Hawthorne High School

4859 West El Segundo Boulevard

School District

Centinela Valley Union High
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
Type

public

School Map for Centinela Valley Union High School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by teacher on May 10, 2017

Hawthorne has had a bad image in the past, but it has done wonders to turn it around. There are many programs in place dedicated to supporting students and their needs. Some of these programs include after-school tutoring, therapy, intervention specialists, ELD support, AP classes, academies, etc. The school district also offers teachers regular professional development (some required and some optional). The majority of teachers on this campus are passionate educators who truly care about the students. For the most part, the students at the school are happy to be here and ready to learn.
Submitted by parent on May 09, 2017

My kids had a good experience at this school. They were well rounded students. Although they were accepted to surrounding charter school, I wanted to give them the full high school experience. Now they are both of to college.
Submitted by other on May 09, 2017

This school has improved significantly in the past years. The infrastructure received a much needed face lift. The academics have improved notably due to the dedication of teachers. College tutors are available to all students throughout the week in the library. The school has adopted a more modern approach and continues to show its potential. I am a former student and also a community member.
Submitted by other on June 22, 2014

This school is a great place to send your kids theirs academies that help students figure out their future. Mr.pacheco is a great teacher he helped me learn basic engineering skills and helped out 10 students get scholarships including myself. People talk bad about this school because of first impressions but don't judge a book by it's cover.teachers are awsome you just need to cooperate with them. Dr.newell is the best principle I ever had all students have so much respect for him. I just graduated from there and I am a proud Hawthorne graduate
Submitted by other on May 16, 2014

Most of the teachers are really bad, they don't put effort into their students and work. At this school, the teachers are either horrible, or if you're lucky, wonderful. I've been in classes where the teacher had loads of grammatical errors in their PowerPoint, faithfully. And the secretaries in the office are THE WORST. Lazy beyond belief. When I first enrolled into the school, they gave me and my mom the run around for at least a week when people came in for the first full week of school. They'd say, come back tomorrow, and you can finish getting this and that done, so that another secretary could be burdened by it since there were lots of students enrolling, but it was always morning time. Counselors have lost my papers for specific things, and since they didn't want to fill out paperwork for me to switch to Lloyd, they've said Lloyd isn't accepting or even Lloyd won't allow you because of absences. I've even had a counselor tell me come and see me tomorrow, then take off work the day of the appointment. When I was being transferred to be homeschooled, they tried to hold my transfers hostage saying I'd have to attend for x amount of days, when it was for money from the district.
Submitted by parent on March 11, 2014

Hawthorne High School is a great school to attend. Four of my children have attended this school, and out of that four three went on to college. One is now in the Airforce and the others are in school. This school did have a lot of good teachers about five years ago, but with budget cuts some were given pink slips. Hawthorne still have great teachers you just have to network to find who is who. There are good kids at this school and there are bad kids at this school as with anyhing nothings perfect. Dr. Newell is a great principal. At one point I had a problem with a teacher and the situation was handle well by Dr. Newell. He is fair and he doesn't tolerate nonsense. The kids really have a high respect for him and when he walks through the corridor they get their act together. I know from personal experience that this man will go above and beyond to protect these kids. Yes there are gangs and drugs. Once he is made aware of a problem even security that child is imediately removed. If you teach your kids who to pick and choose as their friends they'll enjoy this campus. If you let your child raise them self...good luck!
Submitted by teacher on January 02, 2014

This school is unprofessional and a joke. The principal Mark Newell doesn't know squat about being a good administrator. There is no real professional development to help teachers out. Dr. Nicholas is also a joke. Nicholas has no teaching experience at all, she went from being a counselor to a teacher. Nicholas only knew George Zuk the special education director so she got the job. This school is a joke. There are some good teachers but the administration is pathetic.
Submitted by other on October 01, 2013

I myself am a student The school is over all just ok but the counselors are very NOT dedicated or very professional and do not make any real efforts to get the students in there proper class or even enroll them. The school is very unorganized they don't even have proper tutoring yet, its upon your teacher to stay after school for extra help. The sports team aren't any good either as most of the coaches don't know how to properly teach the athletes to win. I would not advise anyone to go to this school if they actually want to be something in great in life most people who go to this school end up going to a community college with casual jobs if they have a job. If that's what you want for your child then this is the school for you, but if you want your child to be anything such as a Doctor or a Psychologist then Hawthorne high is not the start for success.
Submitted by other on May 06, 2012

this is really a okay school All the dedicated teachers left to other schools & there is many drugs / pregnant teens on campus #swag
Submitted by other on January 13, 2012

As an Alumni from 2001, and having worked at the school for 4 years after graduation as a volunteer and having had relatives attend this school since, my impression is that HHS is an average school. The academics are average, but there are a handful of great teachers. It's up to the student to seek these teachers out and insist to counselors that they be placed in those classrooms. This school offers a handful of A.P. courses, but also has several non-college prep classes so if your child is college-bound they should not waste their time taking pottery, wood shop, or Physical/Life Science. This school does track their students (high potential students are placed with good teachers and honors classes and plain students can be encouraged to take non-college prep courses). It's up to you and your child to inform the counselor of their intent to attend a 4-year University or they may be disappointed at the end of their senior year. I went on to attend a 4-year and earn a Masters from USC. I learned things at HHS, both positive and negative, but always used my head and avoided the "wrong" crowds. If your child is smart and not easily influenced by others then this school isn't that bad.