Research Hawthorne Middle/High School Public Schools in Gainesville, Florida

“I believe that people think that Hawthorne is a trashy school. Well its not. I went to Union County schools for eight years, and at Hawthorne I have by far learned more. Maybe it s the one-on- one teaching. I was not scared to ask the teachers here questions without getting laughed at or criticized, for not learning the material the first time it was taught it but people underestimate the learning strategies of Hawthorne. But, I am proud to be a student here at Hawthorne High School.”

“It angers me to look at this website and see a staff member bashing this school. I am currently a senior at Hawthorne High and I have a few things to say. The reason HHS has such a bad reputation is because many people don't take the time to concentrate on the good. Many times, Hawthorne High has done right by their community, and we've won awards, and done big things, but we're only called upon for the bad we do. Since our new principle has gotten here, many things have changed. I belive this school is in for a much better run...”

“The five-star ratings of Hawthorne High School in this forum must have been written by one of the administrators. Hawthorne High, as stated by one if its employees, is a 'nasty little school'. At first, I thought those were the words of a disgruntled employee, but found it to be an understatement. The school leadership has been historically weak and ineffective. Many students show lack of any morals or ethics. Many of the girls dress like street walkers. I have personally seen students practically having sex on campus while administrators and the dean 'Pop' walking right by. The school also has some serious diversity problems. Look at the front door of the main building and you will see the 'N' word scratched there. Students report that bathrooms are so nasty, they don't want to use them. The school needs new blood and strong leadership to turn it around.”

“The school maintains a 'D' average for the state. What more needs to be said? I would rate this school '0' in all areas except extracurricular activities.”

“Needs alot of improvement in the teaching department, as well as listening to the parents concerns. They don't know to budget their money for best interest of the childern. Also they do not supervise the childern with leadership quality. We are trying to change things, how are we suppose to that when are childern are getting these things told to them at school from the ones there suppose to look up to! Parents need be involved.”

“I would like to say Hawthorne High school has a wonderful and helpful staff. I went to Hawthorne High as did my brother who went on to play football and baseball some of the best years I had were going to games and sharing in the Hornet spirit. I grew up learning respect, personal accountability and love and a lot of it was the faculty and teachers. Now I am a college graduate and entrepreneur. My son now attends Hawthorne and is carrying on the hornet spirit. They are giving him opportunities for a bright future. I say go hornets to my alma Mata. Beatrice Lowmaster”

“I went to hawthorne from 2 grade to 9th grade it was ok then. My child goes to hawthorne. I do have to say they have there bad teachers but there's good like yates pop herring and a few that are good to. I can't name all. Pop is been there for me and my family. I would just to say keep pop and yates and few others.”

“I attended Hawthorne from 1999-2005 (six through twelve) and loved it. Due to the student-teacher ratio, students are given such a large amount of attention that isn't available at the larger high schools in Alachua County. Students usually have the same teachers year after year which creates a comfortable unique relationships with them. The administration at Hawthorne is like none other. The current principal, Dr. Susan Arnold, is amazing. She knows every student personally or so it seems and just brings a great vibe to her school. I would recommend it to anyone.”

“I graduated as Valedictorian from Hawthorne High School with the class of 2002. Yes, I already have the 'smarts', but where do you think I got them from? The teachers at Hawthorne offer great guidance, and throughout my attendance we had the world's greatest guidance counselor Bill Goodman. The school may have staffing issues, material problems and be located in the middle of nowhere, but that is because it is highly overlooked by the School Board of Alachua County. If the funding and support was available to Hawthorne, then the overall morale of the school, the students and the community would increase. Believe me, if there was really anything wrong with the school, I would be able to recognize it and not be able to carry out my educational success in college. Thank You, Jordanne H. Padgett”

“I graduated from Hawthorne High School in 2003. I attended every school that Hawthorne offered from Shell elementry to middle school and finally the high school. Now in college, i believe that Hawthorne (and its faculty) has prepared me greatly for what I am experiencing here at a four year college. Why is it that people want to blame a child's lack of information gained form school on the teachers? Hawthorne gave my classmates and I plenty of opportunities to take in the information handed out by the teachers. Whether the students took it upon their selves to benifit from that information is not the responcibility of the teachers. Hawthorne has some of the finest teachers in Alachua county and for that they should be grateful. So parents if you're looking to point the finger at the person who is holding your child back from their education, look at your child first!”

“I am a student at Hawthorne, and I felt that this school isn't as bad as evryone makes it out to be. This school is out in the middle of nowhere, and teachers do not want to teach at this school, so how can it be the childrens fault for not learning anything, if no teachers are there that will help them. In school I learned a lot and it was easier for me because it was a small school and i had more help and time with the teachers and I succeeded. This school and most of the teachers do their best and I respect that and that is why I think it is a good school.”

“I used to be a student at Hawthorne high. While I was going to school at HHS I did not feel that I was learing any thing, and that most of the teachers did not care to teach. I was in 10th grade in the English class I was in was over 50 people so they split the class up, half got to stay with a 10th grade English teacher, the other half got taught by a 7th grade English teacher. That was not the worst of it. I feel that when I have a kid of my own Hawthorne High will not even be a option for my kid to go to. I have went to two other hgigh schools & I have to say that Hawthorne did not have half the teaching abilties of the other two.”