Ralph E. Hawes Elementary School

9682 Yellowstone Drive

School District

Huntington Beach City Elementary
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

public

School Map for Huntington Beach City Elementary 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 parent on March 07, 2024

We moved into our neighborhood and bought our house just so all four of our kids could go to Hawes!! We currently have a fourth grader and a second grader at Hawes, and we love it so much!! All the teachers are amazing (we’ve had Largey, Oakes, Arsenault, Zeutzius, Volk, & Borns-and we love them all!). Principal Jennings is great-very involved with the students and parents and runs the best kind of tight ship. One of our kids has multiple diagnoses (and is also Gate) and is on an IEP, and we feel so supported by all the faculty and staff! Can't recommend Hawes enough!
Submitted by other on April 28, 2021

Hawes is an okay school. We had two boys go through, but the second was in GATE so it was a million times better. There are some really good teachers and some bad or okay teachers, but I guess you can say that for every school. Unfortunately our first son had a couple bad teachers and a bit of a rough time. Not to mention a "certain" teacher spread malicious rumors about our family (after a falling out) to parents and teachers which caused him to lose a lot of friends and become isolated. I guess it can be considered a bullying incident. Oh well made him a stronger person. A lot of the parents and teachers are in little cliquey groups which isn't my thing. I'm just about dropping my kid off and picking him up. Oh well, it is all over now and we are dealing with Edison and Sowers. I only recommend this school if your child is in GATE
Submitted by other on April 28, 2021

Hawes is an okay school. We had two boys go through, but the second was in GATE so it was a million times better. There are some really good teachers and some bad or okay teachers, but I guess you can say that for every school. Unfortunately our first son had a couple bad teachers and a bit of a rough time. Not to mention a "certain" teacher spread malicious rumors about our family (after a falling out) to parents and teachers which caused him to lose a lot of friends and become isolated. I guess it can be considered a teacher bullying incident. Oh well, I guess it just made him stronger! A lot of the parents and teachers are in little cliquey groups which isn't my thing. I'm just about dropping my kid off and picking him up. Oh well, it is all over now and we are dealing with Edison and Sowers.
Submitted by parent on July 18, 2019

10/10. I didn’t feel that way 7 yrs. ago, but after having both my kids graduate onto middle-school this year, I see the entire experience at Hawes and truly appreciate what a wonderful school it is. The leadership is strong, the teachers are fun and engaged, the PTA is strong. We’re all going to miss Hawes!
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2017

I am a mother of a 9 yo doughter, just moved from Europe and start the 4th grade in Hawes, the experience is awsome, so far.
Submitted by parent on March 19, 2017

Excellent so far. This is my sons first year here!
Submitted by parent on February 27, 2017

We have been very happy at this school. Ms. Jennings is a superb principal. She knows all the students and is out and about monitoring the campus at all times. She addresses issues immediately and responds with the greatest professionalism. The teachers at this school are nurturing and have high expectations for the students. The Accelerated Reader library is amazing. The PTA is very active and very effective in what they do.
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2016

My fourth grader is new to Hawes this year and we couldn't be happier with the school. His teacher, Mrs. Wells, has gone above and beyond to make him feel welcome and to help him succeed in school.
Submitted by parent on May 01, 2014

Hawes is a wonderful school! Teachers are dedicated, loving and involved in their students' lives outside of school. They work collaboratively within grade levels and ensure that learning is priority, but that FUN is necessary. Mrs. Jennings is a hands-on principal. I love that she is out and about on campus and talking with students. Her strong leadership has moved Hawes in the right direction. The PTA and parents are involved in making Hawes a more fun place to learn, a place where students' needs are met with new technology, resources, assemblies, the list goes on. The parents take pride in the school and invest their time, energy and money by supporting fundraisers. The only negative remark I have is for the RSP program. My child has shared with me that he is not getting the help he should be getting. The students in RSP need a stronger teacher who will implement research based practices. It should not only be a place for students to get extra help, but a place where they are taught strategies to help them be successful in school. The Hawes staff, students and families are truly special. Go HAWES HAWKS!
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2013

