Belding Elem School vs Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy
Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy has a higher overall rating of 9.2/10 compared to 8.0/10. In math proficiency, Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy leads at 99.5%.
Belding Elem School
Chicago, IL
563 students
Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy
Chicago, IL
616 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Belding Elem School | Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.0 / 10 | 9.2 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.0 | 9.9 |
| Growth Score | 7.4 | 9.0 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 49.9% | 14.4% |
| Environment Score | 8.2 | 8.9 |
| State Rank | #544 of 3,813 | #96 of 3,813 |
| State Percentile | 86th | 98th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Belding Elem School | Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 85.0% | 99.5% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 77.0% | 97.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Belding Elem School | Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Pre-K – 8th | Kindergarten – 8th |
| Enrollment | 563 | 616 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 14.1:1 | 15.0:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 49.9% | 14.4% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 24.2% | 10.9% |
| District | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 |
| City | Chicago | Chicago |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Chicago (60641) | Chicago (60657) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $81,649 | $109,025 |
| Median Home Value | $373,200 | $534,500 |
| Median Rent | $1,249 | $1,839 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 36.0% | 86.6% |
| Poverty Rate | 13.5% | 7.4% |
| Avg Commute | 38 min | 33 min |
The data story: Belding Elem School vs Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy
Belding Elem School and Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy sit 4.1 miles apart in Chicago, yet their overall ratings land close together — Belding at 9.3/10 and Hawthorne at 8.9/10, a 0.4-point gap. In Illinois state ranking, that gap widens meaningfully: Belding is #55 of 3,813 schools statewide while Hawthorne is #130 of 3,813, placing Belding in the top 2% versus Hawthorne's top 4%. Both are strong performers, but Belding edges out on the composite rating and state position.
The academic and growth scores tell a split story. Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy leads on academic proficiency with a 9.9/10 against Belding's 9.0/10 — a full point advantage that reflects higher current test score attainment. Belding Elem School, however, earns a perfect 10.0/10 growth score versus Hawthorne's 8.4/10. That 1.6-point growth gap is substantial: Belding is accelerating students at a measurably faster pace relative to their starting points, even as Hawthorne's students arrive and perform at a higher absolute level.
The two schools differ sharply on demographics. Belding Elem School enrolls 563 students with 50% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch; Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy enrolls 616 students with just 14% on free or reduced lunch. That 36-point FRL gap signals different community contexts and student need profiles. Student-teacher ratio is close — 14.1:1 at Belding versus 15.0:1 at Hawthorne — giving Belding a slight edge in per-student adult attention.
One structural distinction separates the schools at the lower end: Belding Elem School serves grades PK through 08, offering a pre-kindergarten entry point, while Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy begins at kindergarten. Families with pre-K-aged children who want to stay in one building through 8th grade have an option only at Belding. Hawthorne operates as a scholastic academy, which typically reflects a selective or application-based enrollment model, a factor families should verify directly with the school.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Belding Elem School
Belding Elem School fits families who prioritize growth trajectory over baseline scores — particularly those with students who are catching up or starting below grade level, since Belding's perfect 10.0 growth score signals strong acceleration. It also suits families with pre-K children who want a single-school path through 8th grade, and those who value a more economically diverse classroom environment.
Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy
Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy fits families whose children are already performing at or above grade level and want the highest academic proficiency environment available — its 9.9/10 academic score is the stronger number. Parents comfortable with a selective admissions process and a less economically diverse student body, and who don't need pre-K enrollment, are the natural match here.