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Kainalu Elementary School

Q: Is Kainalu Elementary School a good school?

Kainalu Elementary School ranks 40 th of 204 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

40^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 204 Hawaii Elementary Schools

Better than 80% of Hawaii elementary schools

Summary

Kainalu Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Kailua, Hawaii, serving grades PK-6 with a total enrollment of 542 students. The school is part of the Hawaii Department of Education district, which is ranked 1 out of 1 in the state and rated 5 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger. Kainalu Elementary School has consistently ranked in the top 50 elementary schools in Hawaii over the past 10 years, with a current ranking of 40 out of 204 schools and a 4-star rating.

Kainalu Elementary School consistently outperforms the state average on Smarter Balanced Assessments and HSA/Science tests across all grade levels. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school had 71.64% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 61.09% proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to the state averages of 50% and 48% respectively. The school also had 73.77% of students proficient or better in Science, compared to the state average of 48%. Kainalu Elementary School has a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate, with 14.5% in the 2023-2024 school year, compared to the state average of 15-20% for elementary schools.

While Kainalu Elementary School performs exceptionally well for some student subgroups, such as Hispanic and African American students, it struggles with the performance of Asian and English Language Learner students, ranking in the bottom half of Kainalu Elementary School's performance for these subgroups. The Kailua area is home to several high-performing elementary schools, including Ka'ohao Public Charter School, Maunawili Elementary, and Enchanted Lake Elementary, suggesting the community values education and has access to quality educational options.

559

Students ?

15.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,045

Per pupil spending ?

17%

Free/discounted lunch ?

165 Kaiholu St
Kailua, HI 96734

(808) 266-7835

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Students who attend Kainalu Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Kailua Intermediate School
High:	Kalaheo High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

41.9%

Two or more races:

25.6%

Hispanic:

19.5%

See top rated Hawaii elementary schools

Compare Kainalu Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 86th percentile in 2015 → 80th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranks in the top 20% of Hawaii elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Hawaii Department of Education

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school64%

40^th of 204

Hawaii public elementary schools ?

Top 20%▼ down 5 pts since 2015

From top 14% (2015) to top 20% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

40^th of 182Elementary Schools in the Hawaii Department of Education

1^st 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	83.7	40 of 204	80.4%	★★★★☆
2024	88.7	29 of 207	86.0%	★★★★☆
2023	88.3	22 of 195	88.7%	★★★★☆
2022	85.4	28 of 193	85.5%	★★★★☆
2021	83.3	32 of 196	83.7%	★★★★☆
2019	76.5	44 of 196	77.6%	★★★★☆
2018	80.1	35 of 193	81.9%	★★★★☆
2017	84.2	43 of 207	79.2%	★★★★☆
2016	75.5	38 of 195	80.5%	★★★★☆
2015	85.3	28 of 194	85.6%	★★★★☆
2013	76.5	36 of 196	81.6%	★★★★☆
2012	75.0	41 of 195	79.0%	★★★★☆
2011	76.4	36 of 191	81.2%	★★★★☆
2010	65.2	56 of 183	69.4%	★★★★☆
2009	54.6	87 of 191	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	64.6	48 of 146	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	69.0	51 of 192	73.4%	★★★★☆
2006	66.8	50 of 194	74.2%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	81.1	44 of 160	72.5%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	27.6	105 of 125	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	65.3	93 of 203	54.2%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	56.1	112 of 198	43.4%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	93.0	2 of 17	88.2%	★★★★★
2024	93.7	21 of 165	87.3%	★★★★☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	82.0	41 of 196	79.1%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	73.0	36 of 153	76.5%	★★★★☆
2024	68.8	74 of 207	64.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	77.0	45 of 171	73.7%	★★★★☆
2024	80.7	40 of 202	80.2%	★★★★☆

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)

Hispanic (2025)88th percentile+8 vs school

Pacific Islander (2024)79th percentile-7 vs school

Special Education (2025)76th percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)74th percentile-7 vs school

African American (2024)72nd percentile-13 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)43rd percentile-43 vs school

Asian (2025)16th percentile-64 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts69%

