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Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-6

14^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 204 Hawaii Elementary Schools

Better than 93% of Hawaii elementary schools

Summary

Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School is a public elementary school in Hilo, Hawaii, serving 465 students in grades PK-6 as part of the Hawaii Department of Education district.

This school consistently ranks among the top 20 elementary schools in Hawaii, with 75% or more of its students proficient in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. The school's academic performance is particularly impressive, as its students outperform their peers across the state by a significant margin. Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School maintains a relatively low student-teacher ratio and spends more per student than the state average, which may contribute to its success.

Compared to nearby schools, Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School stands out for its consistently higher academic proficiency rates and lower percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting it serves a student population with a relatively higher socioeconomic status. Despite these differences, the school's ability to support the academic growth and achievement of its diverse student population, including strong performance for specific subgroups, is a testament to its commitment to equity and excellence.

422

Students ?

18.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,582

Per pupil spending ?

26.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

278 Ainako Ave
Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 974-4855

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Students who attend Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Hilo Intermediate School
High:	Hilo High School

Racial breakdown:

Two or more races:

35.8%

Hispanic:

22.7%

Pacific Islander:

15.6%

See top rated Hawaii elementary schools

Compare Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 92nd percentile in 2015 → 93rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranks in the top 7% of Hawaii elementary schools

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

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school74%

14^th of 204

Hawaii public elementary schools ?

Top 7%▲ up 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

14^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	93.2	14 of 204	93.1%	★★★★★
2024	89.6	26 of 207	87.4%	★★★★☆
2023	89.5	20 of 195	89.7%	★★★★★
2022	89.7	19 of 193	90.2%	★★★★★
2021	88.8	19 of 196	90.3%	★★★★★
2019	92.2	8 of 196	95.9%	★★★★★
2018	87.2	19 of 193	90.2%	★★★★★
2017	95.0	13 of 207	93.7%	★★★★★
2016	90.1	15 of 195	92.3%	★★★★★
2015	89.9	16 of 194	91.8%	★★★★★
2013	84.6	26 of 196	86.7%	★★★★☆
2010	87.0	15 of 183	91.8%	★★★★★
2007	69.8	48 of 192	75.0%	★★★★☆
2006	78.2	29 of 194	85.1%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	85.1	19 of 125	84.8%	★★★★☆
2024	78.7	49 of 203	75.9%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	98.5	5 of 198	97.5%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	33.4	125 of 165	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	95.7	10 of 196	94.9%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	84.8	22 of 153	85.6%	★★★★☆
2024	60.9	91 of 207	56.0%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	95.9	9 of 171	94.7%	★★★★★
2024	91.1	16 of 202	92.1%	★★★★★

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)

English Language Learner (2024)97th percentile+10 vs school

Pacific Islander (2024)95th percentile+7 vs school

White (2025)95th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)86th percentile-8 vs school

Asian (2025)85th percentile-8 vs school

Hispanic (2024)24th percentile-63 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts75%

Mathematics75%

Science72%

★

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Schools Near Ernest Bowen DeSilva 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
Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	278 Ainako Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 974-4855	422	23	18.3	26.1%	49 (11.6%)	0 (0.0%)	96 (22.7%)	60 (14.2%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (15.6%)	151 (35.8%)	93.2	14^th of 204 public elementary schools	93.1%		89.6	26^th of 207 public elementary schools	87.4%	12	72.0	75.0	75.0	$15,582	$1,242	$14,340
Hilo Union Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	506 Waianuenue Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 933-0900	449	38	11.9	68.4%	31 (6.9%)	1 (0.2%)	134 (29.8%)	35 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	165 (36.7%)	83 (18.5%)	41.9	122^nd of 204 public elementary schools	40.2%		47.9	120^th of 207 public elementary schools	42.0%	2	42.0	48.0	39.0	$18,068	$1,957	$16,111
Kaumana Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1710 Kaumana Dr	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 974-4190	238	15	15.8	51.7%	17 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	90 (37.8%)	12 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (17.2%)	78 (32.8%)	88.2	28^th of 204 public elementary schools	86.3%		70.2	79^th of 207 public elementary schools	61.8%	51	68.0	71.0	65.0	$17,553	$1,304	$16,249
Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	966 Kilauea Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 974-4160	354	25	14.1	65.0%	14 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (22.9%)	42 (11.9%)	0 (0.0%)	129 (36.4%)	88 (24.9%)	9.9	191^st of 204 public elementary schools	6.4%		14.3	187^th of 207 public elementary schools	9.7%	4	27.0	26.0	16.0	$17,738	$1,684	$16,054
Haaheo Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	121 Haaheo Rd	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 974-4111	122	11	11.0	50.8%	22 (18.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (25.4%)	13 (10.7%)	1 (0.8%)	28 (23.0%)	27 (22.1%)	78	55^th of 204 public elementary schools	73.0%		78.3	59^th of 207 public elementary schools	71.5%	4	76.0	61.0	51.0	$16,116	$1,394	$14,722
Waiakea Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	180 W Puainako St	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 981-7215	706	47	15.0	53.1%	24 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	166 (23.5%)	104 (14.7%)	0 (0.0%)	208 (29.5%)	204 (28.9%)	42.3	120^th of 204 public elementary schools	41.2%		56.8	97^th of 207 public elementary schools	53.1%	23	49.0	42.0	39.0	$15,167	$1,077	$14,090
Waiakeawaena Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2420 Kilauea Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 981-7200	669	52	12.8	51.4%	23 (3.4%)	1 (0.1%)	182 (27.2%)	80 (12.0%)	0 (0.0%)	155 (23.2%)	228 (34.1%)	46.8	112^th of 204 public elementary schools	45.1%		59.6	90^th of 207 public elementary schools	56.5%	22	45.0	49.0	42.0	$16,286	$1,496	$14,790
Keaukaha Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	240 Desha Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 974-4181	341	28	12.1	68.3%	5 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	91 (26.7%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	201 (58.9%)	41 (12.0%)	36.9	130^th of 204 public elementary schools	36.3%		34.2	146^th of 207 public elementary schools	29.5%	16	41.0	46.0	35.0	$18,443	$2,308	$16,135
Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	27-330 Old Mamalahoa Hwy	Papaikou	96781	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 313-5200	183	15	12.2	70.5%	17 (9.3%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (30.6%)	23 (12.6%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (29.0%)	34 (18.6%)	29	148^th of 204 public elementary schools	27.5%		6	201^st of 207 public elementary schools	2.9%	53	50.0	36.0	20.0	$19,667	$2,665	$17,002
Keaau Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	16-680 Keaau-Pahoa Rd	Keaau	96749	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 982-4210	829	56	14.8	62.6%	59 (7.1%)	7 (0.8%)	239 (28.8%)	106 (12.8%)	2 (0.2%)	236 (28.5%)	180 (21.7%)	25	161^st of 204 public elementary schools	21.1%		21.4	171^st of 207 public elementary schools	17.4%	10	29.0	39.0	35.0	$16,336	$1,183	$15,153

Frequently Asked Questions about Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Hilo Intermediate School
High : Hilo High School

Is Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School a good school?

Yes. Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School ranks in the top 6.9% of Hawaii elementary schools.

How many students attend Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 422 students attended Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School.

What district is Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School in?

Hawaii Department of Education

What is the racial makeup of Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School?

Students at Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School are 36% Two or more races, 23% Hispanic, 16% Pacific Islander, 14% Asian, 12% White.

Rate Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary 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.