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Hilo High School

Q: Is Hilo High School a good school?

Hilo High School ranks 27 th of 65 Hawaii high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

27^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 65 Hawaii High Schools

Better than 58% of Hawaii high schools

Summary

Hilo High School is a public high school in Hilo, Hawaii, serving grades 9–12 with 1,170 students in the Hawaii Department of Education — one of the larger high schools in the area, close in size to Waiakea High School (1,183) and larger than Keaau High School (1,041), Pahoa High & Intermediate School (745), and Ke Ana Laahana - PCS (33). Hawaii operates a single statewide district, so comparing Hilo High with nearby schools is more useful than district rankings.

Statewide, Hilo High performs slightly above the middle of Hawaii high schools: 27th of 65 in 2025–2026, the 58th percentile with 3 stars, up from the 32nd percentile in 2015–2016, though it has not broken into the top tier. In 2025–2026, 45% of students were proficient in ELA, 30% in math, and 35% in Biology I. Math is a relative bright spot — well above Keaau High School's 14%, Pahoa High & Intermediate School's 20%, and Ke Ana Laahana - PCS's 6% — and it has risen sharply from 12.65% two years earlier. ELA matches Keaau High School's 45%, and both are well ahead of Pahoa High & Intermediate School's 35%. Waiakea High School remains the strongest nearby benchmark by a wide margin, at 71% ELA, 50% math, and 47% Biology I.

Hilo's 87.0% graduation rate is solid and close to Waiakea High School (89.0%), Keaau High School (90.0%), and Ke Ana Laahana - PCS (87.5%), and well above Pahoa High & Intermediate School's 73.0%. Chronic absenteeism is a clearer strength at 22.0%, versus Pahoa High & Intermediate School's 53.0%, Keaau High School's 41.0%, and Ke Ana Laahana - PCS's 40.0%; only Waiakea High School is lower at 17.0%. About half of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, the student-teacher ratio is 15.8, and per-student spending is $17,046. Effectiveness varies by student group: the school ranks at the 88th percentile for Asian students and 95th for English Language Learners, but rankings for special education students fell from the 78th percentile in 2023–2024 to 19th in 2025–2026, and Hispanic students ranked at the 17th percentile in 2023–2024.

1,170

Students ?

15.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,046

Per pupil spending ?

50.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

556 Waianuenue Ave
Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 974-4021

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Feeder schools for Hilo High School:

Elementary:	Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School
	Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School
	Haaheo Elementary School
	Hilo Union Elementary School
	More...
	Kaumana Elementary School
	Keaukaha Elementary School
	Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School
Middle:	Hilo Intermediate School

Racial breakdown:

Pacific Islander:

38.3%

Hispanic:

22.4%

Two or more races:

19.1%

See top rated Hawaii high schools

Compare Hilo High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 32nd percentile in 2016 → 58th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 26 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Hawaii median (58th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school37%

27^th of 65

Hawaii public high schools ?

Top 42%▲ up 26 pts since 2016

From bottom 32% (2016) to top 42% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

22^nd of 42High 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
2026	36.3	27 of 65	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	34.8	30 of 62	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.9	29 of 67	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.6	31 of 53	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.9	28 of 52	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	67.3	17 of 48	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.4	22 of 52	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	44.0	32 of 53	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	26.3	36 of 63	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	36.7	36 of 53	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	40.9	32 of 51	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	32.9	40 of 56	28.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	59.2	25 of 58	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	33.3	39 of 56	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	40.9	36 of 56	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2009	48.1	28 of 55	49.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	39.9	28 of 39	28.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	43.7	39 of 60	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	54.2	24 of 56	57.1%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	69.4	13 of 55	76.4%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	74.9	5 of 40	87.5%	★★★★☆
2025	56.2	9 of 41	78.0%	★★★★☆
2024	72.6	13 of 65	80.0%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	37.7	11 of 33	66.7%	★★★★☆
2024	92.1	3 of 59	94.9%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	39.2	43 of 52	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	34.4	30 of 64	53.1%	★★★☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	40.9	16 of 32	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	69.6	5 of 32	84.4%	★★★★☆
2024	64.0	14 of 61	77.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	24.5	34 of 42	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	25.3	26 of 38	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	73.8	15 of 67	77.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	58.5	11 of 53	79.2%	★★★★☆
2025	32.1	26 of 51	49.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.0	34 of 64	46.9%	★★★☆☆

