About Hawken

Founded in 1915, Hawken School is a coeducational private day school of over 1,500 students with campuses in Gates Mills (grades 9 – 12), Lyndhurst (toddler – grade 8), at Birchwood School of Hawken (preschool – grade 8), and at the Mastery School of Hawken (grades 9 – 12) in University Circle. With a diverse and unified student body supported by $15.1 million in tuition assistance, the school is profoundly committed to the development of character and intellect.
 
Central to Hawken’s mission is our promise to “prepare students to navigate a complex and dynamic world with self-confidence and determination; embrace challenges with disciplined analysis and creativity; and engage others with empathy and integrity.” The fulfillment of this promise has earned Hawken a national reputation for educational excellence and innovative programming.

Hawken at a Glance

Year Founded: 1915
 
Campus Locations:
Campus Highlights:
  • Forest Program option for preschool and prekindergarten
  • Boarding Program for high school students in University Circle
Student Body: A diverse, coed student body of nearly 1,600
  • Students in grades Toddler – 8, Lyndhurst:   708
  • Students in grades Preschool – 8, Birchwood:   266
  • Students in grades 9 – 12:   610
Average Class Size: 15

Student/Teacher Ratio: 8:1

Student/Computer Ratio: 1:1 from Kindergarten to Grade 12

College Counseling: College guidance program staffed by 5 professionals ensures one-on-one attention and expert advice

College Acceptance: 100%

National Merit Semifinalists 2025: 14 semi-finalists, 10 commended students

Students of color: 32%

Financial Assistance: $15.1 million in Flexible Tuition for the 2024-25 school year
 
Scholarships: James A. Hawken Merit Scholarships of up to 15,000 are available for new 9th grade and 10th grade students. Additionally, Fair Play Scholarships and Red and Gray Scholarships are available for students in grades 6-12, and Head’s Scholarships are available for students in grades K-12 
 
Our Purpose: Forward-focused preparation for the real world through the development of character and intellect

Our Promise: Hawken School prepares students to navigate a complex and dynamic world with self-confidence and determination; embrace challenges with disciplined analysis and creativity; and engage others with empathy and integrity.

School Mottos:
Fair Play
"That the better self shall prevail and each generation introduce its successor to a higher plane of life." - John Lancaster Spalding
 
School Colors: Red and Gray
 
School Mascot: The Hawk
 
School Song: Hawken Alma Mater
 
Accreditation: Hawken School is fully accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) and is officially approved by the State of Ohio, from which it holds charters as an elementary school and as a secondary school.
 
Memberships:
  • National Association of Independent Schools
  • Ohio Association of Independent Schools
  • Cleveland Council of Independent Schools
  • Global Online Academy
  • Cum Laude Society
  • School and Student Service for Financial Aid
  • Ohio High School Athletic Association
  • Council for the Advancement and Support of Education
  • University Circle, Inc.
An independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school, toddler through grade 12

Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135 
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106

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