Hawthorne Elementary

Hawthorne Elementary is a reasonably sized elementary campus in San Luis Obispo, California, overseen by San Luis Coastal Unified. The school works with 437 students in grades K through 6.

Across the 16 schools in San Luis Coastal Unified (7,653 students total), Hawthorne Elementary accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Demographically, Hawthorne Elementary reports that the largest single group is White at 44%, but no single group is in the majority. The remainder consists of 40% Hispanic, 11% multiracial, 4% Asian. That is noticeably less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 69%.

In terms of school funding signals, The school lists 19 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 23.0:1. The state averages about 22.3:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. Roughly 54% of students at Hawthorne Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, Hawthorne Elementary sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 47.6%; this one delivers 59.7%.

In the broader community, community-level numbers for San Luis Obispo County indicate median household income runs about $97,446, 40% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 6%. Across San Luis Obispo County's 83 public schools (combined enrollment of about 33,339 students), Hawthorne Elementary is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Sinsheimer Elementary, around 0.9 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Hawthorne Elementary. Among the 7 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Hawthorne Elementary ranks 5th on composite proficiency, beneath the local average of 66.7%.

The school occupies an inner-city site.

Looking at the recent track record. Hawthorne Elementary's enrollment has increased 17% since 2018, when it stood at 372 (now 437). The Hispanic share of enrollment declined from 46% to 40% over that span.

Inside the community feed, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.