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)

Asian (2026)88th percentile+29 vs school

White (2026)79th percentile+21 vs school

African American (2024)76th percentile+20 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)67th percentile+15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)53rd percentile-5 vs school

Pacific Islander (2026)50th percentile-8 vs school

Special Education (2026)19th percentile-39 vs school

Hispanic (2024)17th percentile-39 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts45%

Biology I35%

Mathematics30%

★

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Schools Near Hilo High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				HSA Science (2026)	HSA Biology I (2026)	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2026)	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)	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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	HSA Science All Grades	HSA Biology I 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
Hilo High School	Public	9-12	556 Waianuenue Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 974-4021	1,170	74	15.8	50.1%	85 (7.3%)	4 (0.3%)	262 (22.4%)	148 (12.6%)	0 (0.0%)	448 (38.3%)	223 (19.1%)	36.3	27^th of 65 public high schools	58.5%		34.8	30^th of 62 public high schools	51.6%	3		35.0	45.0	30.0	$17,046	$1,569	$15,477
Waiakea High School	Public	9-12	155 W Kawili St	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 974-4888	1,183	77	15.3	40.6%	102 (8.6%)	5 (0.4%)	283 (23.9%)	241 (20.4%)	1 (0.1%)	308 (26.0%)	243 (20.5%)	78.9	5^th of 65 public high schools	92.3%		67.5	9^th of 62 public high schools	85.5%	4		47.0	71.0	50.0	$16,204	$1,517	$14,687
Ke Ana Laahana - PCS	Public, Charter	7-12	160 Baker Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 961-6228	33	4	8.2	51.5%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (33.3%)	1 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (51.5%)	4 (12.1%)	3.4	62^nd of 65 public high schools	4.6%		4	59^th of 62 public high schools	4.8%	3	18.0		12.0	6.0	$13,572	$4,115	$9,457
Keaau High School	Public	9-12	16-725 Keaau-Pahoa Rd	Keaau	96749	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 982-4220	1,041	70	14.8	71.7%	145 (13.9%)	8 (0.8%)	289 (27.8%)	129 (12.4%)	3 (0.3%)	301 (28.9%)	166 (15.9%)	21.7	43^rd of 65 public high schools	33.8%		22.9	39^th of 62 public high schools	37.1%	4		26.0	45.0	14.0	$17,149	$1,502	$15,647
Pahoa High & Intermediate School	Public	7-12	15-3038 Puna Rd	Pahoa	96778	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 965-2150	745	59	12.6	71.8%	71 (9.5%)	1 (0.1%)	251 (33.7%)	75 (10.1%)	6 (0.8%)	237 (31.8%)	104 (14.0%)	10.6	55^th of 65 public high schools	15.4%		10.1	53^rd of 62 public high schools	14.5%	2	14.0		35.0	20.0	$19,147	$2,115	$17,032

Frequently Asked Questions about Hilo High School

What district is Hilo High School in?

Hawaii Department of Education

What schools feed into Hilo High School?

Hilo High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School
Elementary : Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School
Elementary : Haaheo Elementary School
Elementary : Hilo Union Elementary School
Elementary : Kaumana Elementary School
Elementary : Keaukaha Elementary School
Elementary : Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School
Middle : Hilo Intermediate School

How many students attend Hilo High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,170 students attended Hilo High School.

What is the racial makeup of Hilo High School?

Students at Hilo High School are 38% Pacific Islander, 22% Hispanic, 19% Two or more races, 13% Asian, 7% White.

Is Hilo High School a good school?

Hilo High School ranks 27^th of 65 Hawaii high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Hilo High School!

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HIHawaii High School Rankings

HIHawaii District Rankings

Schools in Hilo, HI

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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.