Montlake Elementary School vs Hawthorne Elementary School

Hawthorne Elementary School ranks #4 of 2,225 schools in Washington, placing it among the state's top 0.2% of schools and earning a 9.6/10 overall rating. Montlake Elementary School scores 9.0/10 and ranks #68 statewide — still a top-3% finish, but the 0.6-point overall gap and 64-position difference in state rank represent a meaningful separation between two otherwise strong Seattle elementaries located 5.3 miles apart.

On academics, the two schools are nearly identical: Montlake Elementary School holds a 9.4/10 academic score versus Hawthorne Elementary School's 9.3/10, a difference too small to drive a decision. Where Hawthorne pulls decisively ahead is growth — Hawthorne Elementary School scores 9.9/10 on growth versus Montlake Elementary School's 8.5/10, a 1.4-point gap that reflects how much measurable learning acceleration students at Hawthorne gain year over year relative to academic peers statewide. Growth scores capture value-added progress independent of incoming achievement levels, so Hawthorne's edge here signals strong instructional effectiveness, not just an advantaged starting population.

The two schools differ substantially on demographics and scale. Montlake Elementary School enrolls 167 students with a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio and 9% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Hawthorne Elementary School serves 374 students — more than twice the enrollment — at a 15.0:1 ratio, with 26% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. Montlake's smaller size produces a tighter student-teacher ratio, while Hawthorne serves a broader socioeconomic cross-section of Seattle families.

Hawthorne Elementary School also offers prekindergarten, extending its grade span to PK–05 compared to Montlake Elementary School's KG–05 entry point. For families with a child approaching school age, Hawthorne provides a continuous path from pre-K through fifth grade under a single roof, eliminating a transition year. Montlake's program begins at kindergarten, which may suit families who prefer to delay formal schooling or already have pre-K arrangements elsewhere.