The Hawley School we know today was established as a result of the merger of a Black union school (G. C. Hawley High School) and Creedmoor Elementary School when the latter was destroyed by fire on January 9, 1970.

The doors to Hawley School first opened for students in September of 1952 after many years of tireless and dedicated work spearheaded by educational leader Grover Cleveland Hawley. The new facility housed grades seven through twelve.

In 1975, Hawley became a middle school serving grades five through eight from the Butner, Stem, and Creedmoor areas and eighth graders from Wilton. In September of 1986, seventh graders from Wilton Elementary were moved to Hawley and in 1987, sixth graders from Wilton also began to attend Hawley.

At the present time, Hawley Middle School has grades six through eight from the Creedmoor and Wilton area. Students from Butner and Stem now attend Butner-Stem Middle School.