Hawthorn Elem School South

Set in Vernon Hills, Illinois, Hawthorn Elem School South is a moderately sized elementary school, run under Hawthorn CCSD 73. It educates 505 students across grades 1 through 5. Enrollment runs roughly 33% larger than the state mean of about 381.

Hawthorn CCSD 73 comprises 9 schools with combined enrollment of 3,496 students; Hawthorn Elem School South is among them.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Hawthorn Elem School South lists that 36% of students identify as White, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups; the rest is composed of 33% Asian, 15% Hispanic, 8% Black, 6% multiracial. The wider county runs roughly 61% White, putting the school's mix noticeably less White than the area baseline.

On the resource side, Staff filings list 46 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 10.9:1 students per teacher. The state averages around 13.9:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. Around 31% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. By comparison, Lake County runs at roughly 54%, so the school's eligibility rate is lower than the surrounding baseline.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Hawthorn Elem School South sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 53.8%; this one delivers 48.9%.

Across the wider county, the surrounding county (Lake County) reports that median household earnings sit near $110,416, roughly 48% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across Lake County's 214 public schools (combined enrollment of about 118,032 students), Hawthorn Elem School South is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Hawthorn Aspen Elem School, around 0.1 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Hawthorn Elem School South at 6th of 7; the average score across the group is 58.1%.

Geographically, the school is in a bedroom-community area.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count edged down 34%: 761 students in 2018 compared to 505 in 2025. The Asian share of enrollment decreased from 42% to 33% over that span. The student-to-teacher ratio fell from 13.1:1 in 2018 to 10.9:1 today.

On this page, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.