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Kahuku High & Intermediate School

Public Grades 7-12
28th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 65 Hawaii High Schools
Better than 57% of Hawaii high schools
Summary

Kahuku High & Intermediate School is a grades 7–12 public school at 56-490 Kamehameha Hwy in Kahuku, HI, on Oahu's rural North Shore, serving 1,433 students as part of the single statewide Hawaii Department of Education district.

Two numbers shape everything here. Chronic absenteeism is 35.0% — roughly one in three students — which is more than double Waipahu High School and Pearl City High School (15.0% each) and nearly triple Mililani High School (12.0%). Economic need is the highest in this group, at 50.17% free/reduced lunch. Yet the school still graduates 90.0%, above Waipahu and Leilehua High School (86.0% each) — evidence that supports for students who stay connected are working. Staffing is a relative strength: 14.6 students per teacher, better than Waipahu, Pearl City and Mililani, and per-pupil spending of $16,622 (2018–19, the most recent figure).

Academically, the school just posted its best state ranking in a decade — 57th percentile, up 22 points in one year, the largest single-year jump in this group — and English proficiency rose 15 points to 55%, while most nearby schools slipped. Still, 55% English is the lowest among these six schools, and math sits at 26%, ahead of only Leilehua. Note that Kahuku serves grades 7–12, unlike the 9–12 peers, so its results include two middle-grade levels; Waialua High & Intermediate School, the other 7–12 school, is the closest like-for-like benchmark. The clearest warning sign is uneven results within the school: special education students rank at the 14th percentile and English learners at the 6th percentile, even as overall performance climbed.

1,433
Students ?
14.6
Student/teacher ratio ?
$16,622
Per pupil spending ?
50.2%
Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?
 56-490 Kamehameha Hwy
       Kahuku, HI  96731

(808) 293-8950

District: Hawaii Department of Education


Feeder schools for Kahuku High & Intermediate School:

Elementary:    Hauula Elementary School
    Kaaawa Elementary School
    Kahuku Elementary School
    Laie Elementary School
    More...
Racial breakdown:

Pacific Islander:
41.2%
Two or more races:
26.0%
White:
15.9%
more
 See top rated Hawaii high schools

 Compare Kahuku High & Intermediate School to nearby high schools!
At a glance
▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 58th percentile in 2016 → 57th in 2026
Strengths
✓91% graduate within 4 years
✓Above the Hawaii median (57th percentile)
Worth a look
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school39%
Middle school
40th of 85
Hawaii public middle schools ?
Top 47%▼ down 20 pts since 2016
From top 27% (2016) to top 47% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Middle Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
High school
28th of 65
Hawaii public high schools ?
Top 43%▼ down 2 pts since 2016
See the entire ranking list of Hawaii High Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
23rd of 42High Schools in the Hawaii Department of Education
1st of 1Hawaii Department of Education among Hawaii districts
Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202636.040 of 8552.9%★★★☆☆
202521.952 of 8438.1%★★☆☆☆
202431.943 of 8951.7%★★★☆☆
202343.436 of 7350.7%★★★☆☆
202249.130 of 7258.3%★★★☆☆
202142.638 of 7347.9%★★★☆☆
201963.521 of 7070.0%★★★★☆
201850.529 of 6756.7%★★★☆☆
201733.436 of 8256.1%★★★☆☆
201663.920 of 7372.6%★★★★☆
201518.262 of 7213.9%★☆☆☆☆
201330.658 of 7623.7%★☆☆☆☆
201228.557 of 7321.9%★☆☆☆☆
201123.958 of 7118.3%★☆☆☆☆
201031.451 of 6521.5%★☆☆☆☆
200949.932 of 6852.9%★★★☆☆
200837.827 of 4641.3%★★☆☆☆
200754.527 of 7162.0%★★★☆☆
200660.324 of 6965.2%★★★☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202416.963 of 7111.3%★☆☆☆☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202657.617 of 5669.6%★★★★☆
202524.038 of 5530.9%★★☆☆☆
202437.955 of 8736.8%★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202510.750 of 523.8%☆☆☆☆☆
202431.540 of 8150.6%★★★☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202457.325 of 6863.2%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202629.445 of 8446.4%★★☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202659.612 of 5377.4%★★★★☆
202542.919 of 5263.5%★★★☆☆
202445.932 of 8160.5%★★★☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202620.150 of 6320.6%★☆☆☆☆
202516.447 of 5920.3%★☆☆☆☆
202444.637 of 8958.4%★★★☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202648.525 of 7566.7%★★★☆☆
202541.630 of 7459.5%★★★☆☆
202452.932 of 8662.8%★★★☆☆
High school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202636.028 of 6556.9%★★★☆☆
202521.940 of 6235.5%★★☆☆☆
202431.940 of 6740.3%★★☆☆☆
202347.632 of 5339.6%★★☆☆☆
202252.525 of 5251.9%★★★☆☆
202129.735 of 4827.1%★★☆☆☆
201943.734 of 5234.6%★★☆☆☆
201848.229 of 5345.3%★★☆☆☆
201733.429 of 6354.0%★★★☆☆
201654.922 of 5358.5%★★★☆☆
201527.242 of 5117.6%★☆☆☆☆
201321.845 of 5619.6%★☆☆☆☆
201237.940 of 5831.0%★★☆☆☆
201130.842 of 5625.0%★☆☆☆☆
201039.937 of 5633.9%★★☆☆☆
200947.429 of 5547.3%★★★☆☆
200833.832 of 3917.9%★☆☆☆☆
200765.019 of 6068.3%★★★☆☆
200673.314 of 5675.0%★★★★☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202416.947 of 5514.5%★☆☆☆☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202657.612 of 4070.0%★★★★☆
202524.028 of 4131.7%★★☆☆☆
202437.947 of 6527.7%★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202510.731 of 336.1%☆☆☆☆☆
202431.535 of 5940.7%★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202457.323 of 5255.8%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202629.434 of 6446.9%★★★☆☆

