal has done wonderful things with the school, but could use help in making all parents welcomed (not just the ones who donate money or their time or are in the same social circles). The PTA is very active. The education is great, the school is just very cliquey. Students should be judged by what they accomplish academically, not who their parents are and the administration should make it a safe place (emotionally and socially) for all to learn and punish those that are bullies despite of how much their parents donate. |
| 9/20/2004 | former student | Hawthorne is an excellent school. Its amazing teachers and principal, along with parent support, make it possible for all students to suceed. Hawthorne prepared me for high school so much more than I could have ever imagined. Thank you to the Hawthorne Family for a great education, love, and support that all students need! |
| 5/11/2004 | student | I was a student at Hawthorne and two of my cousins are currently enrolled here. It is one of the best if not the best school out there. From the dissection classes to the amazing Mathathon, not to mention the great reading material. When I went to high school all my freshmen year was just a review of what I had learned. The teachers motivate you and always say something to make every student excel. I will never forget the teachers at Hawthorne, and the motivation they always gave me to be the best I could be. The principal always had a great smile and is an amazing leader. It's a safe school with great activities that not only help children stay away from being with the bad crowd but also challenges them intellectually. Thanks Hawthorne for helping me be the best I can be! |
| 3/31/2004 | parent | Great teachers and parents make this a wonderful school filled with curious students. There is an active PTA with several raising events. It's the only wireless public grade school in the state, as well having chess club, chorus, sports teams, and music lsson. While there is always room for improvement (smaller class size would be good), we have been very happy at Hawthorne. |
| 8/11/2003 | parent | Teacher to student ratio is incorrect. This school is not comparable to most of the schools listed due to the type of school this is. Interesting type of detail listed. |