Science63%

Mathematics61%

5.0

1 rating

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Schools Near Kainalu Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				HSA Science (2025)	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2025)	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	HSA Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Kainalu Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	165 Kaiholu St	Kailua	96734	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 266-7835	559	37	15.1	17.0%	234 (41.9%)	1 (0.2%)	109 (19.5%)	20 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (9.3%)	143 (25.6%)	83.7	40^th of 204 public elementary schools	80.4%		88.7	29^th of 207 public elementary schools	86.0%	11	63.0	69.0	61.0	$17,045	$1,216	$15,829
Aikahi Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	281 Ilihau St	Kailua	96734	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 254-7944	485	33	14.6	13.4%	210 (43.3%)	2 (0.4%)	88 (18.1%)	13 (2.7%)	1 (0.2%)	39 (8.0%)	132 (27.2%)	79.8	53^rd of 204 public elementary schools	74.0%		81.5	47^th of 207 public elementary schools	77.3%	6	60.0	67.0	58.0	$15,045	$1,023	$14,022
Kailua Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	315 Kuulei Rd	Kailua	96734	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 266-7878	267	19	14.0	50.6%	39 (14.6%)	1 (0.4%)	60 (22.5%)	16 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (21.7%)	93 (34.8%)	16.2	176^th of 204 public elementary schools	13.7%		21.8	168^th of 207 public elementary schools	18.8%	8	28.0	28.0	29.0	$18,679	$1,464	$17,215
Ka'ohao Public Charter School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	140 Alala Rd	Kailua	96734	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 266-7844	332	22	15.0	5.1%	177 (53.3%)	3 (0.9%)	43 (13.0%)	9 (2.7%)	1 (0.3%)	16 (4.8%)	83 (25.0%)	93.7	13^th of 204 public elementary schools	93.6%		96.2	9^th of 207 public elementary schools	95.7%	4	75.0	76.0	72.0	$8,273	$288	$7,985
Kaelepulu Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	530 Keolu Dr	Kailua	96734	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 266-7811	188	14	13.4	16.0%	63 (33.5%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (14.9%)	20 (10.6%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (10.1%)	58 (30.9%)	96.2	10^th of 204 public elementary schools	95.1%		95.5	13^th of 207 public elementary schools	93.7%	3	83.0	77.0	78.0	$15,818	$782	$15,036
Mokapu Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	KMCAS Bldg	Kailua	96734	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 254-7964	805	51	15.7	23.4%	361 (44.8%)	36 (4.5%)	277 (34.4%)	22 (2.7%)	5 (0.6%)	15 (1.9%)	89 (11.1%)	63.9	88^th of 204 public elementary schools	56.9%		69	82^nd of 207 public elementary schools	60.4%	6	53.0	59.0	47.0	$14,869	$939	$13,930
Enchanted Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	770 Keolu Dr	Kailua	96734	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 266-7800	258	18	14.3	32.9%	37 (14.3%)	1 (0.4%)	55 (21.3%)	9 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (22.1%)	99 (38.4%)	94.3	12^th of 204 public elementary schools	94.1%		96	10^th of 207 public elementary schools	95.2%	2	79.0	77.0	70.0	$16,542	$1,230	$15,312
Maunawili Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1465 Ulupii St	Kailua	96734	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 266-7822	361	27	13.3	27.1%	65 (18.0%)	1 (0.3%)	71 (19.7%)	22 (6.1%)	3 (0.8%)	77 (21.3%)	122 (33.8%)	92	18^th of 204 public elementary schools	91.2%		95.1	14^th of 207 public elementary schools	93.2%	4	71.0	73.0	73.0	$16,919	$1,233	$15,686
Puohala Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	45-233 Kulauli St	Kaneohe	96744	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 233-5660	320	20	16.0	53.8%	4 (1.3%)	3 (0.9%)	75 (23.4%)	18 (5.6%)	1 (0.3%)	164 (51.3%)	55 (17.2%)	18.5	171^st of 204 public elementary schools	16.2%		19.2	176^th of 207 public elementary schools	15.0%	5	32.0	29.0	29.0	$18,141	$1,911	$16,230
Keolu Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1416 Keolu Dr	Kailua	96734	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 266-7818	125	10	12.5	45.6%	14 (11.2%)	1 (0.8%)	40 (32.0%)	11 (8.8%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (24.0%)	29 (23.2%)	51.3	106^th of 204 public elementary schools	48.0%		54.9	102^nd of 207 public elementary schools	50.7%	4		48.0	48.0	$24,619	$3,799	$20,820

Frequently Asked Questions about Kainalu Elementary School

How many students attend Kainalu Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 559 students attended Kainalu Elementary School.

What district is Kainalu Elementary School in?

Hawaii Department of Education

What is the racial makeup of Kainalu Elementary School?

Students at Kainalu Elementary School are 42% White, 26% Two or more races, 19% Hispanic, 9% Pacific Islander, 4% Asian.

Is Kainalu Elementary School a good school?

Kainalu Elementary School ranks 40^th of 204 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Kainalu Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Kainalu Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Kailua Intermediate School
High : Kalaheo High School

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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.