Pacific Islander

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202659.67 of 3278.1%★★★★☆
202542.915 of 3253.1%★★★☆☆
202445.933 of 6145.9%★★☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202620.136 of 4214.3%★☆☆☆☆
202516.435 of 387.9%★☆☆☆☆
202444.636 of 6746.3%★★☆☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202648.515 of 5371.7%★★★★☆
202541.622 of 5156.9%★★★☆☆
202452.930 of 6453.1%★★★☆☆
How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)
Middle school
Pacific Islander (2026)77th percentile+24 vs school
Asian (2026)70th percentile+17 vs school
White (2026)67th percentile+14 vs school
Hispanic (2024)63rd percentile+12 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)46th percentile-7 vs school
Special Education (2026)21st percentile-32 vs school
African American (2024)11th percentile-40 vs school
English Language Learner (2025)4th percentile-34 vs school
High school
Pacific Islander (2026)78th percentile+21 vs school
White (2026)72nd percentile+15 vs school
Asian (2026)70th percentile+13 vs school
Hispanic (2024)56th percentile+15 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)47th percentile-10 vs school
African American (2024)15th percentile-26 vs school
Special Education (2026)14th percentile-43 vs school
English Language Learner (2025)6th percentile-29 vs school
By subject vs Hawaii (2025-2026) ?
English Language Arts55%
Science35%
Mathematics26%

2.3
3 ratings · 2 written reviews
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What people are saying
by a parent
Sunday, June 3, 2012

Open Quote I have to agree with the previous reviewer, while I went to this high school prior to my children it has deteriorated even more over the years. The administrative is an example of who knows who to get in and are some of the most uneducated people I have had the misfortune to deal with. The teachers, most of which seemed to have graduated from nearby BYU college, are some of the worst I have ever dealt with. My child was sick and I called and emailed and went to the school and I was never able to get their work. They kept saying that my child can make it up when they went back to school. My child was seriously sick, I didn't want them to fall behind but they showed no concern for doing their job to supply the requested homework. There is a Mr. Spurrier there that cusses at the children on a regular basis, that is completely unacceptable, but since he is a coach he gets away with it. Another of my child's teachers would have mental breakdowns, uncontrollably yelling at students, and would leave the children unattended for long periods, and in one instance the whole period. However, if your child is a star athlete, they will do their best to make sure that they are passing all their classes, so far as to tweak the grades. I am a believer in education is what you make of it, but you can't make a mountain out of a mole hill. There are a few good teachers, but the majority of them are seriously lacking in education themselves. The HSA test score show the low level of education received at this school, can't expect teachers to teach what they don't fully comprehend themselves. I also would recommend either an online or private school if possible other than sending your children to Kahuku unless all you care about is athletics. Close Quote


by a parent
Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Open Quote Kahuku High School is probably the worst public school that I have ever seen. The statistics on this school tells the whole story. A fundamental lack of concern about basic educational criteria and the fact that the state protects teachers that fail in the class room provides the perfect condition for failure. The current administration has led the school to even further demise. Although this school has produced a large number of professional football players many players will fail at the college level because they do not possess the basic building blocks in reading, science and math to succeed in the college arena.
Consider online school when living in this district!
This school should be ranked 0 but I had to put one star because the program will not allow a rating of 0. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Kahuku High & Intermediate School

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,433 students attended Kahuku High & Intermediate School.

Kahuku High & Intermediate School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Hauula Elementary School
Elementary : Kaaawa Elementary School
Elementary : Kahuku Elementary School
Elementary : Laie Elementary School
Elementary : Sunset Beach Elementary School

Kahuku High & Intermediate School ranks 28th of 65 Hawaii high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at Kahuku High & Intermediate School are 41% Pacific Islander, 26% Two or more races, 16% White, 12% Hispanic, 5% Asian.

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Latest Hawaii data All new data »
2025–26 graduation ratesSep 19, 2026
2025–26 HSA & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresSep 19, 2026
2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 18, 2025
2024–25 HSA & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresSep 18, 2025


SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Hawaii State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.

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