Hawes is a fabulous school. The teachers at Hawes always go above and beyond. They make learning fun and truly care for their students. Our new principal is always out on the playground keeping the kids in line and discipline issues have diminished. We have a strong PTA that provides music, art, assemblies- even a new imac lab! But what really makes Hawes special is the sense of community at our school. The students have pride in themselves and their school.
Submitted by parent on August 09, 2012

Great school. Some teachers (like every school) are better than others but the overall education is excellent. I have multiple children that have/are attending, all with different needs and personalities and all have been given the tools needed to succeed. The Principal is excellent and takes a real interest in each child. I hope the new Principal will be as good.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2012

If your child is doing "well" in school well then, of course, you couldn't understand why parents who have children that struggle are disappointed in Hawes. It's easy to teach kids who don't have difficulty in school. It's seems that many teachers at Hawes don't know how to help children that struggle in school. The RSP teacher needs to be held more accountable for her failure to follow the guidelines of the reading programs she is supposed to be implementing. There are so many resources that Hawes has to help kids in RSP but its to easy for the RSP teacher to say that she can't do anything more to help.
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2012

After reading many of these reviews, I'm sad. I LOVE this school and I wish everyone had the same experiences as I have had at Hawes. I've got a 3rd grader whose been at Hawes since kindergarten. He does well in school and has made lots of friends. Yes, the class size has grown, but that is not the fault of the school and I think they handle the load as best as possible. All these "fees" that some have talked about give your children Music and Art and P.E. that the budget no longer covers.Sure, sometimes it seems like a lot, but without these programs the kids would be missing out on these wonderful opportunities. I suggest to those that are unhappy, visit the school. Volunteer to help out sometimes. Join the PTA. Your involvement in your childs education can only help the situation.
Submitted by parent on April 16, 2012

If your child is in Rsp forget about them getting the help they need. My child started this school and he has gone down hill. The kids are bullys, and my childs teacher can care less about him. This is very sad, and my child is NOT getting the help he needs. The really sad part is that my child tells me that this school is not helping him compared to his old school, and this breaks my heart.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2012

The reason I chose to transfer my son into this school was because his preschool highly recommended it and a majority of the kids he graduated with would be going here and I wanted his transition to be comfortable. Turns out all the kids going to Hawes went to preppy k so that was a bummer! So the problem I'm having with this school is the asking for money constantly!! There is a fundraiser all the time and all of the extra curricular sports and activities are not budget friendly. Maybe I'm just out of touch with how much things cost. But when there is a letter sent home asking to help out the less fortunate families at your own school I was appalled!!! If you can't afford necessary items for your children and you live in this district you need to move! And what is considered "less fortunate"? I would never think to ask my child's school for money. Unbelievably tacky!! The parent involvement is a little bit too much also. Yes, it's nice to be able to help out but when mommy or daddy are constantly there how do you expect them to detach? And if you don't know parents from outside of school forget it. It's a shame to see parents who are not welcoming and in a clique In their 40's.
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2012

Not sure how I feel about this school yet. My child is in kinder and is not doing as well as we had hoped. There being 29 kids in class, it's hard to get the attention a young person needs. Also, the communication lacks for sure. I am a working parent and I do everything I can do help and volunteer in class. I noticed that the other parents and students helping with the reading program aren't really keeping the kids on track. My own child's book reading was so out of order, I had to ask the question, who is teaching this child. I wish I could afford private school. And what is with there being no fence on the back of the school? That freaks me out every day, anyone could walk onto the campus at any time...and that is not a comforting feeling.
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2011

I am not quite sure what the last reviewer was thinking....but they definitely were NOT talking about Hawes Elementary. This school is WONDERFUL! It all starts with a very caring and approachable principal, Mrs. Harvey, who has high standards for the kids and the teachers. The teachers are fabulous also....and you can't ask for better parent involvement and PTA. It is no surprise to me that greatschools.org rated this school a 10!!! Go Hawes Hawks!
Submitted by parent on June 08, 2011

very bad school even some of the staff and teachers tell parents they should enroll their kids in a different school.