Summary:
The city of Waimanalo, Hawaii is home to 3 elementary schools that serve students from diverse backgrounds. While the schools share some similarities, such as high rates of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, they exhibit notable differences in academic performance and other key metrics.
Waimanalo Elementary & Intermediate School struggles to meet state proficiency averages, with below-average test scores in most grade levels and subjects. In contrast, Blanche Pope Elementary School and Malama Honua Charter School both outperform the state in several areas, particularly in English Language Arts. Malama Honua Charter School stands out with significantly higher proficiency rates in 6th and 7th grade ELA compared to the state average.
Socioeconomic factors appear to play a role, as Waimanalo Elementary & Intermediate School and Blanche Pope Elementary School have very high free/reduced lunch rates, while Malama Honua Charter School has a lower rate. Additionally, Malama Honua Charter School spends the least per student yet achieves stronger academic results, suggesting that factors beyond just funding, such as educational approaches and school culture, may contribute to student success. Overall, the data reveals a complex landscape of schools in Waimanalo, with Hawaii Department of Education district schools exhibiting varying levels of performance and the charter school model potentially providing an alternative path to improved outcomes.
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